What is Redd Foxx?
{{unsourced|date=November 2014}} [[File:Redd Foxx 1966.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Foxx in 1966]] '''John Elroy Sanford''' (much better known as '''Redd Foxx''' (December 9, 1922 &ndash; October 11, 1991) was a [[television]] program actor and stand up comedian who also starred in [[movie]]s. He was born in [[St. Louis]]. He acted in numerous television [[sitcom]]s. Redd Foxx is one of the best-known comedians and actors of the late twentieth century. He was often vulgar, raunchy, and politically incorrect, but to millions of Americans, he was also the funniest person on television. His standup routines were huge hits, influencing scores of comedians to follow. His crass performances drew the ire of critics long before the likes of [[Eddie Murphy]] and [[Chris Rock]], but the role that made his a household name was that of Fred Sanford on the show Sanford and Son. The TV show was a huge hit at a time when there were few black stars on television. Foxx's comedic talent was showcased early in life as he worked the nightclubs around St. Louis as a teenager. He left home at sixteen and got into trouble with the law on numerous occasions, especially after he joined a New York street gang. It was during this time that he befriended another up-and-coming black man who would later become known as Malcolm X. He worked every nightclub he could find as he developed his style during the early 1940s. Part of the reputation he developed in the clubs was that of a foul mouth, which was a big draw for some crowds but limited his appeal to larger audiences. He worked the so-called “chitlin’ circuit,” where black clubs became the training grounds for larger venues that he would later sell out. He came up with a new stage name in the clubs, combining his nickname “Red” with the last name of the baseball star Jimmie Foxx. During the 1950s and 1960s, Sanford drew larger audiences to his shows and sold a large number of comedy albums. His audience was still largely African American men, but times were changing and his comedy was begin