Type “Redd Foxx spouse” into Google and you’ll find scattered facts, half a name here, a wrong date there, with no single place that lines up all four marriages correctly. That gap matters if you actually want to understand the man behind Fred Sanford. This guide lays out every Redd Foxx spouse in order, with real dates, real outcomes, and the story behind each one.
Quick Answer: How Many Wives Did Redd Foxx Have?
Redd Foxx was married four times over the course of his life. Each Redd Foxx spouse entered his life during a different chapter, before fame, during his rise, at his peak, and finally during his financial recovery near the end of his life.
Here’s the short version before we go deeper:
- Evelyn Killebrew — married 1948, divorced 1951
- Betty Jean Harris — married 1956, divorced 1975 (his longest marriage)
- Yun Chi Chung (“Joi”) — married 1976, divorced 1980
- Ka Ho Cho — married July 1991, widowed by his death in October 1991
Redd Foxx Spouse Timeline: Bio Table
This table gives you the full picture of every Redd Foxx spouse at a glance.
| Spouse | Married | Divorced/Ended | Marriage Length | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evelyn Killebrew | 1948 | 1951 | 3 years | His first wife, married before he became famous |
| Betty Jean Harris | 1956 | 1975 | ~18-19 years | His longest marriage; he adopted her daughter, Debraca |
| Yun Chi Chung (“Joi”) | 1976 | 1980 | ~4 years | A Korean-born painter; cultural differences were cited in the split |
| Ka Ho Cho | July 1991 | Ended by his death, October 1991 | ~3 months | His final wife; stood by him during his IRS troubles |
First Wife: Evelyn Killebrew (1948–1951)
Redd Foxx’s first spouse, Evelyn Killebrew, entered his life long before Sanford and Son made him a household name. He was still working small nightclub circuits when they married in 1948.
The marriage lasted only three years. Public records from this period are thin, since Foxx wasn’t yet famous and reporters weren’t tracking his personal life the way they would later. What’s clear is that this early relationship gave him his first real taste of married life before fame changed everything.
Second Wife: Betty Jean Harris (1956–1975) — His Longest Marriage
Betty Jean Harris stands out as the most significant Redd Foxx spouse, both in length and in impact on his career. He married her on July 5, 1956, after the two met while performing on the same nightclub bill. Harris worked as a dancer and singer before the wedding.
As part of their arrangement, Harris left show business entirely to run the household. She later took charge of Foxx’s business ventures, including Redd Foxx Enterprises and his chain of record stores. Foxx also adopted her nine-year-old daughter, Debraca, who took the Foxx surname and would later manage his estate.
This marriage covered Foxx’s biggest professional years, including the 1972 launch of Sanford and Son. Even so, it ended in 1975 after 18 years together, following reported infidelity on Foxx’s part and mounting financial disagreements.
Third Wife: Yun Chi Chung (“Joi”) (1976–1980)
Not long after his second divorce, Foxx married Yun Chi Chung, a Korean-born artist often referred to publicly as “Joi.” The wedding took place in 1976, and the couple appeared together publicly, including at President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural ball in January 1977.
Communication and cultural differences played a real role in the marriage’s decline. Foxx once joked that if he could give up his favorite Southern dishes, Joi could give up kimchi, a lighthearted comment that pointed to a deeper gap between their backgrounds. The marriage ended in 1980, following a contentious divorce filing that included accusations from both sides.
Fourth Wife: Ka Ho Cho (1991) — Married Until His Death
The final Redd Foxx spouse was Ka Ho Cho, a woman from Seoul, South Korea, whom he met at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1989. They married in July 1991 at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas.
Foxx had reportedly sworn off marriage after his third divorce, but Cho’s loyalty during his brutal IRS tax battles changed his mind. He told Jet magazine at the time that she had stood by him with almost nothing, and that she deserved to share in whatever came next.
Their marriage lasted just three months. Foxx suffered a fatal heart attack on October 11, 1991, while rehearsing for his sitcom The Royal Family, making Ka Ho Cho his spouse at the time of his death.
