For millions of fans, the enduring image of Redd Foxx is that of the cantankerous, witty, and hilarious junkman Fred G. Sanford from the iconic sitcom Sanford and Son. But behind the laughs, the heart attacks, and the signature “Elizabeth, I’m coming!” was a complex man whose personal life was a rollercoaster of incredible highs and devastating lows. One of the most tumultuous and lesser-known chapters of his life was his third marriage, to a woman named Joi, a union that began with love and hope but ended in a bitter, costly divorce that contributed to his eventual financial ruin.
Their relationship, marked by a significant age gap and constant media scrutiny, was a testament to the chaos that often followed the comedy legend. While the world saw his antics on screen, his marriage to Joi was a very real-life drama, far more rocky than any sitcom plotline.
The Las Vegas Romance: How They Met
In the mid-1970s, Redd Foxx was at the absolute pinnacle of his career. Sanford and Son was a ratings juggernaut, and he was one of the highest-paid stars on television. Away from the set, he was a fixture in Las Vegas, where he was celebrated for his stand-up routines. It was in this glittering, high-stakes world that he met a young cocktail waitress named Joi Yun Chi Chung.
Joi was a Korean immigrant, and at 20 years old, she was more than two decades younger than the 54-year-old comedian. Despite the significant age difference and their vastly different backgrounds, the two fell in love. For Joi, he was a famous, charismatic star who showered her with attention and generosity. For Redd, she represented a new, youthful energy, a break from the personal baggage of his previous two marriages.
The two wed in 1976, shortly after his divorce from his second wife, Betty Jean Harris, was finalized. Their marriage was a public spectacle, with headlines highlighting the age gap and the unlikely nature of their union. Foxx, ever the showman, reveled in the attention. He was smitten with his new, young wife, and for a while, their life together seemed to be a new and exciting chapter for the comedian.
The Rocky Road: A Marriage Under Pressure
While their romance may have started in a whirlwind, the reality of their marriage was far from a fairytale. The same chaotic energy that propelled his career often seeped into his personal life, and his marriage to Joi was no exception.
One of the biggest issues was Foxx’s well-documented lavish and reckless spending. As one of the highest-paid men on television, he was also one of the worst with money. He lived a life of opulence, buying extravagant cars, homes, and jewelry, and was notoriously generous to a fault, often giving large sums of money to friends and family. This lifestyle, which was a source of great stress for his financial managers, likely caused significant tension in his marriage. While he was accustomed to a life of luxury, Joi, who came from a simpler background, was thrust into a world of endless spending. The couple often clashed over his financial habits, a conflict that was exacerbated by his declining fame after Sanford and Son ended in 1977.
Another major source of conflict was Foxx’s extroverted and often volatile personality. Joi was a much more reserved person, and she was often overwhelmed by her husband’s unpredictable behavior and his wild lifestyle. Foxx, who was known for his sharp tongue and quick temper, was not always an easy person to live with. His on-screen persona of a cranky old man was a polished version of his real-life antics, and living with him was a constant challenge.
The final, and perhaps most devastating, factor in their relationship was Foxx’s struggle with alcohol. While his drinking was a well-known part of his life, it took a significant toll on his health and his relationships. As his career began to wane in the late 1970s, his drinking reportedly worsened, leading to more erratic behavior and a greater strain on his marriage. He and Joi were often seen in public having heated arguments, and the media was quick to document their public spats.
The Bitter End: A Costly Divorce
By 1979, after just three years of marriage, the cracks in their relationship became a full-blown chasm. The couple separated, and Joi filed for divorce. The divorce was a long, drawn-out affair that took a massive financial toll on Foxx. He was ordered to pay a significant amount in temporary spousal support, a costly sum that added to his mounting debts.
The divorce was finalized in 1981, and it reportedly cost Foxx a whopping $300,000 in a settlement. This was a devastating blow to a man who was already on the verge of financial ruin. The money, combined with his lavish spending and a mounting tax debt, would eventually lead to him declaring bankruptcy in 1983.
In the end, their marriage was a perfect storm of clashing personalities, financial irresponsibility, and the pressures of a life lived in the public eye. Joi, who had a taste of the celebrity lifestyle, found that it came with a price she wasn’t willing to pay. For Foxx, the marriage was another sign of his downward spiral, a moment in his life when he was losing control of his career and his relationships.
A Sad Legacy
The marriage between Redd Foxx and Joi is a sad, but crucial, part of his legacy. While he would go on to have one more marriage before his death, his relationship with Joi was a microcosm of his life’s struggles. It showed a man who, despite his immense comedic talent and his ability to make millions laugh, was unable to find peace and stability in his personal life. Their rocky romance serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of fame and the heartbreaking reality that even a comedy king can’t always write his own happy ending.
