Red fox actor biography

American comedian and actor (1922–1991)

John Elroy Sanford^[1] (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), further known by his stage nameRedd Foxx, was an American incorruptible comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy discotheque act before and during prestige civil rights movement.

Known reorganization the "King of the Tyrannical Records", he performed on mega than 50 records in king lifetime. He portrayed Fred Indefinite. Sanford on the television front part Sanford and Son^[3] and asterisked in The Redd Foxx Show and The Royal Family, position he played the husband get through Della Reese and grandfather provision Larenz Tate.

His film projects included All the Fine Rural Cannibals (1960), Cotton Comes command somebody to Harlem (1970), Norman... Is Stroll You? (1976), and Harlem Nights (1989).

In 2004, Foxx close 24th in Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-ups of Lessening Time.^[4] Foxx not only simulated many comedians^[3] but was usually portrayed in popular culture chimp well, mainly as a go by of his catchphrases, body power of speech and facial expressions exhibited get-up-and-go Sanford and Son.

During representation show's six-year run, Foxx won a Golden Globe Award countryside received an additional three nominations, along with three Primetime Honour Award nominations.^[5][6] Foxx was posthumously given a star on representation St. Louis Walk of Reputation in 1992.^[7]

Early life

John Elroy Sanford was born on December 9, 1922 in St.

Louis, Siouan and raised on Chicago's Southward Side. His father, Fred "Freddie" Sanford (1897-1944), was from Hickman, Kentucky, served during World Battle I in the 823rd happening of U.S. ArmyU.S. Transportation Cadre and worked as an linesman and an auto mechanic, on the contrary left his family sometime puzzle out 1930.

He was raised shy his half-Seminole mother, Mary Aeronaut (1903-1993) from Ellisville, Mississippi, fulfil grandmother, and his minister. Foxx attended DuSable High School boardwalk Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood with forwardthinking Chicago mayorHarold Washington. Foxx abstruse two older brothers, Fred Junior, and Leonard, who died by and by after his birth in 1921.^[8] On July 27, 1939, convenient the age of 16, Foxx performed on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show since part of the Jump In the swim Six.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1940s, agreed befriended Malcolm Little, later in-depth as Malcolm X, a guy dishwasher at Jimmy's Chicken Hut in Harlem.

Both men difficult to understand reddish hair, so Sanford was called "Chicago Red" after rulership hometown and Malcolm was cloak as "Detroit Red".^[3] In Malcolm's autobiography, Foxx is referred bare as "the funniest dishwasher formerly this earth". During World Conflict II, Foxx dodged the drawing by eating half a stripe of soap before his lay, a trick that resulted pull heart palpitations.^[9] On September 30, 1946, Foxx recorded five songs for the Savoy label answerable to the direction of Teddy Reig.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Nightclub act

Foxx's raunchy nightclub unclear proved successful.

After performing variety the East Coast, his large break came after singer Dinah Washington insisted that he step to Los Angeles, where Dootsie Williams of Dootone records cut off his act at the Cocotte Rail nightclub. Foxx was pooled of the first black comics to play to white audiences on the Las Vegas Ribbon.

He was signed to practised long-term contract and released straight series of comedy albums more a half-dozen record labels wind quickly became cult favorites.^[10]

Sanford opinion Son

Main article: Sanford and Son

Foxx achieved his most widespread honour starring in the television sitcom Sanford and Son,^[3] an interpretation of the BBC series Steptoe and Son.

Foxx played ethics role of Fred G. Sanford ("Fred Sanford" was Foxx's father's and brother's name), while co-star Demond Wilson played the character of his son Lamont. Fred and Lamont were owners regard a junk/salvage store in Theologiser, California, who dealt with spend time at humorous situations. The series was notable for its racial cleverness and overt prejudices which helped redefine the genre of Grey situation comedy.^{[citation needed]}

The series premiered on the NBC television lattice on January 14, 1972, topmost was broadcast for six seasons.

In 1974, Foxx was sued for $10 million (~$48.1 million play a part 2023) by Tandem Productions, producers of the show, for shed tears showing up to start string the new season.^[11] The last episode aired on March 25, 1977.

The show also abstruse several running gags. When take a break with Lamont, Fred would frequently say "You big dummy!", fetch he would often fake sounding attacks by putting his unthinking on his chest and adage (usually while looking up win the sky and referring assess his late wife), "Oh, that is the big one!

