Demond Wilson spent years as the "straight man" to Redd Foxx’s legendary antics. You remember the show. Sanford and Son. Lamont Sanford, always trying to find a way out of the junk yard while his "old man" faked heart attacks. It was a cultural juggernaut. But while the cameras were rolling and the money was pouring in, the man behind Lamont was leading a life that looked nothing like the TV screen.
People always ask about Demond Wilson and wife Cicely Johnston. They want to know if they’re still together. They want to know how she handled the fame. The truth is, their story isn't a Hollywood tabloid scandal. It’s actually much more interesting. It’s a story of survival, a massive career pivot, and a marriage that has lasted over 50 years. That’s basically an eternity in celebrity time.
The Model and the Actor: How It Started
Demond Wilson married Cicely Johnston on May 3, 1974. At the time, Wilson was at the absolute peak of his fame. Sanford and Son was a top-ten show. Cicely was a former model and stewardess. They were a stunning couple, the kind you’d see in the pages of Jet magazine.
But fame is a beast.
Wilson has been incredibly honest about those early years. He wasn't exactly a saint. He was making roughly $40,000 a week—which, in 1974, was an insane amount of money—and he was spending $1,000 of that every week on a cocaine habit. He was also, by his own admission, not the most faithful husband. He once famously remarked that during that era, "All Satan had to do was say, 'Go commit adultery,' and I'd say, 'With whom?'"
It was a rocky start. Most marriages would have buckled under that kind of pressure, especially with the distractions of 1970s Hollywood. But Cicely stayed.
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A Spiritual Turning Point
By 1982, the wheels were falling off. The show was over, the money was still there, but the peace wasn't. Wilson describes a specific moment on his tennis court in Beverly Hills. He was waiting for guests who never showed up. He was wealthy, successful, and completely miserable. His wife was in the hospital at the time, and he felt a profound sense of isolation despite his celebrity status.
He prayed.
He basically told God that if his family could be put back together and he could get his mind right, he’d change everything. He did. Within six months, he’d lost 35 pounds and immersed himself in the Bible. In 1984, he was ordained as a minister in the Church of God in Christ.
Who Is Cicely Johnston?
Cicely has always been the more private half of the duo. While Demond was the face of a generation, she remained the anchor of the family. They have six children together. Six! Think about the logistics of raising six kids while your husband is one of the most recognizable faces on the planet and then transitions into a traveling evangelist.
She wasn't just a "celebrity wife." She was a former model who chose to step out of the spotlight to build a foundation. You don't see her on reality shows or making messy public statements. Their marriage, which hit the 50-year mark in 2024, is a testament to something you rarely see in the entertainment industry: resilience.
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They eventually moved away from the glitz of Beverly Hills. Wilson sold the big mansion and moved the family to a smaller, more peaceful place in Orange County. He wanted a "quality time" life, not a "Hollywood" life.
Life After the Junk Yard
It’s funny, because people still see him as Lamont. But Demond Wilson has been a minister longer than he was ever an actor. He founded the Restoration House of America in 1995. This wasn't some vanity project; it was a center near Lynchburg, Virginia, designed to help rehabilitate former prison inmates.
He also became a prolific author. He’s written children’s books and Christian literature, like The New Age Millennium. But for the fans who can’t let go of the past, he also wrote Second Banana: The Bittersweet Memoirs of the Sanford and Son Years. It’s a raw look at what really happened behind the scenes with Redd Foxx.
Why Their Marriage Lasted
What’s the secret? Honestly, it seems to be a combination of faith and a total rejection of the Hollywood lifestyle. Wilson often refers to the television as an "idiot box." He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he doesn't even dance anymore—a far cry from his days as a tap dancer at the Apollo Theater.
By centering their lives on their faith and their children, Demond Wilson and wife Cicely created a bubble that the industry couldn't pop. They stayed together through the addiction, the infidelity of the early years, and the massive shift from fame to ministry.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Wilson "disappeared." He didn't. He just changed his audience. He went from performing for millions on NBC to preaching to hundreds in small churches.
Another mistake? Thinking Cicely was just a background character. In his interviews, Wilson makes it clear that his "epiphany" was largely about saving his family. He realized that the fame was hollow if he lost the people who actually knew him.
Key Takeaways from the Wilson Legacy:
- Fame isn't a foundation. Wilson had everything—money, status, jewelry—and was still "running from the Lord."
- Forgiveness is a choice. Cicely Johnston’s decision to stay during the turbulent 70s is why they are still standing today.
- It’s never too late for a pivot. Moving from a $40k-a-week cocaine habit to a dedicated ministry is one of the most dramatic "second acts" in TV history.
- Privacy is power. By keeping their children and their private life largely out of the tabloids, they avoided the "celebrity marriage curse."
If you’re looking to apply the "Wilson Method" to your own life, it’s really about priorities. Demond realized that being "Second Banana" on screen didn't matter as much as being a first-rate father and husband at home.
The next time you catch a rerun of Sanford and Son, look at Lamont. He looks like a guy looking for a way out. In real life, Demond Wilson found it. He didn't find it in a big break or a new sitcom; he found it in his faith and the woman who stood by him for five decades.
Actionable Insight: If you're struggling to balance career success with personal stability, take a page out of the Wilson book. Evaluate if your "success" is costing you your "peace." Sometimes, the best move is to sell the Beverly Hills house and find a lake in Orange County.
Keep an eye on Wilson’s official channels or his books if you want the unvarnished truth about the 70s. He’s one of the few legends left who will tell it exactly like it was, no filters attached.