Demond Wilson Movies

Can it be that Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) has fallen in love with a white woman named Doris? That's what Lamont (Demond Wilson) and Donna (Lynn Hamilton) are led to believe when Fred begins mysteriously disappearing each and every night. It turns out, however, that Doris is a high-school teacher -- and Fred merely wants to earn his diploma after these many years. This was the 135th and final episode of Sanford and Son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Evidently inspired by the TV miniseries Roots, Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) is convinced that he is a descendant of none other than King Solomon. And how did this "revelation" come about? Well, it seems that Fred shelled out big money (a whole 25 dollars) to a family-tracing service -- who told him that he is the ancestor of a famous Jewish historical figure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With his tax deadline rapidly approaching, Fred (Redd Foxx) suddenly skips an appointment with his accountant. The reason? Fred hopes to win a huge prize by entering a Redd Foxx lookalike contest. And just guess who makes a "guest appearance" as Redd? Also appearing in this classic dual-identity episode is funnyman Jack Carter and old-time vaudevillian Benny Rubin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As a result of "waxy buildup," Fred (Redd Foxx) temporarily loses his hearing. After visiting the doctor, a cured Fred suddenly realizes that his ailment had earned him the undivided attention of his girlfriend Donna (Lynn Hamilton). Thus, Fred plays up his "deafness" to the hilt -- at least until his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) turns the tables on him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To avoid paying taxes, Fred (Redd Foxx) invests ten dollars in a "close cover before striking" divinity school headed by a clever con man. Inveigling Uncle Woodrow (Raymond Allen) and Bubba (Don Bexley) in his scheme, the "Reverend" Sanford sets up his own tax-exempt ministry, worshipping at the altar of the new religion known as "Junkism." Suffice it to say that the scheme heads down the same road paved with good intentions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) becomes a "Gray Fox" when stereo salesman Honest Al refuses to extend credit to anyone over the age of 65. Before long, Fred's activism catches on with others his age (and even older). This still-timely episode reaches a riotous denouement as Fred leads a contingent of oldsters on a protest march. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season six of Sanford and Son was launched on September 24, 1976, with the series' only two-part episode -- and also one of its funniest -- "The Hawaiian Connection," largely filmed on location in Honolulu and its environs. Then it was back to South Central Los Angeles, where irascible Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his long-suffering son Lamont (Demond Wilson) divided their time between their junk business and their new enterprise, a boarding house called the Sanford Arms. Most of the series' familiar recurring characters were still in attendance. LaWanda Page continued to wield her heavy purse and spout Scripture as Fred's contentious sister-in-law Aunt Esther, with Raymond Allen occasionally showing up as Esther's mild-mannered husband, Woodrow, and Eric Laneuville making a handful of appearances as Esther and Woody's newly-adopted son Daniel. Fred Sanford persisted in his romantic relationship with his erstwhile fiancée, nurse Donna Harris (Lynn Hamilton), while son Lamont made preparations to wed the widowed Janet Lawson (Marlene Clark) and adopt Janet's son Roger (Edward Crawford). Additionally, the Sanfords played host to a variety of male chums, among them Bubba (Don Bexley), Rollo (Nathaniel Taylor), and, from time to time, Grady Wilson (Whitman Mayo, whose own spin-off series Grady had recently been canceled). Absent from the proceedings were neighborhood cops Smitty and Hoppy, previously played respectively by Hal Williams and Howard Platt. At the end of season six, it would seem that Lamont was headed to the altar, while Fred would continue maintenance of both Sanford and Son Salvage and the Sanford Arms. Though its ratings had slipped a bit, Sanford and Son still enjoyed a robust prime-time viewership, and was now being seen in rerun form as part of NBC's weekday schedule. Its future as a Friday-night fixture appeared to be completely secure. But appearances can be deceiving. Having been offered his own weekly ABC variety show, Redd Foxx opted to leave Sanford and Son for good and all. The series' producers were all prepared to continue the property under the new title The Sanford Arms, with Demond Wilson promoted to top billing. Unfortunately, Wilson squabbled over what he felt was inadequate financial remuneration for taking over as sole series star, and also took a walk. After the final nighttime telecast of Sanford and Son on September 2, 1977, The Sanford Arms was launched as scheduled on September 16. Many of the old Sanford regulars -- LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo, Raymond Allen -- were still on board, but without the combined star power of Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson, this "new" series floundered and sank within four weeks of its premiere. Three years later, Redd Foxx tried to make the magic happen again with the "revival" project Sanford, with only Foxx and Nathaniel Taylor (Rollo) repeating their roles from the original series. Alas, audiences were unable to shake their pleasant memories of the old Sanford and Son, and Sanford was quietly terminated after a single season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A pair of shapsters persuade Fred (Redd Foxx) to invest in a shady sales promotion. The plan is to hold a fund-raising sweepstakes raffle -- without a winning ticket. The scheme backfires when a winner unexpectedly shows up, leaving Fred holding the bag. It is up to Bubba (Don Bexley) and an unwitting Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) to bail our hero out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To keep Lamont (Demond Wilson) from quitting the junk business, Fred (Redd Foxx) tries to get big a huge bank loan, pretending that business is booming and offering the junkyard as collateral. In his efforts to keep up this pretense, Fred moonlights as a waiter in a restaurant. The trick is to keep Fred's second job a secret from Lamont -- and want to bet that doesn't happen? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Chuck Barris guest-stars in this zany episode, wherein Fred (Redd Foxx) and his cronies are booked to appear on The Gong Show. Unfortunately for Fred, his wise-guy brother-in-law Rodney (Allan Drake) is slated to appear on the same show -- and fully intends to win the grand prize. A last-minute plot wrinkle results in a hilarious song-and-dance performed con brio by Fred, Lamont (Demond Wilson), and Bubba (Don Bexley). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fred (Redd Foxx) wins the Watts Businessman-of-the-Year award, but his bad back may prevent him from walking to the podium. Before long, Fred has a pain in other portions of his anatomy, thanks to the plethora of "home remedies" offered by his friends and family. The limit comes when son Lamont (Demond Wilson) suggests that Fred undergo acupuncture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to "bond" with son Lamont (Demond Wilson) before his marriage, Fred (Redd Foxx) talks Lamont into embarking upon a camping trip. Things go from bad to worse as the truck breaks down in the tall timbers, and Fred and Lamont are stranded, without food, in a snowstorm. Although not readily apparent, this is a "clip" show, comprised of flashbacks to earlier episodes. "Camping Trip" was the final installment of Sanford and Son's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, a gang of jewel thieves have planted their stolen gems on Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), who is in Hawaii to attend a junkman's convention with his son Lamont (Demond Wilson). Pursued all over Honolulu with the bad guys one step behind him, innocent Fred (who has since "misplaced" the loot) has no idea what is going on -- even with that Hawaii Five-O music playing incessantly in the background. Singer Don Ho makes a guest appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide