Who Was Redd Foxx’s Spouse? Meet All 4 Wives of the Sanford and Son Star

You searched for the Redd Foxx spouse story because one answer online never matches the next. Some pages name one wife. Others name three. Fans are unable to get a clear picture of the guy behind Fred G. Sanford due to the misunderstanding. This guide fixes that with a single, accurate, easy-to-read timeline of every Redd Foxx wife, his real name, his children, and the full story of his life and death.

Who Was Redd Foxx?

American stand-up comedian and actor Redd Foxx is best remembered for his role as Fred G. Sanford in the comedy Sanford and Son from the 1970s. Long before television made him a household name, he built a loyal following through raw, unfiltered nightclub comedy.

Fans often call him simply “the actor Redd Foxx,” but his career stretched far beyond one role. He recorded dozens of comedy albums, appeared in major films, and shaped the style of stand-up comedy still used today. His life story, including every Redd Foxx spouse, mirrors the highs and lows of his career: massive success followed by painful setbacks.

Redd Foxx Real Name and Early Life

Many fans are surprised by the answer to the frequently asked question of Redd Foxx’s real name. On December 9, 1922, he was born in St. Louis, Missouri, as John Elroy Sanford. So what’s Redd Foxx’s real name, exactly? John Elroy Sanford — a name he rarely used once his stage career took off.

His Redd Foxx father, Fred Sanford, worked as an electrician and left the family when Redd was around four years old. His mother, Mary Hughes, raised him alongside his grandmother in Chicago after the family relocated from Missouri. This early hardship shaped the tough, street-smart humor that later defined his act.

Growing up, Redd Foxx young John Elroy Sanford attended DuSable High School in Chicago before dropping out at sixteen to chase a career in entertainment. He picked his stage name by combining his old nickname “Red” (for his reddish hair) with the surname of baseball star Jimmie Foxx. Regarding Redd Foxx birthday details: he was born December 9, 1922, and died October 11, 1991, making him 68 years old at the time of his death.

Redd Foxx Spouse Timeline

Here is the complete, verified list of every Redd Foxx spouse, presented in one simple table.

This table answers the core question at a glance, but each Redd Foxx wife deserves her own story below.

Wife #1: Evelyn Killebrew (1948–1951)

Evelyn Killebrew was the first Redd Foxx spouse, and their marriage came during his early, struggling years as a performer. The couple wed in 1948 while Foxx was still building his name on the comedy circuit. Money was tight, and the pressure of a young career took a toll on the relationship.

They divorced in 1951, right around the time Foxx moved to Los Angeles to chase bigger opportunities. Little else is publicly documented about Evelyn, since she stayed out of the spotlight both during and after the marriage.

Wife #2: Betty Jean Harris (1956–1974)

Betty Jean Harris became the second Redd Foxx wife on July 22, 1956. A dancer and showgirl, she was a colleague of LaWanda Page, who later played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son. This marriage lasted nearly two decades, making it his longest by far.

Betty Jean stepped back from her own career to support Foxx’s rise to fame and reportedly helped manage parts of his business affairs. During the marriage, Foxx adopted her daughter, Debraca, giving him his only child. The couple separated in 1974 and officially divorced the following year, a split that reportedly cost Foxx over $150,000 in legal and support payments.

Wife #3: Yun Chi Chung (1976–1981)

Joi Yun Chi Chung married Foxx on December 31, 1976, becoming his third spouse. She was Korean-American and about twenty years younger than him. The two met in Las Vegas, where she worked as a cocktail waitress.

Their marriage lasted five years before ending in divorce in 1981. Court records show Foxx paid ongoing support during their separation, followed by a $300,000 settlement once the divorce was finalized.

Wife #4: Redd Foxx’s wife at the time of his death, Ka Ho Cho

Ka Ho Cho was the final Redd Foxx spouse, and their story is the shortest and most bittersweet of the four. Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1959, she met Foxx in Las Vegas and married him on July 8, 1991, at the Little Church of the West.

Their marriage lasted just three months. Foxx died on October 11, 1991, while Ka Ho Cho was still his wife, making her the Redd Foxx spouse at the moment of his passing. She largely avoided public attention after his death and has kept a private life ever since.

Redd Foxx Children: Did He Have Kids of His Own?

Many fans searching for Redd Foxx children are surprised by the answer: he had no biological children. His only child was an adopted daughter, Debraca Denise Foxx, whom he adopted during his marriage to second wife Betty Jean Harris.

Debraca was about nine years old at the time of the adoption and took the Foxx surname. Beyond his own household, Foxx acted as a mentor figure to younger performers, treating many of them like family throughout his career.

Redd Foxx Brother and Family Background

Understanding Redd Foxx family history helps explain where his comedy came from. He had two older brothers: Fred Sanford Jr. and Leonard, who died shortly after birth. His Redd Foxx brother Fred Jr. holds a special place in television history — Foxx borrowed his brother’s name for his most famous character, Fred G. Sanford.

His mother, Mary Hughes, was part Seminole and worked hard to raise her sons after their father left. This tight, resourceful upbringing gave young Foxx the sharp instincts and thick skin he later used on stage.

