Soon afterward a fast-talking guy made a $2 million offer. Eventually, the IRS raided his property. A big spender who once owned a fleet of fancy cars, Mr. Foxx made millions of dollars from "Sanford and Son." Their fathers name was Fred G. Sanford, but Foxx didnt name his character after him because he left his family when Redd was four years old. "My mother would do the same thing she would have heart attacks when I was a kid, I remember. Redd Foxx wasnt the only funny one in his family, he credited his brother with that title as well. According to Historic Missourians, his father left him, his older brother, and their mother, causing his mother to move to Chicago to find work to support them. They never said that. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Their dads name was Fred G. Sanford also, but Foxx didnt name his character after him because he left his family when Redd was just four years old. He was known for his brash humor that often used foul language. Francisco Oropeza, 38, fled after the shooting Friday night that left five people dead, including an 8-year-old boy. But the Sanford & Son superstar spent the rest of his life honoring his brothercheck out what Foxx once revealed about this in excerpts from a Jet Magazine interview. Where is Red Fox buried? Foxxs father, Fred Sanford, left the family when he was just 4-years-old. She and Debreca are believed to be Foxxs sole heirs, Cahill said. Grady, Bubba (Don Bexley), and Esther also appeared. Blue humor was very dirty, too dirty for white audiences. Mr. Foxx repeated his role as Fred Sanford in a series that ran in 1980 and 81. Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddles) was approached to work on the project, but had to say no because of prior commitments. [Who at the very last minute finally learning to sleep in the evening]: It was awful at first. More than 18 years after the comedian and actor died, Cahill announced Thursday that the rights to Foxxs life story would be marketed with details handled through a probate court. "Fred Sanford is Mary Sanford, who is my mother, but you can reverse personalities into male or female," Foxx told Sammy Davis Jr. on Sammy and Company. Grady Demond Wilson [3] (born October 13, 1946) is an American actor and author. In Harlem Mr. Foxx got the nickname "Red" because of his hair color and light skin, and he later added another "d." Sometimes he was called "Chicago Red" to differentiate him from his friend, "Detroit Red," the young Malcolm X. During the height of his career, many people thought Redd was crazy for so-called wasting his time and money to perform for convicts in prisons. Redd Foxx began doing stand-up comedy on the infamous "Chitlin' Circuit" in the 1940s and 1950s. However, from those ashes would come a successful pairing with fellow comedian Slappy White; the duo, under the name "Foxx and White," toured nationally in the 1940s and early '50s. Ive been to Attica (in New York). | Source: Wikimedia Commons. CLEAVON LITTLE WAS THE ONE WHO SUGGESTED REDD FOXX AS THE LEAD. Just give me some time with her. As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains, the Chitlin' Circuit was named after a dish made of pig intestines that originated in the American South during slavery; the circuit was a network of nightclubs, dance halls, and theaters known to be safe and welcoming to Black performers, who were often barred from performing in white-owned venues. If a deal favors the buyer rather than the estate it could get taken away at court by a higher bidder.. It was the comedian's tribute to his brother, who had died five years before the show premiered. Continue to sleep in eternal bliss Redd Foxx and Della Reese. Foxxs character on Sanford and Son was named after his older brother who shared his fathers name, but the comedians given name was John Elroy Sanford. His colorful life is the subject of a new biography from Michael Starr, TV columnist for the New York Post, called "Black and Blue: The Redd Foxx Story." He portrayed Lamont Sanford, the son of Fred Sanford (played by Redd Foxx) in the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son (1972-77), and Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple (1982-83). The World was not ready for a Black player on a White team in 1937. Fred was a funny kid, and I got a lot of humor from him. Blue humor was very dirty, too dirty for white In Sanford Arms, Phil Wheeler (Theodore Wilson) moved into Fred and Lamont's house after the two moved to Arizona. They were rehearsing on the set and clowning around, and Redd was sort of breaking people up when he collapsed. Rarely does someone as famous as Foxx die without a will or so broke so the services of someone like Cahill are not required. My brother was the best first basemen in Chicago, but he never got the chance