“Before there was Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy, there was Redd Foxx.”
When people think of Sanford and Son, the first name that comes to mind is Redd Foxx. As the grumpy-yet-lovable Fred Sanford, he became one of the most iconic TV dads of the 1970s. But behind the laughs was a trailblazer who broke barriers for Black comedians.
Before hitting primetime, Redd Foxx was already a legend on the stand-up circuit—famous for his raw, uncensored routines and influence on future generations. Though Sanford and Son made him a household name, Foxx never lost his edge or authenticity.
His real-life story was just as colorful: full of success, financial struggles, and deep friendships. When he passed away in 1991 on the set of The Royal Family, fans everywhere mourned a true original. As comedian Chris Rock once said, “No Redd Foxx, no me.”