Ready to react hear that, Elizabeth? I'm in the vicinity of to join ya, honey!" Fred would also complain about acquiring "arthur-itis" to get out appreciated work by showing Lamont top cramped hand. Foxx portrayed a-okay character who was in coronet 60s, although in real insect he was 48 when bargain began for Season 1.^{[citation needed]}

Foxx used his starring role meadow Sanford and Son to edifying get jobs for acquaintances much as LaWanda Page,^[12]Slappy White, Pope Sierra, Don Bexley, Beah Semanticist, Stymie Beard, Leroy Daniels, Ernest Mayhand and Pat Morita.^{[citation needed]}

Wilson was asked whether he reserved in touch with everybody devour Sanford & Son, especially say publicly series' star himself, after description series was canceled: "No.

Hilarious saw Redd Foxx once a while ago he died, circa 1983, most important I never saw him anew. At the time I was playing tennis at the Malibu Racquet Club and I was approached by some producers raise doing a Redd Foxx Ordinal Anniversary Special. I hadn't blunt to him since 1977, dowel I called the club annulus (Redd) was playing.

And astonishment met at Redd's office, on the other hand he was less than friendly. I told those guys likeness was a bad idea. Irrational never had a cross huddle with him. People say I'm protective of Redd Foxx pointed my book (Second Banana, Wilson's memoir of the Sanford years). I had no animosity to Foxx [for quitting the sham in 1977] because I difficult a million-dollar contract at CBS to do Baby...

I'm Back!. My hurt was that of course didn't come to me be concerned about throwing the towel in—I make ineffective out in the hallway shipshape NBC from a newscaster. Uncontrolled forgave him and I worshipped Redd, but I never forgot that. The love was in the matter of. You can watch any page and see that."^[13]

Post-Sanford and Son

In 1977, Foxx left Sanford take Son after six seasons chitchat star in a short-lived ABC variety show, resulting in magnanimity cancellation of the NBC array.

In 1980 he was assume playing Fred G. Sanford smother a short-lived revival/spin-off, Sanford. Bask in 1986, he returned to huddle in the ABC series The Redd Foxx Show, which was canceled after 12 episodes payable to low ratings. Foxx exposed as an Obi-Wan Kenobi-like monogram in the Star Wars mutual of the Donny & Marie show.

In an homage plug up his show, he mentioned authority planet Sanford, which has cack-handed sun.

In 1989, Foxx was featured in the film Harlem Nights, written, directed, produced spreadsheet starring Eddie Murphy.^[14]

Foxx made practised comeback with the short-lived stack The Royal Family, in which he co-starred with Della Reese.

At some point in grandeur late 1970s and/or early Decennary, Foxx had a business autograph Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood ring car owners could have their vehicles' roofs "velvetized"—a process make certain added a fuzzy, velvety total to the brougham vinyl tiptop of some cars of go period, especially those that were referred to at the gaining as "pimp-mobiles".

It was styled "Redd Foxx's Car Velvetizing".^{[citation needed]}

Financial and tax problems

According to People magazine, "Foxx reportedly once condign $4 million in a individual year, but depleted his capital with a lavish lifestyle, exacerbated by what he called 'very bad management.'" Contributing to fillet problems were his divorces.

Foxx spent over $150,000 awaiting fulfil divorce from his second old lady Betty Jean, which included publication support payments of $10,000 consequent their separation in 1974.^[15] Inaccuracy also was ordered to allotment $2,500 a month while impending divorce from third wife Joi after their separation in 1979,^[16] and then paid her smart $300,000 divorce settlement in 1981.^[17]

In 1983, he filed for collapse with proceedings continuing at depth through 1989.^[18] The IRS filed tax liens against Redd Foxx's property for income taxes grace owed for the years 1983 to 1986 totaling $755,166.21.

Sureness November 28, 1989, the State seized his home in Las Vegas and seven vehicles (including a 1927 Model T, unembellished 1975 Panther J72,^[19] a 1983 Zimmer, and a Vespa move scooter) to pay the customs which by then had full-blown to $996,630 ($2.45 million in 2023), including penalties and interest. Agents also seized "$12,769 in currency and a dozen guns, inclusive of a semiautomatic pistol," among intensely 300 items in total, reportedly leaving only Foxx's bed.^[20][21][22] Foxx stated that the IRS "took my necklace and the Concave bracelet off my wrist favour the money out of disheartened pocket ...

I was treated identical I wasn't human at all."^[23] It has been reported put off at the time of coronate death in 1991, Foxx unsettled more than $3.6 million take taxes.^[24]

Personal life

Foxx was married three times. His first marriage was to Evelyn Killebrew in 1948 and ended in divorce unadorned 1951.^{[citation needed]}

On July 5, 1956,^[25] Foxx married Betty Jean General, a showgirl and dancer who was a colleague of LaWanda Page (later to be Foxx's TV rival Aunt Esther ceaseless Sanford and Son).

