Whitman Mayo

About Whitman Mayo

Who is it?: Actor
Birth Day: November 15, 1930
Birth Place:  New York City, New York, United States
Cause of death: Heart attack
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1966–2001
Spouse(s): Gail Reid (1974–2001) Patricia Yorck (1966–1974) Melva Washington (m. 1956, divorced)

Whitman Mayo

Whitman Mayo was born on November 15, 1930 in  New York City, New York, United States, is Actor. Noted for portraying characters older than his actual age, Whitman Mayo was in his early 40s in the early 1970s when he first played the sexagenarian "Grady" on "Sandford & Son" -- a role that popularized the expression "Good Goobily Goop!" Nearly thirty years later his "Grady" role had just about caught up with him in terms of age and, in terms of Americana, had assumed something of a cult status. In 1996, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" hosted a tongue-in-cheek "Where's Grady" search for the actor who so well played the part. Though this single role tended to typecast his acting and contributions to the profession, Whitman Mayo did not let it define him. In fact, his professional growth took him some distance from the Watts junkyard of the ABC sitcom. He rounded out his career teaching drama at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born and grew up in Harlem and Queens, N.Y., moving at 17 to Southern California with his family. He served in the army from 1951-53, then did tours of study at Chaffey College, Los Angeles City College, and UCLA. He began doing a little acting at this time, but nothing stuck. He drifted and liked to boast that he played serious volleyball in Mexico for a year. During these times in his life of not being fixed in a career, he also worked as a probation officer counseling young people, picked grapes, waited tables, and other things for the railroad and a dairy, and not necessarily in that order. In the late 1960s, he joined the New Lafayette Theater repertory company in New York City and began settling down in an acting career. His call to "Sanford & Son" came shortly thereafter when a friend from the New Lafayette group who was by that time writing for Norman Lear recommended Mayo for a part in a single episode. His portrayal caught on and he lasted through the entire duration of the show, even filling in for Redd Foxx when Foxx took a leave. Having a plethora of experience with the tentative in his life, Mayo viewed his continuing success on the series as fleeting and ventured into other trades to assure financial stability; in 1975, for instance, he opened a travel agency in Inglewood, California. In 1994, "burned out," as he said, on Los Angeles, he continued to ply his trade in acting, but moved to Fayetteville, Georgia.
Whitman Mayo is a member of Actor

Does Whitman Mayo Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Whitman Mayo has been died on May 22, 2001(2001-05-22) (aged 70)\nAtlanta, Georgia.

🎂 Whitman Mayo - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

When Whitman Mayo die, Whitman Mayo was 70 years old.

Popular As Whitman Mayo
Occupation Actor
Age 70 years old
Zodiac Sign Sagittarius
Born November 15, 1930 ( New York City, New York, United States)
Birthday November 15
Town/City  New York City, New York, United States
Nationality United States

🌙 Zodiac

Whitman Mayo’s zodiac sign is Sagittarius. According to astrologers, Sagittarius is curious and energetic, it is one of the biggest travelers among all zodiac signs. Their open mind and philosophical view motivates them to wander around the world in search of the meaning of life. Sagittarius is extrovert, optimistic and enthusiastic, and likes changes. Sagittarius-born are able to transform their thoughts into concrete actions and they will do anything to achieve their goals.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Whitman Mayo was born in the Year of the Horse. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Horse love to roam free. They’re energetic, self-reliant, money-wise, and they enjoy traveling, love and intimacy. They’re great at seducing, sharp-witted, impatient and sometimes seen as a drifter. Compatible with Dog or Tiger.

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Biography/Timeline

1951

Whitman Blount Mayo was born in New York City and grew up in Harlem and Queens. At the age of 17, he moved with his family to Southern California and from there entered the United States Army, serving from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. Upon release, he studied at Chaffey College, Los Angeles City College, and UCLA. During this time, he began acting in small parts, while waiting tables and working in the vineyards and as a probation officer, as well as a variety of other small jobs. He also spent seven years as a counselor to delinquent boys.

1970

Also in the late 1970s, Mayo appeared on the Los Angeles children's television program That's Cat, offering sage advice in a sweet manner to the main character, Alice.

1976

Mayo later starred in Grady, an unsuccessful spin-off in which his character moved in with his daughter and her husband in Beverly Hills. After its cancellation in 1976, Mayo's Grady character returned to Sanford and Son.

1977

Mayo reprised the role in the unsuccessful 1977 NBC-TV spinoff series Sanford Arms opposite actor Theodore Wilson, and for two episodes of Sanford, another NBC-TV Sanford and Son spinoff, this time opposite Redd Foxx and actor Dennis Burkley, in 1981.

1990

In 1990, he appeared in an episode of In The Heat of the Night titled "Hello in There".

1991

In 1991, he appeared in an episode of Full House titled "The Volunteer". He played a senior named Eddie Johnson with Alzheimer's.

1996

In 1996, Late Night with Conan O'Brien spent several weeks trying to have Mayo appear on the show. Conan even went as far to set up the "Grady Hotline", a 1–800 number where viewers could call in with any Grady "sightings". The show also aired a mock episode of Unsolved Mysteries. On February 8, 1996, Mayo appeared on Late Night, to much fanfare. In 1997, he guest-starred in the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan and Kel, playing Kenan and Kyra's rude, impatient Uncle Raymond.

2001

Mayo died of a Heart failure on May 22, 2001 at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital. He had resided in Atlanta's Collier Heights community since 1994 and was survived by his third wife, Gail Mayo. His son, Rahn Mayo, became a member of the Georgia House of Representatives in 2009.

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