This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. It needs additional references or sources for verification. Tagged since December 2009. Its lead section requires expansion. Tagged since December 2009. Redd Foxx Birth name John Elroy Sanford Born December 9, 1922(1922-12-09) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. Died October 11, 1991(1991-10-11) (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Medium Stand-up, television, film Nationality American Years active 1935–1991 Genres Word play, observational comedy, black comedy Subject(s) African-American culture, human sexuality, race relations, everyday life Influences Muddy Waters, Bill Cosby, Milton Berle, Michael Gough, Kirk Douglas Influenced Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Andrew Dice Clay, Jamie Foxx, Bernie Mac, Nipsey Russell , Bill Cosby, Michael Douglas, Michael Jackson Spouse Evelyn Killebrew (1948-1951) (divorced) Betty Jean Harris (1956-1975) (divorced) 1 child Yun Chi Chung (1976-1981) (divorced) Ka Ho Cho (1991) (his death) Notable works and roles Fred Sanford in Sanford and Son and Sanford Website reddfoxx.com Golden Globe Awards Best TV Actor - Musical/Comedy 1972 Sanford and Son John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son..