and turned to robbery, Foxx said. And they just described it and I said, 'Well, I don't understand, you are selling us a show we already have. Fred was a great ball player too. It lasted for four episodes. [8] On July 27, 1939, Foxx performed on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show as part of the Jump Swinging Six. From 1972 to 1977, Foxx played Fred Sanford, a widower living with his adult son, Lamont (played by Demond Wilson) and operating a junkyard in Los Angeles. Whoever lands the rights to Foxxs rags to riches to rags again story will have plenty to work with. The terms, conditions, details and rights will be locked, but the final offer by a qualified bidder will determine who wins. OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:Advice for Black Folks: Dont Be So Thirsty for Trumps KoolAid. Anyone can read what you share. According to The Source, stand-up comedy deity Richard Pryor was not only influenced by Foxx, but he also worked with him as a young writer on "Sanford and Son," and went on to record two highly successful comedy albums with him. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. The rehearsal was stopped and the comedian was quickly taken to a hospital, a spokesperson for the show informed. He was like a lot of other kids who turned to crime because of lack of opportunity for their natural talent. Neither got off the ground, but a seed was planted. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Eddie Murphy took care of his burial service fees. One of the most decorated comedians of his time, Redd Foxx passed away due to a tragic heart attack while rehearsing for one of his shows. There have been wildly disparate offers from $20,000 to $2 million made for the rights in the past, Cahill said, but the negotiations never got beyond lunches, meetings and talk.. After his demise, his body was flown to Las Vegas for a burial. Little referred to Sanfordas "Chicago Red, the funniest dishwasher on this earth.". Foxx's brother was apparently a regular fixture in the prison scene during Redd's younger years, and he died years before Redd did. Tandem Productions sued Foxx and Wilsonwho had joined Foxx at the start of season four out of solidarityfor $10 million, claiming breach of contract. Mind you, the United States was under the crushing thumb of the Jim Crow laws in a very tiny nutshell: legalized racism and segregation until 1968 (per History). Foxx collapsed on October 11,1991, during rehearsals for his new sitcom, The Royal Family. Debreca was once the administrator to the estate. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Foxx was approached to record some comedy albums in Newark, New Jersey, but they didn't do so well. "Redd would do anything for a friend," she said. Redd's real name is John Elroy Sanford and his brother's name is Fred G. Clark County hired Littler Mendelson P.C., a third-party law firm that specializes in employment and labor law solutions to investigate allegations of intimidation, retaliation, nepotism and wrongful discipline and terminations. The spokesperson also revealed that almost all of the cast and crew members of the show accompanied Foxx to the hospital. Foxx's brother was apparently a regular fixture in the prison scene during Redd's younger years, and he died years before Redd did. My brother was the best first basemen in Chicago, but he never got the chance and turned to robbery., Adding, He was like a lot of other kids who turned to crime because of lack of opportunity for their natural talent., Sanford and Sons Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson, 1970s. 9 December 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri; d. 11 October 1991 in Los Angeles, California), nightclub and television entertainer notorious for his off-color comedy albums and the star of one of television's most successful comedy series.Foxx was born John Elroy Sanford, one of two sons of Fred Sanford, an electrician, and Mary Carson, a radio preacher and domestic worker. In the 1960s his records became available, although [Who had to adjust his sleeping patterns before rehearsing on the set of. Ive been to Attica (in New York). Foxx. He began professional work as a teen-ager, playing in a washtub band on street corners and later moving to the black vaudeville circuit. Your email address will not be published. The circuit was the name given to a series of venues considered safe for black performers in the racially segregated Southern and Eastern United States. A famous Elvis impersonator named Jesse Garron bought Foxx's former home from a tax sale. I noticed not much was going on and asked my staff why it was still open.. Two years ago the Internal Revenue Service raided his Las Vegas home and took many possessions, claiming he owed nearly $3 million in taxes, penalties and interest. When he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and became an emcee at a club in 1945, he combined both nicknames into the memorable stage name, "Redd Foxx," with the double consonants as an homage to a beloved baseball player, Jimmie Foxx. He suggested Redd Foxx, his co-star in Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970). iloveoldschoolmusic.com. An aimless screed that masquerades as humor. Prior to her passing legendary actress/comedian, Della Reese, vividly explained her close friend, Redd Foxxs, last moments prior to his sudden death. This Is How Redd Foxx Really Got His Name. At the time, he was shooting a new sitcom titled, The Royal Family. