Lamont Sanford

Lamont Sanford is a fictional character and one of the two main characters featured in the 1972-1977 comedy series Sanford and Son. He was played by actor Demond Wilson and appeared in every episode of the series.

Overview
Lamont Sanford is the twenty-something son of elderly Fred Sanford and the late Elizabeth Sanford. He is part owner of the family junkyard business, which is operated out of the Sanford home in South Central, Los Angeles. Lamont is depicted at times as the greedier of the two. In one episode, for example, he refuses to sell two coffins for less than what he thinks they were worth, despite the fact that this clearly upsets his superstitious father. Lamont sometimes receives his comeuppance for being disdainful of his father's habits and ways. (One example of this is the time Lamont is upbraided by a Nigerian woman he hopes to impress by "adopting" African culture; she considers his attitude towards Fred to be disrespectful.) There are moments when Lamont is shown to be naive and foolish, such as the episode where he invites his new "friends" over to play poker. His street-savvy father sees right away that they are out to cheat Lamont after they gain his confidence by letting him win a few smaller-stakes games. Fred then turns the tables on the scammers by pretending to be ignorant of poker himself, agreeing to play a few hands and then taking all of their money by means of a marked deck of cards and special glasses that allow him to see what he is dealing.

Notes & Trivia

 * The character of was created by showrunners Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear as well as writer Aaron Ruben. The character is based on Harold Steptoe, played by Harry H. Corbett, in the 1962-1974 BBC comedy series Steptoe and Son.