"Mutha is Half a Word" LaWanda Page

She became famous as Aunt Esther the bible toting purse wielding sister-in-law of Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son. "You fished eyed fool" and "Watch it sucka" were two of her most uttered phrases. LaWanda Page and Redd Foxx had been friends for years before they starred on television together. Redd Foxx knew her when she was Alberta Peal living is St. Louis, MO.
LaWanda Page started out in the night club circuit of the south working the night clubs she was known as The Bronze Goddess of Fire as she did a fire eating act. Her career took around the country and she ended up in LA doing stand up. Her act can only be described as raunchy but hilarious. LaWanda returned to St. Louis to care for an elderly mother when Redd Foxx was offered the role of Fred Sanford. The character of Aunt Esther hadn't been cast and Foxx called her to ask her to audition for the role. She went out to LA and was cast. The producers weren't too happy with her and decided that she would have to be fired and the role recast until Redd Foxx put his foot down and said No LaWanda on Foxx! She went on to create one of the most memorable characters of 1970's television.
Aunt Esther the pious church goer could not have been futher from LaWanda's act.

After Sanford and Son LaWanda went back to doing stand up and would revive the Aunt Esther character for Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. She also did a handful of movies television appearances and commercials. Her most famous commerical was for Church's Chicken. LaWanda also had a recording career and put out six comedy records as well as doing a vocal track on RuPaul's "Supermodel (You Better Work)".
LaWanda Page died 2002 at the age of 81. She was survived by her daughter and evangelist preacher.