Prior to getting her first real break in Sanford and Son, LaWanda Page had established herself world-wide as a dancer and comedienne who had in fact worked herself up through the ranks with the likes of Richard Pryor, Rudy Ray Moore, Skillet and LeRoy, Moms Mabley, Hi Fi White, just to name a few. In other words, LaWanda paid her dues on the chitterling circuit also before she made it big on Sanford and Son.
The real life story behind the brother and sister-like relationship between Redd Foxx and LaWanda Page is inspiringly warm and comical in its own right. I would be remiss not to tell this story which LaWanda has told me many times. In fact, I have heard her tell it on countless interviews on national television.
This is how the story goes. When the producers of Sanford and Son decided that they wanted to write in a sister-in-law for Fred, Redd suggested and recommended La Wanda.
He had known LaWanda since childhood back in St. Louis. In fact, they went to school together. Redd would fight to protect LaWanda, then he and LaWanda would fight each other. (A classic setting for the typical black childhood, wouldn’t you agree?)
Anyway, back to the story. When LaWanda got to the studio and was given the script to audition, (remember, she had no prior experience in television, let alone reading a professionally written script for a number one network television show), the producer told La Wanda to read her lines. She read both her lines and the scene directions in the script.
Example- LaWanda “Watch it sucka”. Then she also read aloud “Redd walks up with a mean look on his face.” She literally read the whole thing…of course everybody laughed and this is still prone for an occasional laugh to this day.
The producer kindly thanked her for her time and told her and Redd that he couldn’t use her. Redd then jumped to LaWanda’s defense and demanded that she be hired for the part. The producer flatly refused Redd’s demands. (Keep in mind that at the time Redd Foxx was the second highest paid man in network television and LaWanda didn’t have bus fare home.) In this very heated exchange Redd flatly told the producers that if LaWanda walked, then he was going to walk too. Redd stood up for his sister. The producer gave in to Redd’s demand, and that’s how LaWanda got the part of Aunt Esther. Just as he would fight for LaWanda back during childhood in St. Louis, he was and that’s how LaWanda got the part of Aunt Esther. Just as he would fight for LaWanda back during childhood in St Louis, he was again called to duty to protect and defend her in the high stakes game of the “Mighty Beast” of Hollywood. Yet he stood up and answered the bell and came out fighting for both himself and his sister- Now that’s a real brother for ya! Redd I love it.
The rest of the story is history. To this day LaWanda is recognized as one of the greatest female sitcoms personalities in the history of television. She has certainly paved the way for many black sisters to follow in her footsteps. We wish her continued success. Oh I mean ‘break a leg”. As for Redd, Rest In Peace dear brother. Remember no dirty jokes allowed in heaven, no cussing, or drinking that Ripple either. Break the rule one time and you wont be with Elizabeth no mo.
Suggested Reading: Redd Foxx, B.S.