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE044tb4BZg. "Just as soon as I put those big heavy shoes on and walk out there, I become Sanfordbut not until then, not until I put my shoes on," Foxx said. While it is common for public administrators in Nevada to hold estate auctions, they are usually announced in the local newspaper and are quiet affairs. "They were going to let me go,"Page told Jet magazine in 1977, "but Redd said, 'No, you ain't gonna let her go. Illinois Man (David F. Brown) Declared Sexually Dangerous Taken Off Met Gala 2023: Everything We Know About the Theme, Hosts and Pharrell & Fran (The Nanny) Drescher Push to Stop the Use Brian McKnight Fans Slam Him for Ignoring Biological Children. Redd Foxx rose to widespread fame in the 1970s via his hilarious and groundbreaking sitcom, "Sanford and Son." NBC canceled it after 19 episodes, burning off the final seven over the summer of 1981. . Foxx grew up idolizing his big brother instead. Phil and his two teenage children attempted to turn the rooming house next door into a successful hotel. Foxx died without a will, Cahill said, in debt and in trouble with the IRS. Comedian Eddie Murphy is reported to have paid for Foxxs lavish funeral. Demond Wilson. My brother, Fred, is the one I named my TV character (on Sanford and Son) after. Still, despite the things that were lost during his life, Foxxs genius and massive career lives on 30 years after his death. He starred in another comedy show in 1986, but nothing ever achieved the popularity of his first series, which also starred Demond Wilson as his son, Lamont. As Britannica explains, before landing the starring role, Foxx built a solid reputation for himself as quite the raunchy comedian in the 1940s, '50s, '60s; but more importantly than his tendency to "work blue," Foxx often shone an unflinching spotlight on racism in his work. We were going through things and this popped up, he said. "I can put the rest of the outfit on, but if I don't have those shoes on, I don't walk like him, and I don't think like him.". Foxx, Redd (b. Foxx appeared in only 8 of the . We have always been confident that the estate owns the rights to Foxxs life story, he said. ", Quincy Jones was skeptical of Sanford and Son, because he had worked with Foxx decades earlier in shows, and recalled not one word out of the comedian's mouth being appropriate for NBC. You have entered an incorrect email address! General Mills is encouraging customers to check their pantries and dispose of any product affected by the recall. Born December 9, 1922, in St. Louis, Foxx was mostly raised in Chicago by his mother, Mary Hughes, his grandmother, and his minister. _taboola.push({ It was his brother who Redd said motivated him to become a comedian, and once he became a success, Foxx would go on to pay homage to his brother in the most awesome way possible. He was just 68 years old. He died on October 11, 1991. How did Redd Foxx die? While rehearsing for his new TV sitcom produced by Eddie Murphy, Redd Foxx of Sanford and Son collapsed from a heart attack. For some years, show business dates alternated with brief jail sentences for such offenses as stealing a bottle of milk and sleeping in a hallway. Redds real name is John Elroy Sanford and his brothers name is Fred G. Sanford, and he told Jet that the shows execs allowed him to honor his brothers memory by naming his character after him. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; A profane therapy session without the funny introspection that comes from projectile vomiting your pain. It was an end so ironic that for a brief moment castmates figured Foxxwhose 1970s TV character often faked coronarieswas kidding when he grabbed a chair and fell to the floor, Entertainment Weekly reported. I busted loose.". Although their mother worked as a domestic for Harry Grabner, who was an executive for the White Sox baseball team, Fred couldnt play for the Sox. He is survived by his wife, Kahoe, of Los Angeles, and his mother Mary. Heres an only-in-Vegas story courtesy of Redd Foxx and Clark County Public Administrator John J. Cahill. He was a bridge between a decades-old burlesque-show tradition of scatological party humor and a younger generation of comics and social satirists from Lenny Bruce to Andrew Dice Clay. record stores. Due to Foxx's financial woes (the IRS seized and auctioned off his Eddie Murphy also cites Foxx as an influence (he cast Foxx and Pryor in his 1989 movie "Harlem Nights"), as do Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, and Jamie Foxx (who took his last name in homage to his comedy hero), among many others. Ive been to Sing Sing in Rahway Penitentiary in New Jersey. