Grady Demond Wilson, best known for playing Lamont Sanford on NBC’s *Sanford and Son*, has died at 79. His son, Demond Wilson Jr., confirmed to TMZ that the actor was pronounced dead Friday morning at his home in Palm Springs. He died from complications related to cancer, though the specific type was not disclosed.

“I loved him. He was a great man,” his son said.

Born October 13, 1946, Wilson was raised in New York City after being born in Valdosta, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he was wounded in combat and later honorably discharged. After returning home, he studied acting at the American Drama Studio in New York.

Wilson’s career changed in 1972 when he was cast opposite Redd Foxx as Lamont Sanford, the grounded, devoted son of Foxx’s sharp-tongued Fred Sanford. Their chemistry became the emotional core of *Sanford and Son*, helping make it one of the most influential sitcoms of the 1970s. Wilson remained on the show until it ended in 1977 and later appeared in its short-lived revival, *Sanford*.

After the series, Wilson continued acting in television, with roles on *The Love Boat*, *Fantasy Island*, *The New Odd Couple*, and *Girlfriends*. In later years, his focus shifted toward faith and ministry, becoming an author and pastor while remaining a beloved figure to generations of television viewers.