Redd Foxx

Lore & Background

Redd Foxx was born John Elroy Sanford in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised on Chicago’s South Side. His father, an electrician and auto mechanic who served in World War I, left the family after 1930. Foxx was raised by his mother, who was of half-Seminole descent, his grandmother, and a minister. He attended DuSable High School alongside future Chicago mayor Harold Washington. As a teenager, he performed on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show as part of a group called the Jump Swinging Six. In the 1940s, while working as a dishwasher in Harlem, he befriended Malcolm Little (later Malcolm X); both had reddish hair, leading to Foxx being nicknamed “Chicago Red” and Malcolm “Detroit Red.” Malcolm later called Foxx “the funniest dishwasher on this earth.” During World War II, Foxx avoided the draft by eating soap before his physical, causing heart palpitations. His nightclub act was raunchy and successful, and after Dinah Washington urged him to move to Los Angeles, he was signed by Dootone Records. He became one of the first Black comedians to perform for white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip, releasing numerous comedy albums that became cult favorites. His defining role was Fred G. Sanford on *Sanford and Son*, a sitcom adaptation of the BBC’s *Steptoe and Son*. Foxx played a junk dealer in Watts, California, opposite Demond Wilson as his son Lamont. The show was notable for its racial humor and helped redefine Black situation comedy. Foxx’s character frequently feigned heart attacks, clutching his chest and calling out to his late wife Elizabeth, and complained about “arthur-itis” to avoid work. Foxx used his fame to hire friends like LaWanda Page and Slappy White. He won a Golden Globe and received multiple Emmy nominations for the role. After the series ended, he starred in a short-lived ABC variety show and later returned as Fred Sanford in the revival *Sanford*. Foxx died in 1991 and was posthumously honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Redd Foxx’s significance is rooted in his dual career as a boundary-breaking nightclub performer and a television star. Known as the “King of the Party Records,” he released over fifty albums, building a following with a raunchy stage act that gained traction before and during the civil rights movement. He was among the first Black comics to perform for white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip. His most lasting impact came from *Sanford and Son*, where he played Fred G. Sanford, a junk dealer in Watts, California. The show, adapted from a British series, was notable for its racial humor and open prejudices, which helped redefine Black situation comedy. Foxx’s performance featured running gags such as faking heart attacks while calling out to his late wife Elizabeth and complaining about “arthur-itis” to avoid work. His catchphrases, body language, and facial expressions became widely imitated in popular culture. Foxx used his starring role to secure jobs for many acquaintances, including LaWanda Page and Pat Morita. His work influenced numerous comedians and remains a key reference point for discussions of race, comedy, and television history. He was posthumously honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1992.

Did You Know?

• Redd Foxx avoided the World War II draft by eating half a bar of soap before his physical, causing heart palpitations.
• He befriended Malcolm Little (later Malcolm X) while working as a dishwasher at Jimmy's Chicken Shack in Harlem; Malcolm called Foxx 'the funniest dishwasher on this earth.'
• He was one of the first black comics to perform for white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip.