LaWanda Page Movies
A comedienne turned actress who rose to fame as outspoken bible-thumper Aunt Ester in Redd Foxx's hit sitcom Sanford and Son, LaWanda Page performed with such other famous contemporaries as Richard Pryor and Rudy Ray Moore before finding success on the small screen. A native of Cleveland who grew up in St. Louis, Page first hit the stage as an exotic dancer and chorus girl... (read more) billed "the Bronze Goddess of Fire" (due to her penchant for playing with fire on-stage) before fully realizing her talents as a standup comic. Subsequently approached by Foxx to star in Sanford and Son, Page tickled television viewers' funny bones with her memorable role as Foxx's aggressively religious sister-in-law in the original series' spin-off The Sanford Arms, and the 1980 revival Sanford. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Page crafted a feature-film career with minor roles in such comedies as Zapped! (1982), My Blue Heaven (1990), Friday (1995), and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996). Always retaining her fiery approach to comedy, Page also performed on-stage in productions of The Inquest of Sam Cooke and Take It to the Lord...Or Else. On September 14, 2002, LaWanda Page died from complications of diabetes in Los Angeles, CA. She was 81. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Friday
R 1995
Hard-core rapper Ice Cube, after appearing in such hard-hitting films as Boyz 'N the Hood and Higher Learning, played his first comic role in this picture he co-wrote...
The Meteor Man
PG 1993
Robert Townsend's superhero action comedy underwent much tinkering during post-production, employing four editors to whip the film into shape. Townsend wrote, directed, and...
CB4: The Movie
R 1993
Comedian Chris Rock stars in this scattershot satire of rap music in the vein of This Is Spinal Tap. This film within a film begins with A. White (Chris Elliot)...
Shakes the Clown
R 1992
This black comedy chronicles the fall of one of the world's most unlovable clowns as he plies his trade and tries to survive in Palukaville a town where everyone is more or less a...
Talkin' Dirty After Dark
R 1991
Starring Martin Lawrence and including Mark Curry, Tone Loc, Inez Edwards, John Witherspoon and Rene Jones among many others, Talkin' Dirty After Dark is a...
Women Tell the Dirtiest Jokes
1985
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Mausoleum
R 1983
In this modest but well-wrought occult horror film, Susan Farrell (Bobbie Bresee) innocently visits her family's mausoleum at the age of 10, and, due to an ancient curse on the...
Zapped!
R 1982
Carrie meets Porky's as Charles in Charge co-stars Scott Baio and Willie Aames re-team for this mischievous-minded teen comedy about a hormonal high school...
B.A.D. Cats
1980
B.A.D. Cats was a 1980 TV adventure series, all about a special division of the LA police department. Comprised of ex-racing drivers, the B.A.D. C.A.T. squad (Burglary Auto...
The Richard Pryor Special?
1977
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Sanford and Son: School Daze
1977
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...
Sanford and Son: Fred Sings the Blues
1977
Although he passes on performing songs written by Fred (Redd Foxx), the great B.B. King (playing himself) gives Fred a book, which explains why King starting...
Sanford and Son: Funny, You Don't Look It
1977
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...
Sanford and Son: Chinese Torture
1977
Amateur magician Grady (Whitman Mayo) attempts to perform his "famous" Chinese-wristlock trick. As a result, Fred (Redd Foxx) and Esther (LaWanda Page) end up...
Sanford and Son: When John Comes Marching Home
1977
Having already announced their engagement, Lionel (Demond Wilson) and Janet (Marlene Clark) eagerly make plans for their wedding. Then, out of nowhere, Janet's...
Sanford and Son: The Will
1977
It is nothing new when Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) clobbers Fred (Redd Foxx) with her purse. This time, however, the "weapon" is a bit heavier, thanks to Esther's...
Sanford and Son: The Reverend Sanford
1977
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...
Sanford and Son: The Lucky Streak
1977
The Sanford Arms is threatened with foreclosure due to nonpayment of rent. Fred and Lamont Sanford (Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson) decide that the best way to avoid this...
Sanford and Son: Fred the Activist
1977
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...
Sanford and Son: Here Today, Gone Today
1977
As a surprise for Fred (Redd Foxx), who is about to celebrate his 40th year in the business, Lamont (Demond Wilson) and Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) arrange to...