When people think of Sanford and Son, they usually picture Fred Sanford faking heart attacks or Lamont trying to hold his temper. But behind all the shouting and slapstick, one unlikely character quietly rose to fame—armed with a Bible, a mean glare, and some of the best comebacks in sitcom history.
Enter Aunt Esther.
Played by LaWanda Page, Aunt Esther was never supposed to be a major character. She started as a one-off role: the sanctified, judgmental sister of Fred’s late wife. But the moment she burst through the door—purse in hand and scripture on her lips—audiences couldn’t get enough.
What most fans don’t know is that LaWanda Page was a real-life friend of Redd Foxx from their days in the Black comedy circuit. Foxx, who had known her as a fire-breathing stand-up comic, insisted she audition despite NBC’s initial doubts. The network thought she was too raw, too unpredictable. But Foxx said, “If she doesn’t get the role, I walk.”
That gamble paid off. Page brought Aunt Esther to life with such flair that she often stole scenes from both Foxx and Demond Wilson. Her verbal sparring with Fred became legendary. Every time she called him a “heathen” or slapped him with her handbag, the studio audience roared.
But behind her comedic timing was a sharp mind and a woman who broke every stereotype. Esther may have been strict and judgmental, but she wasn’t a joke. She stood her ground. She had dignity. And audiences saw something familiar in her: a strong Black woman who refused to back down.
In fact, Aunt Esther became so popular that NBC considered giving her a spin-off series. Though it never materialized, her cultural footprint was already set. Comedians like Mo’Nique and Sheryl Underwood have cited LaWanda Page as an inspiration.
Off-set, Page was just as bold. She insisted on writing some of her own dialogue, refused to play into minstrel-like tropes, and used her rising fame to advocate for more Black women in comedy. In a world where men got most of the laughs, Aunt Esther roared loud enough to change that.
So yes, Sanford and Son was technically a father-son show. But ask long-time fans and they’ll tell you: when Aunt Esther came through that door, Bible in hand, the real show had just begun.
