Whitman Blount Mayo Jr. (November 15, 1930 â€" May 22, 2001) was an
American actor, best known for his role as Grady Wilson on the 1970s
television sitcom Sanford and Son.Whitman Blount Mayo, Jr. was born in
New York City and grew up in Harlem and later Queens. At the age of
17, he moved with his family to Southern California and from there
entered the United States Army, serving from 1951 to 1953 during the
Korean War. Upon release, he studied at Chaffey College, Los Angeles
City College, and UCLA. During this time, he began acting in small
parts, while waiting tables and working in the vineyards and as a
probation officer, as well as a variety of other small jobs. He also
spent seven years as a counselor to delinquent boys.In the early
1970s, while working for the New Lafayette Theatre, Norman Lear
offered Mayo a role as Grady Wilson on Sanford and Son. The
character's name was based on Demond Wilson, the actor who played
Lamont Sanford and whose real first name is Grady. During a period
where Redd Foxx did not appear on the show due to a contract dispute,
Grady moved into the Sanford house and effectively starred in the show
for six episodes.Mayo later starred in Grady, an unsuccessful spin-off
in which his character moved in with his daughter and her husband in
Beverly Hills. After its cancellation in 1976, Mayo's Grady character
returned to Sanford and Son.
American actor, best known for his role as Grady Wilson on the 1970s
television sitcom Sanford and Son.Whitman Blount Mayo, Jr. was born in
New York City and grew up in Harlem and later Queens. At the age of
17, he moved with his family to Southern California and from there
entered the United States Army, serving from 1951 to 1953 during the
Korean War. Upon release, he studied at Chaffey College, Los Angeles
City College, and UCLA. During this time, he began acting in small
parts, while waiting tables and working in the vineyards and as a
probation officer, as well as a variety of other small jobs. He also
spent seven years as a counselor to delinquent boys.In the early
1970s, while working for the New Lafayette Theatre, Norman Lear
offered Mayo a role as Grady Wilson on Sanford and Son. The
character's name was based on Demond Wilson, the actor who played
Lamont Sanford and whose real first name is Grady. During a period
where Redd Foxx did not appear on the show due to a contract dispute,
Grady moved into the Sanford house and effectively starred in the show
for six episodes.Mayo later starred in Grady, an unsuccessful spin-off
in which his character moved in with his daughter and her husband in
Beverly Hills. After its cancellation in 1976, Mayo's Grady character
returned to Sanford and Son.
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