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Whitman Mayo 1930-2001 Whitman Mayo Dies. Veteran actor Whitman Mayo, star of Sanford And Son, has died aged 70. The New Yorker, who made his screen debut in The Black Klansman in 1966, passed away on Tuesday. His family have not disclosed the cause of death. He will best remembered for his role as Grady Wilson in the junk- dealer show which proved so popular, and was given his own spin-off show Grady. Had been an instructor of Drama at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta as late as 1999. For everything on Whitman check out http://www.goop.com/. Mayo was born November 15, 1930, New York, New York and died May 22, 2001, Atlanta, Georgia. On February 8, 1996, Whitman Mayo became a cult hero to a whole new generation of fans thanks to an unforgettable appearance on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Conan wanted to find Grady from Sanford & Son. Conan's initial attempts to contact Whitman were unsuccessful. So, he did what any devoted fan with a television show would do: start a nation-wide search. For almost a month, Conan spearheaded an intense search for Whitman that included a telephone hotline number, nightly updates on the air, and even a possible reenactment of the days leading up to Whitman's apparent disappearance with the help of Robert Stack, the host of NBC's primetime series Unsolved Mysteries. Finally, after weeks of searching, Conan was presented with a telegram on the air. The message was a simple one. Whitman had been found!
... A gigantic lighted "Grady" sign lowered into sight. The crowd roared with approval. Conan, along with his sidekick Andy Richter and the members of the Max Weinberg Seven, formed a line behind Whitman voicing their support. All the while Whitman stood alone at center stage soaking in the praise of his adoring fans, appearing quite touched and even a little embarrassed by the whole scene. The tribute lasted for several minutes before the show went to commercial. After the break, Whitman joined Conan at his desk for a heartfelt chat, even sharing how he came to learn of the show's desperate search. It was actually Whitman's mother that clued him into the event. She was having cable TV installed when the fine television technician noticed a picture of Whitman in the room. A viewer of Late Night, the cable guy immediately recognized Whitman. He then asked her if she knew the man in the picture, saying that if she did they could make a lot of money. For more info on Mayo's famous 1996 Conan O'Brien appearance -- and more -- click here. Actor - filmography Notable TV guest
appearances
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Finally, the glorious moment arrived. The lights dimmed and the song "Whomp
There It Is" began filling the air as a single figure made its way from
the shadows to center stage. As a wave of electricity swept through the
crowd, the mystery man raised his right arm and began dancing to the rhythmic
beat. Whitman was there and the celebration could begin!
