Before Lamont became Fred Sanford’s only child, there was another plan — and another son.
Early drafts of Sanford and Son featured a second son: a Vietnam War veteran named Marcus Sanford, whose mental health struggles were meant to challenge Fred’s worldview.
An actor was cast. Sets were built. The character appeared in one filmed pilot scene. But then — gone.
NBC executives reportedly panicked, fearing a character with PTSD would “darken” the comedy. The footage was shelved, and the storyline abandoned before the series even aired.
Redd Foxx fought to keep it. “Fred could’ve had two sons — one to fight with, one to feel for,” he told writers. But the network said no.
To this day, the lost “Marcus” scene remains unaired. The actor — a young, promising Black talent — left television shortly after.
What would Sanford and Son have looked like with two sons? One thing’s certain: that story would’ve added depth and drama the sitcom never got to explore.
