Actor Demond Wilson, known for "Sanford and Son," died Jan. 30, 2026, at 79 from cancer complications.

Actor Demond Wilson, best known for playing Lamont Sanford on the 1970s NBC sitcom "Sanford and Son," has died at 79. He passed away on January 30, 2026, at his home in Palm Springs, California, due to cancer complications. Wilson, born Grady Demond Wilson in 1946, rose to fame alongside Redd Foxx, portraying the thoughtful son of a Harlem junk dealer in a groundbreaking show that advanced Black representation on television. He continued acting in series like "Baby… I’m Back!" and "The New Odd Couple" and appeared in films including "Me and the Kid." After stepping away from acting in the 1980s, he became an ordained minister, founded a nonprofit for former inmates, and focused on writing and faith-based work. His final screen role was in the 2023 drama "Eleanor’s Bench."