Before he was clutching his chest and shouting for "Elizabeth" on national television, the man the world knew as Redd Foxx was just a kid from St. Louis trying to survive the Great Depression. Most people think "Redd Foxx" was just a cool stage name he picked out of thin air. Honestly, it's a bit more personal than that.
What Was Redd Foxx’s Real Name?
He was born John Elroy Sanford.
Born on December 9, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, John Elroy Sanford didn't have an easy start. His father, Fred Glenn Sanford, walked out on the family when John was just four years old. That name—Fred Sanford—might sound familiar. Decades later, John would use his father’s actual name for his iconic character on Sanford and Son as a sort of tribute, or perhaps a way to reclaim a piece of his history.
His mother, Mary Alma Hughes, was a domestic worker who did her best to keep things together. She eventually moved the family to Chicago. John was a sharp kid, but school wasn't really his thing. He ended up dropping out of DuSable High School to pursue music and performance. He even played in a "washboard band" called the Four Bon Bons.
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The Evolution of a Legend: From John to Redd
So, how does a kid named John Elroy Sanford become Redd Foxx? It wasn't an overnight rebrand. It happened in the gritty, vibrant streets of Harlem and the "Chitlin' Circuit" of the 1940s.
When he arrived in New York City, he was light-skinned and had a shock of reddish hair. People started calling him "Red." It was a common nickname back then. In fact, while he was working as a dishwasher at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem, he befriended another young man with reddish hair. Since John was from Chicago, they called him "Chicago Red." His friend, who was from Michigan, was called "Detroit Red." That friend? He grew up to be Malcolm X.
Why the extra letters?
The "Foxx" part came from his admiration for the baseball star Jimmie Foxx, who was a powerhouse for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox. John liked the name, but he wanted to make it his own. He added the extra "d" to Redd and the extra "x" to Foxx.
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He once joked that he used the "double d, double cross" so his name wouldn't just be a color or an animal. It gave it a bit of flair. It looked better on a marquee. Basically, it was a marketing move before people really used words like "branding."
The Man Behind the Name
While the world saw a foul-mouthed, hilarious curmudgeon, the real John Elroy Sanford was a complex guy. He was a pioneer. Before Sanford and Son, he was the "King of the Party Records." He recorded over 50 comedy albums that were often tucked under counters because they were considered too "blue" or "raunchy" for polite society.
He paved the way for every "edgy" comic you love today. Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock—they all owe a massive debt to the man born John Elroy Sanford.
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- Real Name: John Elroy Sanford
- Nicknames: Chicago Red, Smiley (in his youth)
- Father’s Name: Fred Glenn Sanford
- Brother’s Name: Fred G. Sanford Jr. (who also inspired the TV character)
Interestingly, he didn't just use his father's name for the show. He named the character Fred G. Sanford after his brother, who had passed away before the show became a hit. It was his way of keeping his family alive in the work that eventually made him a household name.
The Legacy of Redd Foxx
Redd Foxx’s influence didn't stop with his own career. Even his stage name inspired future stars. Jamie Foxx (born Eric Marlon Bishop) chose his professional surname as a direct tribute to Redd. He wanted a name that sounded gender-neutral to get more stage time at comedy clubs, but the "Foxx" was 100% a nod to the legend.
By the time he passed away in 1991, Redd Foxx had transformed from a struggling dishwasher in Harlem to a television icon. He died on the set of his show The Royal Family, ironically after suffering a heart attack that people initially thought was one of his famous "fake" heart attacks from his Sanford and Son days.
The name John Elroy Sanford might be the one on his birth certificate, but "Redd Foxx" is the name that changed comedy forever.
How to Explore the Legacy of Redd Foxx
If you want to understand why Redd Foxx was such a big deal, don't just watch the cleaned-up TV version.
- Listen to the "Party Records": Look up his early stand-up from the 50s and 60s. It’s raw, it’s dated in some ways, but the timing is absolute perfection.
- Watch "Cotton Comes to Harlem": This 1970 film was his big break into movies and shows a different side of his acting.
- Read Malcolm X’s Autobiography: Look for the mentions of "Chicago Red." It gives a fascinating glimpse into Foxx’s life before the fame.