Redd Foxx (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991) is considered one of the greatest comedians of all time—influencing a number of comedy legends who followed his groundbreaking path. Born John Elroy Sanford in St. Louis, Missouri, he got the nickname “Redd” because of his light skin complexion and hair color, while “Foxx” was derived from baseball player Jimmie Foxx. Redd was known for his dirty jokes—or “blue humor”—displayed on dozens of albums he recorded in the “Chitlin Circuit” during the 1950s, ‘60s, and '70s.

Redd’s signature character is Fred G. Sanford from the hit NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, which ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1977. After Redd left Sanford and Son, he starred in a few short-lived sitcoms before appearing in the 1989 movie Harlem Nights, which displayed three generations of comedy as Redd Foxx shared the screen with Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. On October 11, 1991, Redd Foxx died after suffering a heart attack during a rehearsal break for his final sitcom, The Royal Family.