LaWanda Page Biography

Fast Facts

• Died in the fall of 2002 due to complications resulting from her diabetes
• Was a childhood friend of future "Sanford and Son" co-star Redd Foxx, with both having attending school together in St․ Louis
• Her earliest stage performances were notable due to more than just comedy, featuring such acts as her eating fire and lighting cigarettes with her fingertips, earning her the billing of "The Bronze Goddess of Fire․"
• Quote: "I went out there before the audience and I was determined to do well․ And I did․ But now I'm just myself up there as Aunt Esther․ I'm not actin', or trying to be funny․ I'm just being me․"
• Quote: "You know, I started my career as a fire dancer I loved show business from the time I was a little girl․ First I tried singing, but that didn't go over so good․ So I decided to try dancing․"
• Despite the assumptions many made about her real-life personality due to her on-screen character's devoutly pious ways, her stand-up routines were notably raunchy and controversial for their time
• Her most famed role was that of the rigidly humorless and passionately religious Aunt Esther Anderson on "Sanford and Son․"
• Due to a lack of familiarity with the nature of TV sitcom production, producers were reluctant before taping began to approve of her casting in "Sanford and Son," but Redd Foxx's threats of quitting forced them to allow her to keep the part