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. But the story of how his name came to be is too cool in and of itself. Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford and Demond Wilson as his son, Lamont in the TV program "Sandford and Son." However, were also very grateful for the many laughs he gave us and the many ways he touched millions of peoples hearts. One of his greatest assets (and perhaps, weaknesses) was his generosity But he filed for bankruptcy protection in 1983, citing mounting debts. If a movie producer pays $1 million to tell Redds story, the county will get about $21,150, said Cahill. Season 3 of Brat Loves Judy Highlights Shortage of Black Sperm Gladys Knights Farewell Tour Continues This Summer in US, Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Opens Up About Hollywood Casting Couch & More | PicVideos. Harry Belafonte, the actor, producer, singer and activist who made calypso music a national phenomenon with "Day-O" (The Banana Boat Song) and used his considerable . Foxx had two older brothers, Fred Jr. who provided the name for his character on Sanford and Son and Leonard who died shortly after his birth in 1921. Page was too nervous to give an audition producers liked, but Foxx insisted. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Foxxs brother was apparently a regular fixture in the prison scene during Redds younger years, and he died years before Redd did. Redd Foxx, born on December 9, 1922, was the comedian to watch in the '80s and '90s. Cleavon Little ( Blazing Saddles) was approached to work on the project, but had to say no because of prior commitments. During the early 90s, a program called A Current Affair interviewed Garron about living in Foxx's former home. "No one expected me to be on television because I had a reputation from the party records as X-rated, but that's the type of humor I liked," Mr. Foxx said in an interview in 1982. "We hadAll in the Familyon the air and Bud and Norman [Lear] came in with the idea, and it was calledSteptoe and Son. My brother, Fred, is the one I named my TV character (on Sanford and Son) after. The 68-year-old Foxx suffered a heart attack Friday on the set of CBS' The Royal Family at Paramount Studios, said Prince . Redd Foxx paid homage to his late brother (pictured below) in a way that falls right in line with the thoughtful, generous brotha all of Foxx's friends and family knew him to be: - His brother is the REAL "Fred G. Sanford." Foxx's real name is John Elroy Sanford and his brother's real name is Fred G. Sanford. target_type: 'mix' Members of the RamJets team will get $50,000 scholarships after taking first place in the Real World Design Challenge. "That's the humor I heard in the ghettos. In his autobiography, the late Civil Rights Leader mentioned the comedian saying, Chicago Red, the funniest dishwasher on this earth.. Jail for Minor Offenses. Foxx still owes the IRS $3.5 million, but even if the rights sell for millions, it wont solve Clark Countys economic problems. My brother, Fred, is the one I named my TV character (on Sanford and Son) after. Your email address will not be published. "Redd and I thought we could grab some quick cash, plus notoriety, then move onto the next project., Wilson and Foxx first met each other in Las Vegas, where Foxx was doing stand-up. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Foxx had an interesting childhood, going to school with the first Black mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, and meeting Malcolm X, then known as Malcolm Little. Rest on Redd Foxx, after a job well done. During some downtime, Foxx was chatting with a reporter from. Go get my wife. Thats when Della immediately sprung into action and told everyone to call the paramedics and Get Mrs. Foxx down here. BUT IT WAS WHAT DELLA SAYS THE PRODUCERS DID NEXT THAT WILL REALLY TICK YOU OFF, Della Reese and Redd Foxx praised Foxx on his ability to make people laugh. And while he was a notorious funnyman who worked steadily as . So when the comedian landed his famed "Sanford & Son". That nickname would be cemented when he worked as a dishwasher in Harlem alongside Malcolm Little, later to be much better known as civil rights leader Malcolm X. Fill out a short Google Form with your question, and the Review-Journal will work to answer your most pressing questions about the 2024 election. But again, Fred was very thoughtful and a man of great character, so in honor of his brother, who was also an ex-con and because he understood that prisoners were still human beings and not throw-aways, he dedicated his life to performing in prisons. ", 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Advertisement On October 11, 1999, the "Sanford and Son" star was on the set of his latest TV show when a stroke claimed his life at the age of 68. