Wife of Demond Wilson, an Actor-Turned-Evangelist

Cicely Johnston | Biography

Former African-American Model

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : September 19, 2021

---

Cicely Johnston is a former African-American model. Before pursuing her career as a model, she had worked as a stewardess. She also acted in a role in Jonathan Demme’s action comedy-drama film Caged Heat (1974), but her role was uncredited.

Is Demond Wilson married to Cicely Johnston?

Cicely Loise Johnston is the wife of Demond Wilson, a former actor who later turn an evangelist and author. Wilson is known for the portrayal of Lamont Sanford in the NBC comedy sitcom Sanford and Son (1972-1977).

Johnston and Wilson exchanged their wedding vows on 3 May 1974. She then lived a luxurious life in Beverly Hills house with her husband, who had a weekly income of $40,000 in 1983. The couple together has six children.

What is Cicely Johnston Doing Today?

Johnston and Wilson also have both sweet and bitter experiences in their married life. When Wilson was involved in a successful acting career, he also became addicted to drugs, spending $1,000 on cocaine every week. Then, their marriage also hit rock bottom. However, the couple stayed committed to their relationship. They have been married for over four decades as of August 2021.

Johnston’s Hospitalization and Wilson Becoming an Evangelist

In May 1982, when Johnston was in the hospital, her husband, Wilson, got panicked as no guests showed up in the hospital even though his closest neighbors lived just half a mile away. Wilson felt all alone despite having a lot of wealth.

Wilson later told in an interview that he had a spiritual experience in the year 1982. Feeling alone and defeated, Wilson called upon Lord Jesus and prayed, “If you put my family back together if you give me my mind back, I’ll turn it around.”

Wilson eventually immersed himself in the Bible and ministerial counseling and became an evangelist in the next six months following the experience. He quit drinking, smoking, and even dancing when adapting to his new identity as an evangelist.

Wilson was ordained as an international preacher in the fall of 1984. He also sold his Beverly Hills house in 1984 and moved to Orange County with his wife and children. He would only appear in few acting credits after that.

Demond Wilson Early Life and Career

Grady Demond Wilson, alias Demond Wison, was born on 13 October 1946 in Valdosta, Georgia. He grew up in New York City, where he took tap dance and ballet classes. He was only four years old when he started his acting career, appearing in a Broadway production of Green Pastures. At age 12, he performed tap dancing at the stage of the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City. The same year, his ruptured appendix almost led him to death.

Later, he studied acting at the American Community Theater and Hunter College. From 1966 to 1968, Wilson served the United States Army and was in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam in the late 1960s, he was featured in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including The Boys in the Band and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.

Early Television Shows and Films

Wilson began his professional on-screen debut in 1970 in the action comedy film Cotton Comes to Harlem, in which he had an uncredited role of a rally attendant. He then guest-starred in one episode of the CBS comedy sitcom All in the Family in 1971. The same year, he appeared as Charlie Blossom in the action thriller film The Organization, directed by Don Medford. That year, he also appeared in one episode of MeTV action-thriller television series Mission: Impossible.

‘Sanford and Son'

In 1972, Wilson landed a breakout role of Lamont Sanford, the frustrated son of cantankerous junk dealer Fred Sanford (played by Redd Foxx), in the NBC comedy sitcom Sanford and Son. The series ran for six seasons for 135 episodes until it was concluded in March 1977.

Later Works

After his notable work in Sanford and Son, Wilson starred in television series such as Baby… I’m Back! (1977-1978) as Raymond Ellis and The New Odd Couple (1982-1983) as Oscar Madison. He also appeared in two episodes of the ABC romantic comedy-drama The Love Boat in 1979 and 1981 and four episodes of the UPN comedy sitcom Girlfriends in 2004 and 2005. In addition, his additional film credits include Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972), Full Moon High (1981), Me and the Kid (1993), and Hammerlock 2000).

Stories and Books

Johnston’s husband, Wilson, has written eleven children’s stories and two books.

In December 1988, Wilson published his first book titled ‘The New Age Millennium: An Expose of Symbols, Slogans and Hidden Agendas.’ His second book, titled ‘Second Banana: The Bitter Sweet Memoirs of the Sanford and Son Years,’ was published in January 2009.

Did You Know?

Cicely Johnston is yet to feature on a Wikipedia page. Many aspects of her life remain private, including her age.