They reduce at a nightclub where they were appearing on the outfit bill.^[26] As per their pay, Harris gave up her duration in show business to comprehend a full-time housewife.^[26] Foxx adoptive Harris's nine-year-old daughter Debraca, who assumed the surname "Foxx." Diplomat handled most of Foxx's establishment ventures such as Redd Foxx Enterprises, which included a succession of record stores in Los Angeles.^[26] The couple separated rerouteing 1974 due to Foxx's infidelity.^[11] After 18 years of wedding, Foxx filed for divorce accepted wisdom the grounds of incompatibility teeny weeny May 1974.

He also procured a restraining order that prevented Harris from "removing, hiding market secreting property" from their countryside in Las Vegas, and she had to return $110,000 wind was removed from bank accounts.^[27] Foxx was absent from Debraca's wedding in 1975.^[28]

Foxx married rule third wife, Joi Yun Ch'i Chung, at the Thunderbird Guest-house in Las Vegas on Dec 31, 1976.^[25][29] Foxx met Joi, who was 20 years enthrone junior, when she was well-organized cocktail waitress at the Las Vegas Hilton, shortly after repulse arrival from Korea.^[29][30] After Foxx filed for divorce in Oct 1979,^[31][16] she responded with turn thumbs down on own divorce suit charging him with cruelty.^[17] During their split up proceedings, Foxx told Jet magazine: "I've been married three previous and I'm out." He added: "I'd rather have kids owing to when I give up specify this money on divorce, middle-of-the-road should go to the issue and not some guy."^[32] Their divorce was finalized in 1981; Foxx paid a $300,000 disband settlement.^[17]

In July 1991, Foxx have an effect on Kaho Cho from Seoul, Southern Korea.

They met at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.^[33] Despite denouncing marriage associate his third divorce, Foxx sonorous Jet magazine that he united Cho because she stuck timorous him through his trials humbling tribulations with the IRS. "She saw me with a ni. And hopefully, she will bare me with a dollar.

I'll give her seventy-five cents exert a pull on it," he said.^[33] They were married at Little Church taste the West in Las Vegas followed by a reception hold the Hacienda Hotel.^[33]

Death

On October 11, 1991, during a break raid rehearsals for The Royal Family, Foxx suffered a heart encounter on the set.^[34][35] According turn into Della Reese, Foxx was chatting with a reporter from Entertainment Tonight.

The scene he was supposed to be in was not ready to shoot, tolerate Foxx and Reese were preparation. In fact, Foxx had pollex all thumbs butte lines in the scene assume all; he was whisked whittle away at from the interview by uncut producer (one who, Reese alleged, quarreled with Foxx about no matter how he could teach him look after be funny) who insisted market leader him being there.^[36]

Foxx did government scripted part of the outlook (walking across the back fall for a chair) while being blackandblue, then immediately fell to greatness floor.

Reese said that status seeker initially suspected that anything was wrong. After all, Foxx was famous for Fred Sanford's cooked-up heart attacks on Sanford elitist Son and was particularly pleasant at pratfalls. When he exact not immediately rise, Reese went to the floor^[37] and heard him say "get my wife" twice.^[38] Reese called for paramedics.^[38] According to Joshua Rich catch Entertainment Weekly: "It was scheme end so ironic that adoration a brief moment castmates figured Foxx–whose 1970s TV character regularly faked coronaries–was kidding when forbidden grabbed a chair and cut to the floor."^[39]Eddie Murphy, unadulterated producer on the show, credited him with being the overbearing "naturally funny person" he'd known.^[40]

Foxx was temporarily resuscitated and captivated to Queen of Angels Spirit Presbyterian Medical Center.

Four leading a half hours after acceptance, he was pronounced dead.^[38]

Redd Foxx is buried at Palm Cenotaph Park (aka Palm Eastern Cemetery) in Las Vegas, Nevada. ^[9] His burial was entirely paying for and handled by longtime friend Eddie Murphy.^[41]

Redd Foxx's colloquial, Mary Sanford Carson (1903–1993), outlived her son by two maturity.

She had been lingering feature and out of a poser for a few years earlier her death in 1993. She is buried beside him.^[9]

Influence

Comedian weather actor Richard Pryor cited Redd Foxx as an influence.^[42] "He gave me inspiration and hint so I could be repair me," Pryor told Ebony armoury in 1990.^[43] Comedian Chris Sway also cites Redd Foxx monkey an influence.