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice Kandi Burruss Hustles Up KFC Ad Based on Scene Dr. Phil Calls Professors $350,000-Per-Person Reparations Idea an Absolute Four Tops Singer to Sue Racist Hospital: They Told Suge Knight Says Snoop Dogg and Harry-Os Death Row Barbies Racial Justice Dolls Continue Mattels Path Toward Representation Daveed Diggs Planned Twister Sequel with All-Black and Brown Laura Coates Unlikely to Host CNNs 11 p.m. Therefore, Foxx grew up idolizing his big brother instead. He also credited his brother for fueling him with motivation to become a comedy star, but when you see the incredible things he did for his big bro on Sanford and Son and beyond, youll probably gain even more respect for Foxx, one of the greatest to have EVER done it. So, after his death, Eddie Murphy stepped in to make sure he was properly honored. His televison character, Fred Sanford, was named for his brother. A publicity image of Redd Foxx. So I just dedicated myself to it. }); Copyright 2015 . Despite his popular and financial success, Mr. Foxx often expressed bitterness about his career. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. "They were rehearsing on the set and clowning around, and Redd was sort of breaking people up when he collapsed," a spokeswoman for the show told The Los Angeles Times. Yep you read that right, Redd Foxx made sure that the Sanford and Son execs allowed him to name his character so that he could honor the memory of his brother, Fred, whod died five years before the show premiered. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Redd Foxx did two things to pay homage to his late brother (pictured below) and they fall right in line with the thoughtful, generous brotha that all of his friends and family knew him to be: Foxxs real name is John Elroy Sanford and his brothers real name is Fred G. Sanford. Red Foxx explained why he was so passionate about honoring his brother by performing in prisons: Ive been to almost every prison in America, but you never read about it. Shortly before his death, the IRS foreclosed on his Eastern Avenue home, which is rumored to be haunted, Cahill said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "He's going to be missed a great deal because he was pretty creative," Mr. White said. The World was not ready for a Black player on a White team in 1937. At first Della thought it was another of Redds pranksuntil she quickly realized it wasnt when Redd told her to Go call my wife. So I just dedicated myself to it. Redd Foxx began doing stand-up comedy on the infamous "Chitlin' | Source: Wikimedia Commons. Fred ended up earning record breaking plaques and awards while in prison for his outstanding baseball skills on the prison teams. But the Sanford & Son superstar spent the rest of his life honoring his brothercheck out what Foxx once revealed about this in excerpts from a Jet Magazine interview. Heres an only-in-Vegas story courtesy of Redd Foxx and Clark County Public Administrator John J. Cahill. Foxx reportedly once earned $4 million in a single year but depleted his fortune with a lavish lifestyle, exacerbated by what he called very bad management,' People Magazine reported. When she wanted something done she could hardly breatheshe had emphysema, she had cancer, she had lumbago, she had whooping cough. Foxx took his last breath at the Queen of Angels Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, confirmed Jeff Sagansky, the then president of CBS Entertainment. His father left home, and Mr. Foxx ran away when he was 13. Once in Chicago, at age 13, Sanford supported himself by playing washboard in a band. Foxx did not have biological children, but he adopted Debreca Foxx, the daughter of Betty Jean Harris, who was the second of Foxxs four wives. Foxx's brother was apparently a regular fixture in the prison scene during Redd's younger years, and he died years before Redd did. