There’s a truth both heartbreaking and bitterly ironic about Redd Foxx, the comedy legend who made millions laugh as Fred Sanford. He passed away in exactly the way his character often… pretended to on screen.
In Sanford and Son, whenever he was overly shocked or wanted to manipulate his son, Fred Sanford would often clutch his chest, fall backward, and exclaim:
👉 “This is the big one! I’m coming to join you, Elizabeth!”
But fate, in its cruel irony, had other plans:
- 📅 In 1991, while filming his new sitcom The Royal Family, Redd Foxx suddenly collapsed on set.
- 🎭 Everyone initially thought he was “doing his old bit”.
- ⏱️ By the time they realized it was real, it was too late…
His passing sent shockwaves through Hollywood. A comedic genius, a trailblazer who paved the way for countless Black comedians like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock, quietly departed life… right in the middle of doing what he loved most.
More Than Just Fred Sanford: The King of Comedy
However, Redd Foxx was never just a “one-role actor.” Before Sanford and Son, he was a comedy king in Las Vegas, famously known as “The King of the Party Records” for his groundbreaking, often risqué, stand-up albums. Beyond the stage lights, he was a strong, seasoned individual who dared to fight for his rights and the rights of the Black artistic community.
Today, when Sanford and Son is mentioned, people still laugh. But after that laughter, there’s a quiet pause—a moment of sorrow for a true genius. His legacy is a blend of uproarious humor and a poignant reminder of a life fully lived, right to the very end.