Why Did Redd Foxx’s Marriages Keep Ending?
Looking across all four relationships, a few patterns repeat. Foxx built massive success on stage, but that same lifestyle, touring constantly, spending freely, and facing serious financial pressure from the IRS, put steady strain on every Redd Foxx spouse he had.
Common threads across the marriages include:
- Infidelity, cited directly in his second divorce
- Cultural and communication gaps, most visible in his third marriage
- Financial instability, especially during the years the IRS pursued him for unpaid taxes
- Career demands, which kept him away from home for extended periods
None of this erases the real affection in these relationships. Even his mother, speaking publicly, described her son as devoted and generous toward every wife he had.
Did Redd Foxx Have Children With His Spouse?
Redd Foxx had no biological children with any spouse. His only child was Debraca Denise Foxx, whom he legally adopted during his marriage to his second wife, Betty Jean Harris.
Debraca later became the administrator of Foxx’s estate after his death, a role that placed her at the center of the legal and financial matters that followed.
Redd Foxx Spouse vs Career Timeline
Seeing his marriages next to his career milestones shows how personal and professional life overlapped for Foxx.
| Year | Career Milestone | Redd Foxx Spouse at the Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Performing in small nightclubs | Evelyn Killebrew |
| 1956 | Building his stand-up reputation | Betty Jean Harris |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son premieres on NBC | Betty Jean Harris |
| 1976 | Post-Sanford career, variety specials | Yun Chi Chung (“Joi”) |
| 1989 | Facing IRS seizures and financial hardship | Between marriages |
| 1991 | Rehearsing The Royal Family | Ka Ho Cho |
Was Redd Foxx Ever Married to LaWanda Page? (Common Myth)
This question comes up often, and the answer is no. LaWanda Page, who portrayed Aunt Esther in Sanford and Son, was never actually married to Redd Foxx.
The confusion likely comes from their on-screen chemistry as bickering rivals. In reality, Page was a longtime friend and colleague of Foxx’s second wife, Betty Jean Harris, and the two women worked together in show business years before the sitcom existed.
What Happened to Redd Foxx’s Last Spouse After His Death?
Ka Ho Cho largely stepped out of public life following Foxx’s death in 1991. She had been his wife for only three months, and unlike his earlier, more publicized marriages, very little information about her life afterward has surfaced in interviews or public records.
This quiet exit stands in contrast to the very public nature of Foxx’s earlier divorces, which played out through court filings and entertainment press coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times was Redd Foxx married?
Redd Foxx was married four times: to Evelyn Killebrew, Betty Jean Harris, Yun Chi Chung, and Ka Ho Cho.
Who was Redd Foxx’s longest marriage to?
His longest marriage was to Betty Jean Harris, lasting from 1956 to 1975, roughly 18 to 19 years.
Who was Redd Foxx married to when he died?
He was married to Ka Ho Cho at the time of his death in October 1991, just three months after their wedding.
Did Redd Foxx have any biological children?
No. Redd Foxx had no biological children. His only child, Debraca Denise Foxx, was adopted during his marriage to his second wife, Betty Jean Harris.
Was Redd Foxx married to LaWanda Page?
No. LaWanda Page was never a Redd Foxx spouse. She played his TV rival on Sanford and Son and was actually a real-life friend of his second wife, Betty Jean Harris.
What happened to Redd Foxx’s last wife, Ka Ho Cho? Ka Ho Cho withdrew from public life after Foxx’s death in 1991. Little has been reported about her since, as she has avoided media attention in the decades that followed.
The Full Picture of Redd Foxx’s Personal Life
Four marriages, four very different women, and one man who never stopped performing, on stage or in his personal life. Each Redd Foxx spouse arrived during a distinct chapter of his story: the struggling nightclub years, the Sanford and Son peak, the years chasing stability, and finally, the quiet comeback before his death. Together, their stories round out a fuller picture of the comedian behind Fred Sanford than any single headline can offer.
Curious about the rest of the Sanford and Son cast and their real lives off-screen? Explore our full classic sitcom biography hub, or share which cast member’s story you want covered next.
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