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', At the time, he was shooting a new sitcom titled, The Royal Family. Foxx easily brought laughter to people in his unorthodox way. For the final six episodes of the third season, Grady was put in charge of the business while Fred Sanford was in St. Louis attending his cousin's funeral because Foxx had walked off the show. In other words, the rights to the life story of Foxx are being treated as real property. He. [5] [6] Eddie Murphy Paid for Comedian Redd Foxx's Funeral & Headstone after He Died Penniless at 68 By Daniella Segell Jan 07, 2023 09:55 A.M. Actor and comedian Redd Foxx, who would have turned 100 on December 9, 2022, reached Hollywood stardom. Sandford and Son was a massive success, and Foxx went on to star in Harlem Nights opposite Eddie Murphy, but what was his net worth when he died? He tried out with the Chicago White Sox, but that was years before Jackie Robinson made the break, and he was too early. Ive been to Attica (in New York). But there have been questions and some confusion in the past. Foxx died in 1991 at age 68. Its difficult not to be angry at the details that reportedly went down on Redds last day here on earth. [4] He appeared in the film Me and the Kid (1993). Redd Foxx was born Jon Elroy Sanford on December 9, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri. Foxx was one of the premier "blue placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', NBC and Tandem Productions claimed Foxx "appeared at the studio flaunting a pearl-handled revolver" and had already received a salary bump up to $25,000 an episode, from his initial $6000. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. More than 18 years after the comedian and actor died, Cahill announced Thursday that the ri. Heres what he told Jet Magazine about this back in the day: My brother was a first baseman but he could never get a break in baseball at that time because of race prejudice, Foxx [said]. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Foxx, who was nicknamed "Chicago Red" because of his hair color, was only 49 years old when the series began; Fred Sanford was 65. According to Historic Missourians, his father left him, his older brother, and their mother, causing his mother to move to Chicago to find work to support them. I want every producer in Hollywood to read about this.. When he collapsed on Friday, many in the cast first thought he was joking, then quickly realized he was ill. humor" comedians. I'm coming to join ya, honey!". After he passed, I started doing all those shows.. We had no idea how to sell movie rights, said Cahill, adding in his statement that he is hiring professionals to market the deal. But he also did not manage his finances well. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. And there you have it ILOSM fam! Another fun fact about an Old School icon who had a heart as large as his popularity. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. Junk runs in the family. By continuing to browse or by clicking I Accept Cookies you agree to the storing of first-party and third-party cookies on your device and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to our third party service providers or advertising partners to optimize your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. He talked about his ex wives and what young comics shouldn't do after they make a name for themselves in the industry. As in not good. The court put the estate into the domain of the public administrator. Redd's real name is John Elroy Sanford and his brother's name is Fred G. Is Jamie Foxx related to Redd Foxx? Cahill inherited the matter when he was elected in 2007. After Sanford and Son ended 1977, NBC tried to keep the party going without Foxx, who left to do a variety show on ABC, and Wilson, who refused to keep the show going due to a salary dispute. _taboola.push({ At first, no one thought anything was wrong since Foxxs character on Sandford and Son was known for faking heart attacks. Slappy White, an early partner, accompanied other friends and relatives to the hospital. Foxx had kept the 1951 Ford F1 at his own Las Vegas home after the original series ended, returning it briefly to NBC for Sanford. Redd Foxx wasnt the only funny one in his family, he credited his brother with that title as well. One of the most decorated comedians of his time, Redd Foxx passed away due to a tragic heart attack while rehearsing for one of his shows. audiences. Speaking about the show, Foxx once stated in an interview: Im convinced that Sanford and Son shows middle-class America a lot of what they need to know. This part was written for Red, now what are we gon do?. (July 8, 1991 - October 11, 1991) (his death), (December 31, 1976 - September 11, 1981) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. He was 68 years old. Rest on Redd Foxx after a job well done. With the first of his party records, in 1956, Mr. Foxx began to be heard by larger audiences, eventually selling 20 million records. On October 11, 1999, the Sanford and Son star was on the set of his latest TV show when a stroke claimed his life at the age of 68.