Grady Demond Wilson, best known for his role on the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son under the stage name Demond Wilson, has died at age 79. His son, Demond Wilson Jr., told TMZ that the actor died on Jan. 30, 2026, at his home in Palm Springs, California, from cancer related complications.
Wilson, was one of two leads on Sanford and Son, playing Lamont Sanford, the son of junk dealer Fred G. Sanford, played by Redd Foxx. The show was an American adaptation of the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, and ran for six seasons on NBC from 1972 to 1977.
Sanford and Son ranked as the network’s highest‑rated series and the second most‑watched show on television during its second season.
