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You are here: Home / Hollywood Yesterday / General / Uncategorized / La Wanda Page: Hilarious Actress who Played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son

La Wanda Page: Hilarious Actress who Played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son

February 5, 2018 By Joi

La Wanda PageLaWanda Page as Aunt Esther

You, undoubtedly, recognize the wonderful lady above from Sanford and Son. She gave Fred as much grief as he gave her and their fights helped make Sanford and Son one of the funniest television series of all time.  But how much do you know about the actress who brought Aunt Esther to life? Read on to learn more about LaWanda Page – a fascinating woman, to say the least!

My love for “Hollywood Yesterday” isn’t just the wonderful old movies and glamorous actresses and actors that brought them to life. I’m also completely in love with classic television (from the 1950s-1970s), as well as classic cartoons.

Some may argue with me, but I’m adamant that (with very few exceptions) the best movies, cartoons, and television shows were made before the 80s.

Sanford and Son is one example of an outrageously hilarious sitcom that would not be made today.  Then again, maybe I should say it could not be made – I mean, this cast was a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble after all! Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson,  LaWanda Page, and Whitman Mayo were TV magic. Their chemistry with one another and with anyone and everything else leaves me pretty speechless.

While Mr. Foxx and Mr. Wilson, obviously, get the majority of credit for the show’s success, one of the funniest actresses of all time, LaWanda Page, has more than earned a great deal of credit, herself. When you think of Sanford and Son, you think of Fred, Lamont, AND Aunt Esther.

In fact, Esther’s arguments with Fred (with poor Lamont in the middle!) are some of my fondest memories of television growing up.. not just from Sanford and Son – from ANY television show.

It occurred to me that I don’t write nearly enough about the wonderful actors and actresses from television’s past. I’m going to take care of that, starting today! I decided that it only made sense to start with someone I absolutely adore – LaWanda Page, the uncommonly talented actress who brought lovable Aunt Esther to life.

LaWanda Page was born Alberta Peal on October 19, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio.  Like a lot of actresses, she began her career as a dancer and chorus girl. While performing as an exotic dancer, she was billed “The Bronze Goddess of Fire” because she lit cigarettes with her fingertips, swallowed fire and touched flaming torches to her body.

While Fred would never admit it, LaWanda was actually a very attractive lady – her Aunt Esther get up concealed it, for the most part, but LaWanda was downright sharp! When she left dancing, she found her calling as a stand up comic.

Redd Foxx was actually LaWanda’s childhood friend. The great comedian gave her the biggest break of her career when he invited her to play his well-meaning, hot-tempered sister-in-law Aunt Esther on his hit series  “Sanford and Son.” She was 53 at the time.

Ms. Page died in 2002 at the age of 81 from complications from diabetes but she (and her classic fights with Fred!) will live on forever in one of television’s most hilarious and lovable roles… Aunt Esther Anderson.

“I lived the life I loved, and loved the life I lived.” – LaWanda Page


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I try to keep my posts, book reviews, and classic movie reviews as short as possible. I want to share my thoughts and (more importantly) shine a spotlight on the stars that mean so much to us, however I don't want to take up too much of your precious time. My goal is to give you information, trivia, and photos that will put a smile on both your face and your day! ~ Thank you for being here, you honor me with your presence, Joi ("Joy")

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

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Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

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See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

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I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

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Priorities, y’all.

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Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

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Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

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