Trivia

Due to Foxx's financial woes (the IRS seized and auctioned off his assets in 1989), his widow couldn't pay for his funeral, so Eddie Murphy footed the bill, giving Foxx a lavish, star-studded send-off.

On Sanford and Son (1972) one of the main characteristics of his character Fred Sanford was that he had a weak heart and that he always knew that the day for "The Big One" would eventually come. It was a trademark of the show that he would fake a heart attack in the face of some shocking news. In one of the bitterest ironies when Redd Foxx finally did experience the "The Big One," it was a heart attack and those around him thought he was just joking around and didn't seek immediate help.

Gave $3,500 to Pat Morita to help him with the down payment on a house in the early 1970s.

One of his greatest assets (and perhaps, weaknesses) was his generosity to others. His most famous character, Fred Sanford, was named in honor of his brother, and many of the actors and character names on the television series Sanford and Son (1972) were people who inspired him thoughout his life.

Longtime best friend of Della Reese and LaWanda Page.

Was the only artist to be invited to Elvis Presley's wedding at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, on May 1, 1967.

During his early life as a dishwasher, he was called "Chicago Red" to distinguish him from his friend "Detroit Red". "Detroit Red" would later become famous as the political activist-social critic and Black nationalist known as Malcolm X.

Appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show (1989) on October 9, 1991, just two days before his death.

His stage name came from his childhood nickname "Red" which referred to his reddish hair and skin. He took the name "Foxx" as a tribute to Chicago Cubs player Jimmie Foxx and as a reference to the red fox.

Had no biological children, but when he married Betty Jean Harris, he adopted her daughter, Debraca Denise.

Began his show Sanford and Son (1972) at age 49.

Was one-quarter Seminole Indian.

Huge fan of the "Little Rascals" and worked frequently with Tommy Bond who played the bully "Butch". Foxx often wore a "Butch" style golf cap in many of his shows because of this.

Foxx turned down a role in The Great White Hope (1970), which was inspired by the career and struggles against racism of former heavyweight champ Jack Johnson. Foxx knew Johnson and refused the role as he believed the play (which won the Pulitzer Prize) had white-washed his old friend.

In 1975, he was scheduled to perform a stand-up act on 3 am in Las Vegas. He arrived an hour late, and when he went to the stage, the orchestra greeted him with his famous theme. However, once he saw there were only a handful of people left in the audience, he stormed off immediately. The orchestra, surprised and not knowing what to do, played his theme song again as he left.

Was expelled from one school on the first day for throwing a book at a teacher.

Died of heart attack on the set of The Royal Family (1991).

One of the few performers to have the lead role in a television show on the three main networks. He was the lead in Sanford and Son, on NBC, the Royal Family, on CBS, and in the Redd Foxx show, and the Redd Foxx Comedy Hour on ABC.

Was the third television father to have died after Danny Thomas and Michael Landon in the same year, 1991.

He was nicknamed "Zorro" which is Spanish for "fox".

Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times.

Was friends with Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, and Flip Wilson.

Good friends with: Della Reese, LaWanda Page, Carroll O'Connor, Norman Lear, Saul Turteltaub, Leroy Daniels, Pat Morita, Nathaniel Taylor, Nancy Kulp, Raymond Allen, Whitman Mayo, Hal Williams, Helen Martin, Eddie Murphy, Slappy White, Don Bexley, Gregory Sierra, Noam Pitlik, Allan Drake, and Norma Miller.

Was 14 years, 10 months and 19 days younger than his Sanford and Son (1972) character Fred G. Sanford, who was born on January 20th, 1908.

In a T.V. Guide interview, Sanford explained that many black people, including himself, who had white ancestors frequently had a reddish tint to their hair and skin. Hence his nickname Redd.

Fred Sanford, Foxx's character on Sanford and Son (1972), was ranked #42 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

Briefly attended Du Sable High School in Chicago with future Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son (1972).

Appeared on Flip (1970) on January 13th, 1972, the night before the classic Sanford and Son (1972) debuted. The two shows were on the same network: NBC.

Interred at Palm Memorial Gardens, Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Devotion Section, Lawn Space 4091, 311 G.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 165-167. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387