Iconic 70s actor Demond Wilson has died at age 79. Wilson is best known for starring as Lamont Sanford, Fred Sanford’s son, in Sanford and Son, one of the first television programs with a mostly Black cast. Wilson served in the Vietnam War and received the Purple Heart before he began acting. The show ran for six seasons and was a big hit for audiences nationwide. Afterward, Wilson aimed to go back to serving his community. While he made a handful of film appearances, he decided that it wasn’t a fulfilling career for him, telling the Los Angeles Times it was “emotionally exhausting because I had to make it appear that I was excited about what I was doing,” and became a minister in the 1980s. His publicist, Mark Goldman, confirmed that Wilson died following complications from cancer. In a statement to the Associated Press, Goldman said, “Through his work on screen, his writing, and his ministry, he sought to uplift others and leave a meaningful impact on the communities he served.” He leaves behind his wife Cicely and six children.
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