John Elroy Sanford[1] (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor.

[4] Foxx not only influenced many comedians[3] but was often portrayed in popular culture as well, mainly as a result of his catchphrases, body language and facial expressions exhibited on Sanford and Son.

[7] John Elroy Sanford was born on December 9, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri and raised on Chicago's South Side.

His father, Fred "Freddie" Sanford (1897-1944), was from Hickman, Kentucky, served during World War I in the 823rd company of U.S. Army U.S. Transportation Corps and worked as an electrician and an auto mechanic, but left his family sometime after 1930.

[8] On July 27, 1939, at the age of 16, Foxx performed on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show as part of the Jump Swinging Six.

During World War II, Foxx dodged the draft by eating half a bar of soap before his physical, a trick that resulted in heart palpitations.

After performing on the East Coast, his big break came after singer Dinah Washington insisted that he come to Los Angeles, where Dootsie Williams of Dootone records caught his act at the Brass Rail nightclub.

He was signed to a long-term contract and released a series of comedy albums on a half-dozen record labels that quickly became cult favorites.

The series was notable for its racial humor and overt prejudices which helped redefine the genre of Black situation comedy.

", or he would often fake heart attacks by putting his hand on his chest and saying (usually while looking up at the sky and referring to his late wife), "Oh, this is the big one!

[citation needed] Foxx used his starring role on Sanford and Son to help get jobs for acquaintances such as LaWanda Page,[12] Slappy White, Gregory Sierra, Don Bexley, Beah Richards, Stymie Beard, Leroy Daniels, Ernest Mayhand and Pat Morita.

At the time I was playing tennis at the Malibu Racquet Club and I was approached by some producers about doing a Redd Foxx 50th Anniversary Special.

"[13] In 1977, Foxx left Sanford and Son after six seasons to star in a short-lived ABC variety show, resulting in the cancellation of the NBC series.

In 1986, he returned to television in the ABC series The Redd Foxx Show, which was canceled after 12 episodes due to low ratings.

Foxx appeared as an Obi-Wan Kenobi-like character in the Star Wars special of the Donny & Marie show.

In 1989, Foxx was featured in the film Harlem Nights, written, directed, produced and starring Eddie Murphy.

[citation needed] According to People magazine, "Foxx reportedly once earned $4 million in a single year, but depleted his fortune with a lavish lifestyle, exacerbated by what he called 'very bad management.'"

Foxx spent over $150,000 awaiting his divorce from his second wife Betty Jean, which included monthly support payments of $10,000 following their separation in 1974.

Agents also seized "$12,769 in cash and a dozen guns, including a semiautomatic pistol," among some 300 items in total, reportedly leaving only Foxx's bed.

[28] Foxx married his third wife, Joi Yun Chi Chung, at the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas on December 31, 1976.

[25][29] Foxx met Joi, who was 20 years his junior, when she was a cocktail waitress at the Las Vegas Hilton, shortly after her arrival from Korea.

[33] Despite denouncing marriage after his third divorce, Foxx told Jet magazine that he married Cho because she stuck by him through his trials and tribulations with the IRS.

[36] Foxx did his scripted part of the scene (walking across the back of a chair) while being livid, then immediately fell to the floor.

[38] According to Joshua Rich at Entertainment Weekly: "It was an end so ironic that for a brief moment castmates figured Foxx–whose 1970s TV character often faked coronaries–was kidding when he grabbed a chair and fell to the floor.

[46] On Jimmy Kimmel Live,[47] Eddie Murphy said that Redd Foxx was the most naturally funny person that he ever encountered.

[48] In the 1992 Seinfeld episode "The Opera", Jerry chastises George for swearing during a wedding speech, saying "You were like a Redd Foxx record.