The Life and Times of Redd Foxx Quiz

Answer: John Elroy Sanford

John Elroy Sanford was born on December 9, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, the second son Fred and Mary Sanford. His father was an electrician, and his mother was a domestic worker and radio preacher. His older brother's name was Fred. John was born with a ruddy complexion, which earned him the nickname of "Red." Unfortunately for young John, his parents divorced when he was 4 years-old, leaving him and his broher the product of a broken family.

When he was a toddler, his mother moved them to Chicago for a better life, but unfortunately for him, she too left and he and his brother were raised by their grandmother.

While in Chicago, at the age of 13, John helped support his grandmother by earning money playing the washboard in a local band. He played in this band for three years, until he left for New York.

Answer: South Side DuSable High School

John attended South Side DuSable High School from 1935 to 1938, when at the age of 16, he dropped out to hop a train to go New York City. While in New York, John began performing stints in the local black theatres and nightclubs, known as the "chitlin circuit." Not making much money, John decided to go back to Chicago in his early twenties.

He found a job as a bus boy at the Apollo Theatre. It was here that he met Malcolm Little, who was to become famous as Malcolm X. Since both he and Little had light complexions and somewhat red hair, John became known as "Chicago Red," while Little became known as "Detroit Red." It was at this time that John added an extra "d" to Red and acquired the last name of Foxx, which was derived from his favorite baseball player, Jimmy Foxx. John decided to try his luck once again in New York, and this time he began to succeed with his new stage name.

He recorded a few blues records in the mid 1940s, but started to become well known for his often raunchy style of comedy.

Answer: Slappy White

From 1951 to 1955, Foxx enjoyed success while teaming up with fellow comedian, Slappy White. Later in his career, in 1972, White would make several guest appearances as Melvin, on the hit television series "Sanford and Son," and later on in the 1970s in "The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour." During the early part of the 1950s, Foxx and White traveled all over the United States, but most especially to Los Angeles, making several appearances in the Club Oasis.

Answer: Laff of the Party

"Laff of the Party," Foxx's first racy anecdote album, was the first of its kind, but it spawned other albums, such as "The Sidesplitter," "Sly Sex," "New Fugg," and "The New Race Track," to name a few. All of these 50 some odd albums were under the label of Dooto, a small recording label, and Foxx received $25.00 for the first several albums.

Unfortunately, these great albums were basically hidden from white America, and when they were sold in white stores they were sold under the counter.

Answer: Basin Street East

In the 1950s, Foxx was famous in predominately black communities. However, when he performed in New York's Basin Street East, in a predominately white community, to great applause, he finally earned the popularity that he so greatly deserved. Shortly after his Basin Street East performance, Foxx was signed in Las Vegas' The Castaways Club and then went on to the Aladdin Hotel.

He performed in Las Vegas for about a year, then went on to headline for one Los Angeles' most popular clubs, The Summit, on the famed Sunset Boulevard.

Answer: Today

In 1964, while performing at the Sugar Hill Club in San Francisco, Hugh Downs, a television journalist for "Today," asked him to appear on the popular talk show. Foxx was such a hit that shows like "Dick Cavett," "The Tonight Show," and "Merv Griffin" wanted the hot commodity known as Redd Foxx.

By the end of the 1960s, Foxx guest starred on numerous television shows, such as "Green Acres," "The Munsters," "Addams Family," "The Lucy Show," and "Mr. Ed." Little did Foxx know that superstardom was just around the corner.

Answer: International Hotel

In 1968, the famed International Hotel offered Foxx $960,000 to headline for 32 weeks. To Foxx's credit, all of his shows were sold out and the International was very happy with their coup. Foxx was becoming more famous than he ever thought imaginable.

Answer: Uncle Bud

In 1970, Foxx was offered the small part of Uncle Bud, a junk dealer, in the movie "Cotton Comes to Harlem." This was Foxx's movie debut, and pushed his fame even higher. To his credit, Foxx did an outstanding job, which caught the attention of television producers. Foxx was on his way to the small screen.

Answer: Steptoe and Son

"Sanford and Son" was the American version of the long running British television comedy, "Steptoe and Son." Shortly after playing the part of Uncle Bud in "Cotton Comes to Harlem," Foxx was approached by famed television producer, Norman Lear, to star in the television series he was aiming to create. Foxx and Lear held several meetings, and the name of the show was finally decided on. "Sanford and Son" came to be in honor of Foxx's real last name, Sanford, and the character, Fred, was a combination of Foxx's first and last name.

However, in later years, Foxx said that the character of Fred G. Sanford came about because that was the name of his older brother. Whatever the real reason for the name of the character, "Sanford and Son" enjoyed success from the time it began on January 14, 1972 until its last show on September 2, 1977. Foxx was paid an unprecedent amount of $35,000 an episode, earning him one of the highest paid actors of that era. "Sanford and Son" earned Foxx a Golden Globe award in 1972, and four Emmy nominations. Shortly after the last episode of "Sanford and Son," Foxx once again starred his own television show, called "The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour." In the 1980s, the television show "Sanford," which was a spinoff of the original show, premiered. Sadly, the show lasted only one season.

In 1986, Foxx once again starred in his own television series, entitled "The Redd Foxx Show". His character's name was Al Hughes. However, this too ended in failure after only one season. In 1987, he starred in a made for television movie called "Ghost of a Chance" as Ivory Clay. In 1989, Foxx starred in the movie "Harlem Nights" alongside Richard Pryor, Della Reese, and Eddie Murphy. His character was Bennie Wilson. This movie caught the attention of television producers, looking to create a new series. Foxx was on his way back to the small screen.

Answer: The Royal Family

In 1991, Foxx was approached by television producers to star opposite Della Reese in the show "The Royal Family." The show seemed destined for success, and as Foxx said "Everybody says we gonna have a hit. I'd like this to be big, so I can end my career on a high note. If it's my last hurrah, it's gotta be a good one." Sadly, Foxx did end his career on a high note, as the show was gaining popularity fast. On October 11, 1991, at the age of 68, Foxx had a heart attack during rehearsal. Always the comedian, Foxx always feigned heart attacks, ala Fred Sanford. His co-stars, knowing Foxx always kidded around, didn't believe him when he said he was having a heart attack. Sadly, they took him serious when he remained unconscious. Foxx was rushed to Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where he later died of complications of the heart. Foxx may be gone, but he and his satyrical wit will always be remembered.

All information can be found at http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/primetime/pt1354.php, http://www.bittsandbytes.org/Subscribers/08_23_02.html, http://www.cmgww.com/stars/foxx/biography.html.