Sanford and Son’s Lamont star Demond Wilson dies at 79 as reruns expand in 2026

The face of one of television’s most enduring father-and-son comedies is being remembered this weekend after Demond Wilson—best known for playing Lamont on Sanford and Son—died Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at age 79. The news lands as the classic sitcom is also getting a fresh boost in visibility in 2026 through expanded rerun distribution and widely available streaming, bringing the show to new audiences while longtime viewers revisit a defining era of network comedy.

The death and what’s confirmed

Wilson’s death was confirmed by his son, who said he died at home in Palm Springs, California, from complications related to cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been publicly confirmed.

Wilson’s portrayal of Lamont—the steady, long-suffering counterweight to his father’s schemes—anchored the series’ emotional balance. While the show is remembered for broad comedy and catchphrases, it worked because Lamont often served as the voice of reason, grounding episodes that could swing from slapstick to sharp social observation.

Sanford and Son’s legacy in American TV

Sanford and Son ran in the 1970s as a prime-time hit, centered on a junkyard owner and his adult son navigating daily hustles, family squabbles, and neighborhood rivalries. It helped normalize a Black-led sitcom in a major network time slot, and it established a comedic rhythm—fast insults, running gags, and a lived-in setting—that later series would echo for decades.

Wilson shared the screen most prominently with Redd Foxx, whose performance as the cantankerous Fred Sanford drove the show’s comic engine. Together, the pairing became one of TV’s most recognizable duos, built on the push-and-pull between swagger and responsibility.

Antenna TV adds daily reruns in 2026

In addition to streaming, Sanford and Son is getting a major over-the-air rerun push in 2026 through Antenna TV, which added the show to its lineup starting Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.

A published 2026 Eastern schedule shows the series in weekday morning blocks and nightly slots, plus weekend airings—an aggressive footprint for a classic sitcom and a sign of continued demand for familiar half-hour comedy. 

Where to watch in 2026

For viewers searching for legal ways to watch, Sanford and Son remains easy to find across both streaming and traditional TV ecosystems:

• Streaming on Peacock in the U.S.

• Additional “where to watch” aggregations list options that can include live-TV bundles and ad-supported platforms depending on region and current licensing.

• Distribution pages from Sony Pictures also highlight multiple outlets carrying the series in different packages.

Availability can shift by market and over time, so checking the platform’s in-app listing remains the most reliable way to confirm.

What happens next for the show’s audience

Wilson’s death is likely to drive renewed attention to the show’s standout episodes and to the specific dynamic that made the comedy last: Lamont’s mix of patience, exasperation, and loyalty. With expanded reruns and streaming access, the next few weeks may bring a measurable bump in viewing—especially around network marathons, nightly blocks, and nostalgia-driven social media clips.

For many fans, the takeaway is simple: an actor closely tied to an iconic role is gone, but his work is unusually accessible—ready to be rediscovered in full episodes rather than fragments.

Sources consulted: TMZ; Wikipedia; Los Angeles Times; Antenna TV; Nexstar Media Group; Sony Pictures.