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That commitment would not immediately determine the direction of his adult life, but it remained an important part of his personal story. Decades later, when Wilson left much of Hollywood behind for ministry, he described the decision as the fulfillment of something that had been developing for years. Before Wilson became a professional television actor, his life took another demanding turn through military service. He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 and spent part of that service in Vietnam.
Wilson served with the 4th Infantry Division and was wounded during the war. The experience occurred years before he became a familiar face on American television and added another dimension to a life that would later be remembered mainly for comedy. After completing his military service, Wilson returned to the United States and resumed pursuing performance. He appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway productions and began building the acting experience that eventually led him to Hollywood.
Wilson’s transition into television accelerated in the early 1970s. One important early appearance came in 1971 on Norman Lear’s groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family. Wilson appeared alongside Cleavon Little in an episode that introduced him to a much larger television audience. That appearance helped lead to the role that would permanently change his career. In 1972, Wilson was cast as Lamont Sanford opposite veteran comedian Redd Foxx in Sanford and Son. The pairing of Foxx and Wilson produced a distinctive comic rhythm, with Foxx’s Fred Sanford frequently creating problems and Wilson’s Lamont trying to manage the consequences. The contrast between the two performers became the foundation of the series.
Sanford and Son premiered on NBC in January 1972 and was adapted from the British television series Steptoe and Son. The American version centered on Fred Sanford, an aging widower and junk dealer, and his adult son Lamont, who worked with him in their salvage business in Los Angeles. Redd Foxx brought a larger-than-life presence to Fred, while Wilson played Lamont with considerably more restraint.
The Television Academy lists the program as having run for 136 episodes on NBC between 1972 and 1977. During that period it became one of the era’s most recognizable sitcoms and received several Emmy nominations. The series also stood out because its principal cast was predominantly Black at a time when such representation remained far less common on American network television.
Lamont Sanford frequently served as the emotional and practical counterweight to his father. Fred could be impulsive, theatrical, argumentative and endlessly inventive when trying to get his way. Lamont was usually the person expected to respond to the confusion, repair whatever had gone wrong and keep their shared business operating.
Wilson understood that the role did not require him to compete with Foxx for every laugh. Instead, much of his comedy came through timing, facial expressions, disbelief and carefully delivered responses. A tired look from Lamont could sometimes complete a joke before he even spoke. That understated performance style helped create the rhythm that audiences associated with the show.