Raymond Gilmore Allen (March 5, 1929 – August 10, 2020)[1] was an American television actor.
He had recurring roles as Ned the Wino on Good Times, as Aunt Esther's husband, Woodrow "Woody" Anderson on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, and as mechanic Merle the Earl on Starsky and Hutch.
[4] He continued making public appearances where he spoke and signed autographs.
Allen died in August 2020 from a respiratory illness in California, at the age of 91.
[6][7] His daughter, Ta-Ronce Allen confirmed the news on her Facebook page.