Redd Foxx Career: From Comedy Clubs to Sanford and Son

Redd Foxx comedy gained popularity in nightclubs on the Chitlin’ Circuit in the 1940s and 1950s before becoming well-known on television. His raunchy, unfiltered material made him a favorite in Black nightclubs long before mainstream networks would touch his act.

He earned the nickname “King of the Party Records” for releasing more than fifty comedy albums, often mislabeled as Redd Foxx songs by fans searching for his recordings — though they were spoken comedy routines, not music. His biggest break arrived in 1972 when he landed the lead role in Sanford and Son, a series that ran for six seasons and turned him into a television icon. During this rise to fame, his relationship with each Redd Foxx spouse often played out in the background of a demanding, high-pressure career.

His full list of Redd Foxx TV shows includes:

• Sanford and Son (1972–1977)
• The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour (1977–1978)
• Sanford (1980–1981)
• The Redd Foxx Show (1986)
• The Royal Family (1991)

Beyond his Redd Foxx TV series work, he appeared in films including Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Norman… Is That You? (1976) and Harlem Nights (1989) with Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.

Redd Foxx Net Worth

At his peak, Foxx reportedly earned as much as $4 million in a single year. Despite that success, Redd Foxx net worth tells a harder story by the end of his life. Costly divorces, lavish spending, and what he called poor management drained his fortune quickly.

By 1989, the IRS seized his Las Vegas home and several vehicles over unpaid taxes exceeding $750,000. At the time of his death in 1991, his estate was estimated at roughly negative $3.5 million — meaning he owed far more than he owned. Divorce settlements paid to each Redd Foxx spouse over the years were a major factor in this financial decline.

How Did Redd Foxx Die?

The question how did Redd Foxx die has a straightforward, well-documented answer: a heart attack. On October 11, 1991, while rehearsing a scene for his new sitcom The Royal Family, Foxx collapsed on set.

Regarding Redd Foxx cause of death, the irony has never been lost on fans: his TV character Fred Sanford was famous for faking heart attacks, so castmates initially thought he was joking. By the time crew members realized it was real, precious minutes had passed. He was rushed to Queen of Angels Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and pronounced dead four and a half hours later.

So when did Redd Foxx die? The exact date was October 11, 1991, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. Witnesses reported his last words were a call for help finding his wife, repeating “get my wife” before collapsing. He is interred in Las Vegas’ Palm Memorial Park.

To directly answer is Redd Foxx still alive: no, he passed away in 1991 at age 68. His Redd Foxx death cause remains one of the most talked-about ironies in television history, given how closely it echoed his signature on-screen bit.

Redd Foxx Height, Age, and Physical Traits

Sources on Redd Foxx height vary slightly, with most placing him around 5 feet 7 inches tall. He had a stocky, average build that matched his everyman screen persona as a Los Angeles junk dealer.

Regarding Redd Foxx’s age at different stages of his life, he was 48 when the filming of Sanford and Son started, even though he was portraying a character in his sixties. He died at age 68, cutting short a career that many believed was heading toward another comeback.

Redd Foxx’s Legacy in Comedy and Television

The impact of Foxx extends well beyond his personal accomplishments. Comedians including Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock have all cited him as a major influence on their style and confidence on stage. Actor Jamie Foxx even chose his stage name as a direct tribute to the Redd Foxx comedian legacy.

Search interest in topics like Redd Foxx Wikipedia, his biography, his life story, and his Redd Foxx spouse history continues decades after his passing, proof that his groundbreaking, boundary-pushing comedy still resonates. Reruns of Sanford and Son keep introducing new generations to his sharp timing and fearless honesty on stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who was Redd Foxx’s spouse when he died? 

Ka Ho Cho was his Redd Foxx spouse at the time of his death. They married on July 8, 1991, just three months before he passed away on October 11, 1991.

2. How many times was Redd Foxx married? 

He was married four times: to Evelyn Killebrew, Betty Jean Harris, Yun Chi Chung, and His longest marriage, to Betty Jean, lasted over twenty years.

3. What was Redd Foxx’s real name? 

His real name was John Elroy Sanford. He adopted the stage name “Redd Foxx” early in his nightclub career and used it for the rest of his professional life.

4. How did Redd Foxx die? 

He died of a heart attack on October 11, 1991, while rehearsing for his sitcom The Royal Family. At the time, he was 68 years old.

5. Did Redd Foxx have any genetic kids?

No, he had no biological children. He adopted a daughter, Debraca, during his marriage to his second wife, Betty Jean Harris.

6. What was Redd Foxx’s net worth when he died? 

His estate was estimated at roughly negative $3.5 million due to unpaid taxes and IRS seizures, despite once earning millions annually at his career peak.

Conclusion

The full Redd Foxx spouse story shows a man who found massive fame but struggled to hold onto stability in his personal and financial life. Four marriages, one adopted daughter, and a career built on fearless honesty — that combination made him unforgettable. If this timeline helped clear up the confusion around his wives and family, share it with another Sanford and Son fan who’s still asking the same questions you had.