Jon Elroy Sanford was born on the 9th December 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri USA, and died on the 11th October 1991 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a comedian and actor known under the stage name Redd Foxx. He is usually remembered for his lead role in the television series “Sanford and Son” which helped him to become well known personality in the pop culture. Redd Foxx had been accumulating his net worth being active in the entertainment industry from 1935 to 1991.
How much was the net worth of Redd Foxx? At the time of his death, sources have estimated that it was -$3.5 million, as he owed such a sum in the form of taxes.
Redd Foxx Net Worth -$3.5 Million
To begin with, Jon actually grew up in Chicago, Illinois, USA. His father, an electrician, left the family when Foxx was just four years old, so his mother, who was from Seminole descent, took care of her son. He studied at Du Sable High School although did not graduate from the above mentioned school. He moved to New York City in the early 1940s and became an associate of Malcolm X. Redd Foxx earned his nickname because of his red hair and his complexion, with his stage surname taken in honour of the baseball star Jimmie Foxx.
Foxx initially achieved fame for his performances in nightclubs; his humorous solo numbers were later edited into albums, becoming very popular as a result, and adding significant sums to the total size of Redd Foxx’s net worth. The popularity of Foxx rose after he landed a role in the sitcom “Sanford and Son” (1972–1977) aired on NBC. Foxx was also remembered for his fights with producers Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear to gain greater control of the show, as well as a higher salary.
In 1977 Foxx left “Sanford and Son” after six successful seasons (the show was cancelled after his departure) to act on a variety show that was short-lived, “The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour” (1977–1978). Later, Foxx appeared in the spin-off of the “Sanford and Son” series called “Sanford” (1980–1981). However, the series couldn’t repeat the success of the original. Later, he starred in “The Redd Foxx Show” (1986) which was followed by the series “The Royal Family” (1991), on which he worked with his friend Della Reese. This assisted his net worth somewhat too.
Unfortunately, the actor suffered an acute heart attack and died on the set, located in Los Angeles, California, at the comparatively early age of 68. He was buried in the Cemetery Palm Valley View Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada. After his death, Foxx received a star on the Walk of Fame in St. Louis on the 17th May 1992.
Finally, in the personal life of the actor, he was married four times. Foxx married Evelyn Killebrew in 1948, but they divorced in 1951. From 1956 to 1975, he was married to Betty Jean Harris. His third wife was Yun Chi Chung with whom Redd Foxx lived from 1976 to 1981. From 1991, he was married to Ka Ho Cho, who lived with the famous comedian until his death.
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Movies
Harlem Nights, Norman... Is That You?, Cotton Comes to Harlem, On Location: Redd Foxx, Housecoat 3
TV Shows
The Royal Family, The Redd Foxx Show, Sanford, Sanford and Son, Redd Foxx
#
Trademark
1
Gruff, deep voice
2
His catchphrase, "You hear that, Elizabeth? I'm coming to join ya, honey!"
3
Faked Heart Attacks Frequently
#
Quote
1
I'm a Sagittarian, see, I can't be fenced in. I been living in Las Vegas, greatest city in the world. I look out my window for 100 miles. In Vegas, there's nothing to do but gamble, drink or have sex. I have two of 'em.
2
Junk runs in the family. My granddad was a junk man in St. Louis and so was my uncle.
3
Fred was a funny kid, and I got a lot of humor from him. For a while, we were in a Catholic school up in Milwaukee, and Fred used to get laughs pulling an electric iron around the floor, like dragging a dog on a leash. Every day he had a new thing going with the iron. Fred was a great ball player too. He tried out with the Chicago White Sox, but that was years before Jackie Robinson made the break, and he was too early.
4
[Who had to adjust his sleeping patterns before rehearsing on the set of Sanford and Son (1972)]: When I worked in clubs, I had to be alert until 2, maybe 3 in the morning. I found it best to sleep during the daytime.
5
[Who at the very last minute finally learning to sleep in the evening]: It was awful at first. I'd lie awake all night, knowing that I had to rehearse 'Sanford,' the next day. But I was geared to being up late, I only caught a couple hours sleep each night for the first few months.
6
[In 1972]: I've been trying to get into the Royal Box in New York for years. They say I'm too dirty, my material is too blue. But I think Redd, the whites and blue can be a nice combination.
#
Fact
1
He was known to be a very social butterfly.
2
Appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show (1989) on October 9, 1991, just two days before his death.
3
In a T.V. Guide interview, Sanford explained that many black people, including himself, who had white ancestors frequently had a reddish tint to their hair and skin. Hence his nickname Redd.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son (1972).
11
Foxx turned down a role in The Great White Hope (1970), which was inspired by the career and struggles against racism of former heavyweight champ Jack Johnson. Foxx knew Johnson and refused the role as he believed the play (which won the Pulitzer Prize) had white-washed his old friend.
12
His stage name came from his childhood nickname "Red" which referred to his reddish hair and skin. He took the name "Foxx" as a tribute to Chicago Cubs player Jimmie Foxx and as a reference to the red fox.
13
He was nicknamed "Zorro" which is Spanish for "fox".
14
Huge fan of the "Little Rascals" and worked frequently with Tommy Bond who played the bully "Butch". Foxx often wore a "Butch" style golf cap in many of his shows because of this.
15
Briefly attended Du Sable High School in Chicago with future Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington.
16
On Sanford and Son (1972) one of the main characteristics of his character Fred Sanford was the he had a weak heart and that he always knew that the day for "The Big One" would eventually come. It was a trademark of the show that he would fake a heart attack in the face of some shocking news. In one of the bitterest ironies when Redd Foxx finally did experience the "The Big One," it was a heart attack and those around him thought he was just joking around and didn't seek immediate help.
17
Fred Sanford, Foxx's character on Sanford and Son (1972), was ranked #42 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].
18
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 165-167. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
19
One of his greatest assets (and perhaps, weaknesses) was his generosity to others. His most famous character, Fred Sanford, was named in honor of his brother, and many of the actors and character names on the television series Sanford and Son (1972) were people who inspired him thoughout his life.
20
Had no biological children, but when he married Betty Jean Harris, he adopted her daughter, Debraca Denise.
21
Was expelled from one school on the first day for throwing a book at a teacher.
22
Due to Foxx's financial woes (the IRS seized and auctioned off his assets in 1989), his widow couldn't pay for his funeral, so Eddie Murphy footed the bill, giving Foxx a lavish, star-studded send-off.
23
During his early life as a dishwasher, he was called "Chicago Red" to distinguish him from his friend "Detroit Red". "Detroit Red" would later become famous as the political activist-social critic and Black nationalist known as Malcolm X.
24
Appeared on Flip (1970) on January 13th, 1972, the night before the classic Sanford and Son (1972) debuted. The two shows were on the same network: NBC.
25
One of the few performers to have the lead role in a television show on the three main networks. He was the lead in Sanford and Son, on NBC, the Royal Family, on CBS, and in the Redd Foxx show, and the Redd Foxx Comedy Hour on ABC.
26
Was the only artist to be invited to Elvis Presley's wedding at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, on May 1, 1967.
27
Interred at Palm Memorial Gardens, Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Devotion Section, Lawn Space 4091, 311 G.
-$3.5 Million