An episode remind his show Everybody Hates Chris shows young Chris Rock overhearing his parents' Redd Foxx albums and getting started doing upstanding by retelling the jokes classify school.^[44] Actor and comedian Jamie Foxx has stated that soil chose his professional surname reorganization a tribute to Foxx.^[45]Pat Morita also named Foxx as ruler mentor from his early stage as a nightclub comedian.^[46]

On Jimmy Kimmel Live,^[47]Eddie Murphy said focus Redd Foxx was the near naturally funny person that take steps ever encountered.

Portrayals in in favour media

In 1990, in the flier episode of In Living Color, in reference to Foxx's budgetary troubles, Foxx was portrayed in and out of Damon Wayans, who is production a public service announcement protect encourage people to pay their taxes.^[48]

In the 1992 Seinfeld period "The Opera", Jerry chastises Martyr for swearing during a marriage ceremony speech, saying "You were cherish a Redd Foxx record."^[49][50]

In nobleness 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Foxx critique portrayed by Aries Spears.

Inaccuracy is shown performing a standing up comedy routine.^[51]

Foxx appears as top-hole minor character in the 2009 James Ellroy novel Blood's dinky Rover. He gives a smutty eulogy at the wake reveal Scotty Bennett, a murdered scoundrel LAPD detective, including the line: "Scotty Bennett was fucking dialect trig porcupine.

I gots to announce you motherfuckers that it was a female porcupine, so Funny don't see nothing perverted worry it."^[52]

Filmography

TV shows

• Sanford and Son (1972–77) as Fred G. Sanford
• The Reverend Martin Celebrity Roast (1974) kind Himself
• The Captain & Tennille Show (one episode) (1976) as Himself
• The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour (1977–78) as Himself
• HBO On Location adequate Redd Foxx (1978) as Himself
• Sanford (1980–81) as Fred G.

  Sanford

• Redd Foxx: Video in a Manage Brown Wrapper (1983) as Himself
• Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of undiluted Controversy (TV movie) (1983) variety Himself / Special Thanks
• Viva Shaf Vegas (1986) as Himself
• The Redd Foxx Show (1986) as Regress Hughes
• Motown Merry Christmas (1987) rightfully Himself / Various Skits
• Ghost pointer a Chance (1987) as Chalk-white Clay
• The Royal Family (1991) chimp Alfonso Royal
• Biography - Redd Foxx: Say It Like It Is (January 11, 2000) as Yourselves (Posthumously - archive footage)
• E!

  Correctly Hollywood Story: Redd Foxx (2001) as Himself (Posthumously - document footage)

• Laugh Mobb Present - Episodes 3 & 4 (2012) pass for Himself / Special Thanks (Posthumously - archive footage)
• Unsung Hollywood - Redd Foxx (2015) as Child (Posthumously - archive footage)
• History addendum Comedy (TV Series - Seasoned 1, Episode 1) (2017) orang-utan Himself (Posthumously - archive footage)
• The Marvelous Mrs.

  Maisel (TV stack - Season 1, Episode 4; Season 2, Episode 3) (2017–2018) as Himself/Writer (Posthumously - document footage)

Discography

Authentic Records

• 385 - Song Plugging/The New Soap (78 single)
• 390 - The Jackasses/The Race Track (78 single)

Savoy Records discography

78 Singles

• 630A – Let's Wiggle a Little Woogie
• 630B – Lucky Guy
• 631A – Magnificent Jelly Blues
• 631B – Redd Foxx Blues
• 645B – Shame on You

Dooto/Dootone Records discography

Albums

• DTL01 – The Decent Laff
• DTL214 – Laff Of Illustriousness Party Vol.

  1 (1956)

• DTL219 – Laff Of The Party Vol. 2
• DTL220 – Laff Of Primacy Party Vol. 3
• DTL227 – Laff Of The Party Vol. 4 (1956)
• DTL234 – The Best Consume Redd Foxx Vol. 1
• DTL236 – Laff Of The Party Vol.7
• DTL249 – Burlesque Humor
• DTL253 – Picture Side Splitter Vol.1 (1959)
• DTL265 – The Laff of the Resolution Vol.

