Demond Wilson helped define Black sitcoms in the 1970s with his role as Lamont Sanford. But today, he admits something surprising: he refuses to rewatch the show that made him a star.
“Too much pain behind the laughs,” Wilson told a podcast audience in 2025.
At the time, Sanford and Son was a comedy hit. But behind the scenes, Wilson struggled with mental health issues, clashes with producers, and being typecast. “I was trying to act, and they wanted me to be a punchline,” he recalled.
His relationship with Redd Foxx was complicated—full of admiration, but often strained. “We fought like real father and son,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t always TV magic.”
After the show ended, Wilson walked away from Hollywood and became a minister—a move many didn’t understand. But to him, it was about healing.
“I’ve made peace with what Sanford and Son gave me,” he said. “But watching it brings back too many ghosts.”
Still, fans continue to celebrate Lamont. And while Wilson may never sit down to rewatch the show, millions still see a young man who brought heart, humor, and reality to a sitcom that changed television forever.
