3 days ago
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Actor Demond Wilson, champion known for playing Lamont Sanford successful the fashionable 1970s TV amusement "Sanford and Son," has died astatine the property of 79, his publicist confirmed to CBS News connected Sunday.
"The household of Demond Wilson is profoundly saddened by his passing," Mark Goldman told CBS News successful a statement. "At this time, they inquire for privateness arsenic they grieve."
He said nary further details were available.
Wilson's son, Demond Wilson Jr., told TMZ that his begetter died Friday of complications from crab astatine his location successful Palm Springs, California.
Demond Wilson attends the 2016 Chiller Theater Expo astatine Parsippany Hilton connected April 22, 2016 successful Parsippany, New Jersey.
Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty
Goldman, who worked with Wilson for 15 years, said the actor's nonaccomplishment is "profoundly felt."
"He was an unbelievable antheral and his interaction volition ne'er beryllium forgotten," helium said. "The household appreciates the enactment and knowing of the assemblage during this hard time."
Wilson, who was calved successful Georgia, grew up successful New York City and studied pat dancing and ballet. He made his Broadway debut astatine the property of 4 with William Marshall and Ossie Davis successful a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Green Pastures" and danced astatine Harlem's Apollo Theater astatine property 12. He served successful the U.S. Army from 1966 until 1968 and was stationed successful Vietnam.
After returning to New York, helium appeared successful respective shows connected Broadway earlier moving retired to Los Angeles.
In 1971, helium appeared connected an occurrence of "All successful the Family," playing a burglar alongside Cleavon Little, who held the Bunkers hostage successful their home. That relation led him to onshore the portion of Lamont Sanford, the lad of aging widower Fred G. Sanford, successful "Sanford and Son" alongside Redd Foxx.
Demond Wilson arsenic Lamont Sanford, Whitman Mayo arsenic Grady Wilson successful "Sanford and Son"
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
After six seasons — which included 5 arsenic a 10-ten deed — Wilson turned down an connection to pb the amusement by himself aft Foxx near successful a wage dispute. He went connected to prima successful CBS's "Baby … I'm Back," but the amusement lone past 13 episodes.
Wilson past starred other Ron Glass successful "The New Odd Couple," which lone lasted 18 episodes.
In the 1980s, Wilson bushed a cocaine occupation and became ordained arsenic an interdenominational minister. In 2009, helium wrote the book, "Second Banana: The Bitter Sweet Memories of the Sanford & Son Years."
Wilson is survived by his woman and their six children.
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