Redd Foxx was born on December 9, 1922, as John Elroy Sanford. He was born in St Louis Missouri, but raised on the south side of Chicago.  After his father left when he was four, he was raised by his mother, grandmother and minster.  He attended DuSable High School, but never graduated.

In his early 20s he moved to New York and was friends with Malcolm Little (Malcolm X). His stage name was created as a combination of famous baseball player, Jimmie Foxx, and a nickname Redd receive while working.  He was referred to as “Chicago Red, the funniest dishwasher on this earth.” He was married four times in his life.

Foxx started his career in nightclubs, doing stand up comedy.

He later released his stand up on albums. This release boosted his notoriety and fame.  His nightclub act was labeled as raunchy, by the standards of the times. In today’s standards, he would probably be labeled as mild. He traveled to Las Vegas and became one of the first black comedians to perform for a white crowd.

In his early 50s, Foxx created his most memorable character, Fred Sanford, named after his brother that had passed away. Sanford and Son would give Redd the chance to hire his friends. Some of these were seen regularly on the show such as, LaWanda Page (Ester),  Gregory Sierra (Julio Fuentes), and Noriyuki “Pat” Morita (Ah Chew). In the show, Fred was always having “The Big One,” but Sanford and Son was Redd’s big one.

In 1977, Redd Foxx Left the show to create a short lived comedy show for ABC, The Redd Foxx Show. He revived his old character, Fred Sanford, in 1980, on the show Sanford.

In the 1991 series The Royal Family, Fred was making a comeback co-starring with Della Reese. On October 11, 1991, during rehearsals for The Royal Family, Redd suffered a fatal heart attack. It is rumored that the cast and crew thought he was doing his  ”This is the big one! Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!” gag. Unfortunately, this was not the case, he died that day.  He was 68 years old.

On May 17, 1992, Redd Foxx received a star on the St Louis Walk of Fame. Through his career he gave America laughter, the best present a person can receive. Foxx influenced and encouraged many young comedians including Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx. He will forever live in over hearts as our favorite junk man.