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NBC sitcom Sanford and Son star Grady Demond Wilson has sadly died at the age of 79. His son Demond Wilson Jr. told TMZ that his father was sadly pronounced dead on Friday morning (January 30) at his Palm Springs home in California. He confirmed to the outlet that his cause of death was complications related to cancer, but didn't confirm what type of cancer he was battling.

Paying tribute to his father, Demond Jr. said: "I loved him. He was a great man."

Demond starred in everything from The New Odd Couple to Baby... I'm Back! in his years as an actor, with his final project coming in 2023 with the TV series Eleanor's Bench. He also had roles in All in the Family, Me and the Kid and The Love Boat.

The star married his wife, model Cicely Johnston, in 1974, and the couple welcomed six children together. In 1984, he became ordained as a minister in the Church of God in Christ, writing several Christian books and a memoir before his death.

Speaking of his autobiography in 2009, Demond said: "It's just a documented truth, behind the scenes factual account of what happened during those years. Redd (Foxx) and I were making history back in those days.

"We were the first Blacks to be on television in that capacity and we opened the door for all those other shows that came after us."

Tributes have been flooding in from fans online, with one social media user tweeting: "Heartbreaking news. Grady Demond Wilson was a pillar of classic television and a piece of so many childhoods. His humour, warmth and presence lit up every scene he touched.

"Thank you for the laughs, the soul, and the memories. Rest in peace, legend."

Someone else penned: "RIP Demond Wilson. Lamont Sanford was the perfect foil for Redd Foxx's Fred G. Sanford on one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history."