Behind the laughs of Sanford and Son was real tension—especially between Redd Foxx and the show’s producers. By the third season, Foxx had become frustrated over pay and creative control.
He felt he was carrying the show—but being treated like “just another actor.” At one point, he stopped showing up to filming altogether. NBC panicked. They even started writing episodes without Fred Sanford.
But it wasn’t just money. Foxx believed the show needed more representation behind the camera—more Black writers, more say in how his character was portrayed.
Eventually, NBC gave in. Foxx returned with a new contract and more creative power. The feud never fully healed, but the show went on.
“Redd never wanted to just do lines,” said co-star Demond Wilson. “He wanted the show to mean something.”
That battle changed TV forever—paving the way for more inclusive voices behind sitcoms.
