Redd Foxx Was a Comedic Pioneer: Inside His Early Career and 'Sanford and Son' Success

If you’re over 40, you likely remember the phrase, “Elizabeth, I’m coming!” or “It’s the big one, Elizabeth!” The legendary Redd Foxx uttered those words regularly in his memorable and longtime role as Fred Sanford in Sanford and Son in the 1970s — making them still part of the vernacular of pop culture today and a memorable aspect of the overall Redd Foxx career.

While Sanford and Son utilized Foxx’s real last name (and his dad and brother’s actual names), it wasn’t autobiographical; however, what made it so genius was that the plotlines drew on actual aspects of Foxx’s life, and Fred's personality closely resembled his own. The actor’s character shared his sharp wit, comedic timing, and often bawdy humor, pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable for TV audiences at the time.

The show, which ran from 1972 to 1977, was not a direct depiction of Foxx's life. However, the story of a cantankerous junk dealer and his long-suffering son resonated with themes of working-class struggle and the dynamics of a father-son relationship, which were relatable to Foxx's own upbringing and experiences. The themes are still relevant today, as modern-day viewers stream all six seasons of the show on various platforms.

Sanford and Son was also groundbreaking for its time, giving Black actors, often shunned by Hollywood due to race, the well-deserved spotlight. It also provided then-comedian Foxx a shot at not only acting on TV, but being a central character in the show, —something that was rare then.

Racism was still rampant in America at that time, and instead of avoiding the topic, Foxx and the show tackled it head-on, earning admiration and respect from fans around the world. Best of all, he did it with humor. It “opened the door for a Black family to move into the all-white TV neighborhood,” writes the Associated Press.

But there’s more to Redd Foxx than fake heart attacks and memorable catchphrases. Let’s look at his journey to becoming Fred Sanford and beyond.

Redd Foxx: The early years

Redd Foxx was born John Elroy Sanford on December 9, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents nicknamed him ‘Red’ due to his ‘ruddy’ complexion. His family was poor, and his mother, Mary, worked multiple jobs to support them.

Foxx often credited her for the reason behind his love of comedy. His father, Fred Sanford, was an electrician who left the home when Redd was just four years old, prompting Mary to pick up and move to Chicago — without her sons, leaving them to live with their grandmother so she could earn a living to support them.

Years later, Redd moved to the windy city to join his mother. There, she turned him on to radio comedy programs, which he grew to love and greatly influenced his career as time went on.

When Redd was 13 years old, he supported himself by forming a washboard band. When the band broke up, he took off for New York City and never looked back, according to his official website ReddFoxx.com. He gave himself the moniker Redd Foxx as an homage to the professional baseball player Jimmie Foxx, and because he was a “foxy dresser,” adding an extra ‘D’ to his first name so it would be more memorable.

He encountered and befriended a man named Malcolm Little in New York while washing dishes and bussing tables at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack. Little later became the famed Muslim leader Malcolm X, and he referred to Foxx as “the funniest dishwasher on this earth.”

The actor's early career

Important people were starting to take notice of Redd’s comedic genius. While playing music on the street corners and subways of Harlem with a group called the Bon-Bons, Redd appeared in an amateur hour on comedy radio and subsequently was booked to perform for a week at a nightclub in Newark, New Jersey.

From 1951 to 1955, he was a regular act in Black nightclubs nationwide. While performing in Los Angeles, he was offered a deal to make a comedy record (valued at $25) and went on to make 50 such records over the course of his career. It should be noted that many of those albums were fairly raunchy, and when they were re-released during the Sanford and Son years, they were billed as Redd Foxx: Uncensored.

Throughout the tumultuous 1960s, Foxx’s star continued to rise as he made a name for himself doing standup in major venues on the Las Vegas strip.

Redd Foxx gets cast for 'Sanford & Son'

After his film debut in Ossie Davis’ Cotton Comes to Harlem in 1972, famed producer Norman Lear — who was on the riding high on the success of another sitcom, All in the Family, tapped Foxx to play widower and junk dealer Fred Sanford in NBC's called Sanford & Son. The show was an instant hit, continuously ranking in the top ten. It was so popular that the network sometimes aired it twice in one week.

Lear had reportedly considered another comedian, Richard Pryor, for the part of Sanford’s son but ultimately went with Vietnam vet and established actor Demond Wilson. Wilson was initially skeptical about Foxx, as his previous experience was only on the stages of comedy clubs and not the theater, saying at the time, "It’s like bringing a dog to a cat party.”

Foxx often called Wilson’s character, Lamont, “You big dummy!” which made the audience laugh each time, coining another famous catchphrase on the show.

By 1977, Foxx was a household name and a big star, meaning the competition came calling. That year, ABC lured Foxx away from NBC and gave him his own variety show, The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour, to star in and executive produce. “I’ll be doing anything that can possibly be different from what’s been done before,” Foxx reportedly said. “I’ll be doing skits, bits, obnoxious things. I might do Romeo and Juliet with a gorilla,” he joked.

The show also featured a variety of guest stars, including Andy Kaufman. It was a dream come true for the actor. Unfortunately, Foxx couldn’t pull in the viewers in the way that Sanford and Son had and the show was canceled less than a year later on January 26, 1978. Foxx and NBC attempted a Sanford and Son revival two years later — without Demond Wilson, who refused to retuen — but it was scrapped. Another short-lived series, The Redd Foxx Show, followed in 1986.

After that, Foxx appeared in movies like Harlem Nights with Eddie Murphy and long-time friend Della Reese, but primarily made his living returning to his roots — doing standup as a headliner in Las Vegas. Though the movie received little attention, critics took notice of the chemistry between Redd and Della and CBS signed the two actors for a new sitcom that would be called The Royal Family.

The actor's personal life & later years

Foxx was married four times starting in 1948 and, despite his success as a performer, faced significant financial problems, even declaring bankruptcy in 1983. At the time of his death on October 11, 1991, he was married to Ka Ho Cho.

The irony of his death was that even though he faked a heart attack to get out of work many times on Sanford and Son, it would be a case of life imitating art: Foxx succumbed to a heart attack while shooting on The Royal Family set —while the rest of the cast, including his dear friend Della Reese, looked on helplessly.

Though he left us more than 30 years ago, Foxx’s legacy lives on. He is remembered as a groundbreaking comedian who paved the way for future generations of Black performers. His willingness to tackle taboo subjects and his distinctive style have left a lasting impact on the comedy world that cannot be replaced.