Lawanda page biography actor

Education and early career

LaWanda was raised alongside her sisters Anna and Lynn Hamilton in Cleveland, by their mother Estella Small and father Willie Richmond; LaWanda didn’t speak about her family in public, because she respected their privacy.

She was mostly into dancing while growing up, and took classes at the community center Friendly Inn Settlement, run by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

Page's nightclub act was recorded on several LPs for the adults-only Laff Records label, which also released several LPs by Page's old childhood friend Sanford, now trading in an even raunchier line of stand-up comedy under the name Redd Foxx.

Page had left show business and moved back home in the early '70s when Foxx persuaded her to join his new sitcom "Sanford and Son" as his antagonistic sister-in-law; although she had never acted before, the heated banter between Foxx and Page quickly became many fans' favorite part of the show.

She was nicknamed both ‘LaWanda, The Flame Goddess’ and ‘The Bronze Goddess of Fire’, and often performed at nightclubs in St. Louis.

LaWanda completed her high school education in 1939, and continued working as a dancer in St. Louis for more than 10 years, prior to moving to Los Angeles, California in the early ‘50s; she spent the following 15 years dancing and waiting tables at the Brass Rail Club, prior to launching her acting career.

Roles in TV series

LaWanda’s debut TV series role was playing Aunt Esther Anderson, one of the lead characters in 48 episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy “Sanford and Son”, which also starred Demond Wilson and Redd Foxx, and was created by Norman Lear.

She was one of the few women who performed extended spoken word pieces in the black signifying or toasting tradition.

One release, a gold-selling album called Watch It, Sucker!, was titled after one of her Aunt Esther character's catchphrases in order to capitalize on her newfound television fame.

Sanford and Son

On Sanford and Son, Aunt Esther was the sister of Fred Sanford's late wife Elizabeth.

A devout churchgoer with a hardened exterior, Aunt Esther became a beloved and memorable figure.

Later Career and Legacy

After "Sanford and Son," Page continued to appear in numerous television films, including "Amen and Martin" and "Diff'rent Strokes." She also had a role in Steve Martin's film "My Blue Heaven." In the 1990s, Page made appearances in music videos and television shows, including the parody film "Don't Be a Menace."

Personal Life and Death

Page passed away in September 2002 due to complications from diabetes.

She became a household name for her portrayal of Aunt Esther in the sitcom "Sanford and Son."

Early Life and Career

Born on October 19, 1920, in the United States, Lavender Page developed a passion for theater and film from a young age. It follows the lives of a cantankerous junk dealer and his son, the series aired from 1972 through 1977 and won four of its 16 award nominations.

Some of LaWanda’s other roles in the ‘70s were in the comedy “Grady”, the romantic comedy “The Love Boat” and the comedy “Sanford Arms”.

She had only a couple of roles in the ‘80s, appearing in an episode of the sports comedy “1st & Ten”, the comedy “227”, and the 1986 comedy “Joe Bash”.

In 1992 and 1993, LaWanda portrayed Evelyn Porter in four episodes of the popular romantic comedy “Martin”, which starred Tisha Campbell and Martin Lawrence, and was created by John Bowman.

Her portrayal of Aunt Esther was a complex and endearing character that resonated with viewers. However, prior to taping, producers became concerned when Page, whose experience was limited primarily to nightclub stages, seemed to have difficulty working in a sitcom format. Raised in St. Louis, where her school friends included a boy named John Elroy Sanford, Page entered show business performing a nightclub magic act.

Page also appeared on several episodes of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, and over the next two decades occasionally guest-starred in episodes of other popular television shows, including Amen,Martin,227,Family Matters, and Diff'rent Strokes. She appeared on Circus Of The Stars as a fire eater.

In the early 1990s she appeared on several tracks of the debut album by RuPaul entitled Supermodel of the World, most notably the hit song "Supermodel (You Better Work)." She also appeared in several music videos from the album.

14, 2002) She was an actress, comedian, and dancer whose career spanned six decades. Her daughter, evangelist Clara Estella Roberta Johnson, passed away in 2006 at the age of 69.

Enduring Legacy

Lavender Page's contributions to entertainment continue to inspire both film and television fans. True Hollywood Story” and “Biography”.

Love life and relationships

LaWanda was married thrice.