It's not like they were father and son. It was a TV show. A job. A job from many years in the past. If they'd stayed friends(IF they ever were true friends??) throughout the years after the show he, might've attended(maybe not).
What you see onscreen is called acting.

This message has been deleted.

I have had several good friends and even some relatives to die, and I did not go to their funeral. Had nothing to do with hatred. I just don't like funerals. Maybe Demond doesn't like them either.

He wasn't about to show up and celebrate Redd's life. Redd was a heavy duty drinker and drug user, and Demond found religion later in life. Simply not a great match up.

According to Demond Wilson - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, He did not attend Foxxs funeral in 1991 because he was in Africa at the time of Redd's death. Both on and off the set, Demond shared a close bond with Foxx, during the show's six season run.

rjmgreen, you mean someone on IMDb read a post they initially questioned, thought about it and then posted again that it had made sense and was helpful? Quite unusual! Good for you rjmgreen. I'm duly impressed.

I thought about what you said about not attending a co worker's funeral for someone with whom you worked 10 years ago. I have no problem recalling the people from 10 years ago. I might attend some of them, but others; no. We worked together, we were not friends. So, yes, you are correct.

To the idiot who said funerals "are stupid (and expensive)", maybe your loved ones should just toss you into the nearest ditch after you die. Yes, they're costly but what are you gonna do?
The two of them had probably not seen each other in a long time & it's very possible that Demond had prior obligations

I'm not going to argue the fact but they were indeed friends.
He was out of town, granted, but my suspicion is it had to do with his finding "God" in '84 and had second thoughts about John's lifestyle.

He was out of the country in Africa at the time of Redd's death, that is why he didn't go to his funeral.

This message has been deleted.

I read somewhere that he was in Africa when Redd Foxx died and couldn't get back in time for the funeral.

It's not as big a deal as a few of you are making it. They hadn't worked together in well over 10 years. If someone I worked with 10 years ago died I wouldn't attend their funeral.

This message has been deleted.

He didn't go to the funeral because he's a "Big Dummy" : )If you didn't watch the show, it was, pretty much, his Nickname.

From IMDB:
<<[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with singer/comedian, Redd Foxx, who played Fred G. Sanford]: The producers said we need a straight man for Redd. It was a little difficult at first because his outlook was totally alien to me, but we found a common ground, and after while, we fell in love with each other. >>
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

I seem to recall, for example, that the leads from "Steptoe and Son" were not very fond of each other.

He worked with the guy; that doesn't mean they were best friends or like "father and son" in real life. Why do people think actors who work together on a TV show must be really close in real life? Maybe he would have gone if it had been more convenient, but really, who cares?

Funerals are stupid (and expensive), anyway. They certainly do nothing for the departed and little for those left behind. Have a wake instead and celebrate his or her life. I like the Jewish practice of sitting Shiva, too.
Perhaps Demond was in denial After all, Lamont kept telling Fred that he wasnt having the Big One and maybe he couldnt accept it when he finally did.
"You cannot erase God with an edict." - Rod Serling

I was born in the early 1970s. Right now on Tube Time on cable demand I kid you not I'm watching a 72 Episode 'Coffins for Sale; trippy huh? I'm looking for the Episode with Big george foreman in it. no comment on redd foxx's funeral.. he was a great talent.

Maybe he just didn't want to go to a funeral. Some people just dont like them.

This message has been deleted.

Yeah.you need to pull something else out of yo ass,,,,(your brain)

Yeah,I mean it's not like he should have showed the man any respect.JEEZ.