
Fans were stunned when Lamont’s girlfriend Janet disappeared from Sanford and Son without explanation. One week she was Fred’s future daughter-in-law — the next, gone like she never existed.
Behind the scenes, the truth was far messier.
Actress Marlene Clark, who played Janet, had reportedly clashed with Redd Foxx over multiple script changes. She wanted Janet to be more than just Lamont’s “sweet girlfriend” — she pitched stronger storylines, independent scenes, and moments of conflict.
Foxx didn’t like it. He believed the show was Fred’s, and that no side character should upstage him — even Lamont’s partner.
The tension grew during a rehearsal where Marlene reportedly improvised a fiery comeback line that drew applause from the crew. Foxx walked off.
By the next week, Janet was gone. No explanation. No goodbye.
It was a quiet erasure that fans never fully understood — until now. A character was cut not because of bad writing, but because she dared to be more than the script allowed.