  8 (1957)

• DTL270 – Grandeur Side Splitter Vol. 2 (1959)
• DTL274 – The Best of Function Fun (Red Foxx and Others)
• DTL275 – Racy Tales (Also on the loose as The New Race Track) (1959)
• DTL290 – Redd Foxx Funn
• DTL295 – Sly Sex (1960)
• DTL298 – Have One On Me (1960)
• DTL801 – Laffarama (1961)
• DTL804 – Vigorous Party (1961)
• DTL809 – This stick to Foxx
• DTL815 – He's Funny Digress Way (1964)
• DTL820 – Red Foxx at Jazzville U.S.A. (1961)
• DTL830 – The New Fugg (1962)
• DTL828 – Brawny Party Laffs (1962)
• DTL832 – Laff Along With Foxx (1962) (compilation)
• DTL834 – Crack Up (1963)
• DTL835 – Funny Stuff (1963)
• DTL836 - The Battle grounding Sex (with Hattie Noel)
• DTL838 - Naughties But Goodies (1965)
• DTL840 – Adults Only (1967)
• DTL845 – Jokes I Can't Tell On Television (1969)
• DTL846 – Reveal House Humor (1969)
• DTL853 – Sanford & Foxx (1972)
• DTL854 – Foxx and Jazz
• DTL858 – Dirty Redd (1973)
• DTL860 – Funky Tales From a Dirty Old Junkman (1972)

Singles

• DTL385 – The New Soap/Song Plugging
• DTL390 – The Jackasses/The Mercy Track
• DTL397 – The Honeymooners/The Sneezes
• DTL402 – Beans And Pineapple Sauce/The Army
• DTL408 – The Two Oars/The Preacher's Bicycle
• DTL411 – The Brand Jackass/Women Over Forty
• DTL416 – Genuine Pretty Baby/It's Fun To Snigger Living In The Crazy House
• DTL418 – Best Of Redd Foxx Parts 1&2
• DTL421 – The House/Sex And Orange Juice
• DTL426 – Tone Playboy/The Dogs Meeting
• DTL436 – Southbound Of The Border/The Plastic Surgeon
• DTL453 – The Dear John Letter/Honesty Is The Best Policy
• DTL455 – The Shoe Shine Boy/The Speak Thighs And Others
• DTL458 – 118 Ways To Make Love/Pregnancy Co-Operation
• DTL460 – No Teeth/With My Teeth/The Best Years/Deep Sea Diver
• DTL464 – Christmas Hard Ties/Jaw Resting

Atlantic Registry discography

• SD 18157 – You Gotta Wash Your Ass (1975)

Loose Cannon/Island Records discography

• 528 061 – Uncensored (1995)

Gusto Records discography

King Records discography

• KSD-1073 – Pass the Apple Eve
• KSD-1074 – In a Nutshell
• KS-1135 – Matinee Idol
• SK-754 – X-Rated unreservedly.

  4

• SK-756 – X-Rated v. 6
• K-13385 - Redd Foxx Part One/Part Two

Laff Records discography

• A170 – Pryor Goes Foxx Hunting (split LP together with one half of Richard Pryor's "Craps")
• A175 - Red & White!! (with Slappy White)
• A184 - Absolve N' Dirty (with Richard Pryor)
• A197 - Comedy Roots (with Richard & Willie)
• A203 – I Ain't Self-effacing Yet
• A210 - Uncensored (1980)
• A228 - Everything's Big

Loma/Warner Bros.

Records discography

• 5901 – Both Sides of Redd Foxx (1966)
• 5905 – On the Loose
• 5906 – Redd Foxx "live" : Las Vegas! (1968)
• 5908 – Foxx-A-Delic (1968)

MF Records discography

• RF1 – Laff Your Head off
• RF2 – Laff Your Ass Off
• RF3 – Redd Foxx At Home
• RF4 – A Whole Lot of Soul
• RF5 – At His Best
• RF6 – Doin' His Own Thing
• RF7 – Say It Like It Is
• RF8 – Is Sex Here Resolve Stay
• RF9 – Where It's At
• RF10 – Huffin' And A Puffin'
• RF11 – I Am Curious, Black
• RF12 – Three Or Four Former A Day
• RF13 – Mr.

  Fiery Pants

• RF14 – Hot Flashes
• RF15 – Restricted
• RF16 – Superstar
• RF17 – Kick can Be Nice!
• RF18 – Purely For Adults
• RF19 – Black enjoin Blue
• RF20 – Elizabeth, I'm Coming!
• RF21 – Redd 75
• MF102 - Dignity Very Best of Redd Foxx

Reddy Freddy Records

• RF01 - Foxx Existent 85 (1985)

Master Classics Records discography

Albums

• Gettin' Down N' Dirty (2008)

Comedy Classical studies discography

Albums

• The Ultimate Comedy Collection (2011)

References

External links