Redd Foxx’s portrayal of Fred Sanford made him a legend. But what most fans don’t know is that at the height of the show’s success, Foxx walked off the set—and refused to return until his bold demand was met.
In Season 3, producers noticed Foxx becoming distant. Rumors spread about tension with the network, but the truth hit harder: Foxx had discovered that his white co-stars were being paid significantly more—despite him being the lead.
So one day, he simply didn’t show up.
Taping was canceled. NBC scrambled. Foxx sent a short message: “Pay me what I’m worth. Or I’m done.”
It was a shocking move in the 1970s—especially for a Black lead actor. But Foxx held his ground. “He wasn’t being greedy,” said his former manager. “He was being treated unfairly, and he knew his value.”
After a week of stalled production and fan outcry, the network caved.
Foxx returned with a better contract and a quiet sense of vindication. “I had to fight for mine,” he said. “Nobody was gonna hand it to me.”
His stand not only reshaped his own career—it set a precedent for Black actors demanding equal pay and respect in primetime television.
