Betty Jean Harris was a singer and a dancer in a nightclub. But, Betty came into the light as the ex-wife of late popular stand-up comedian John Elroy Sanford (better known as Redd Foxx). Though her then-husband has already died, his legacy is still alive.
Jean met her future-husband Redd Foxx at the nightclub where she used to work. Though the former couple decided to walk down the aisle after some years, Redd Foxx had some conditions for it. Ultimately, her marriage became the end of her career.
Redd Foxx’s ex-spouse always said even though she liked show business a lot, she “liked being Mrs. Redd Foxx even more.” Among all the four marriages of her ex-hubby, Betty’s marital relationship was the longest. Despite their eighteen years long married life, the pair didn’t have any biological children together.
Scroll down more to know about Betty Jean Harris’s birthday, daughter, marriage life, and more!
Who is Betty Jean Harris? Her Biography
Betty Harris is the second wife of Redd Foxx. While there isn’t more about her early life, Betty was born and raised in the United States. As far as her ethnicity is concerned, Harris is an Afro-American. And her nationality is American. A little bit is known about her family is that Betty has two sisters. They used to work together at the same nightclub.
On the other hand, her late ex-husband was born on December 9, 1922, and died on October 11, 1991. He was 68-year-old at the time of his death.
Betty Harris Met Redd Foxx at The Nightclub
As we mentioned earlier, the former couple first met at the nightclub where Betty used to work. Initially, she didn’t really like Foxx and he also didn’t pay much attention to her.
Betty once disclosed that she didn’t like Redd initially,
“For some reason, he would laugh and talk to my sister. I didn’t like him because he would be loud in the dressing room. Because the job me and my sisters had didn’t pay much money, I also held a day job, and between the shows, I would sleep on a cot in the dressing room.”
Redd Foxx took a whole year to make his bid even though he always knew he would marry her someday. He later said it was love at first sight and would watch her with her sisters when they were on stage from the first time he saw her.
Betty Jean Harris Was Married to Redd Foxx in The Mid 1950s
After dating for some years, Betty tied the knot with an American stand-up comedian and an actor Redd Foxx on July 5, 1956. The couple had hard times adjusting to one another in the first year. But as the pair were destined to be, they made it happen.
Betty Jean Harrison with her late husband Redd Foxx.“It’s a lot of fun being married to the funniest guy in show business. I enjoyed it. It’s been wonderful,” said Mrs. Foxx later said in a JET interview.
Sanford and Son’s star always traveled a lot but he had reduced his traveling after his marriage. He always showered his love with surprise gifts. “He is full of surprises. Once he brought me a tree filled with jewels… watches, rings, bracelets, necklaces – the works!” Mrs. Foxx recalled.
The actor even moved back to Los Angeles when the TV series started to spend more time with his wife. In fact, Foxx found out he couldn’t stand living away from his partner’s splendid cooking.
Redd Foxx’s Ex-Wife Betty Gave Up Her Career To Be a Housewife
When Redd asked his then-wife to spend the rest of her life with him, he also had a condition to that offer. Foxx wanted Betty to give up her singing career and become a full-time housewife and she agreed to it.
Moving forward, Foxx’s ex-wife Betty was more than just a housewife. She handled most of the business for Redd Foxx Enterprises as well as other business ventures. Mrs. Foxx was the one to look after all the paper works or we can say she was the boss of the boss.
Apart from all the house and business, what Betty is fond of is sewing. She “has a house full of pillows” and they are mostly red. “The color is red… Redd Foxx that is,” said Mrs. Foxx.
Betty Jean Harris Life After Divorce
Regardless of such a strong relationship and being one of the ideal couples in Hollywood, their relationship came to an end after 18 years of their marriage in 1975. Betty filed a divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
Following the duo’s separation, Redd got a restraining order against Betty which prevented her from “removing, hiding, or secreting property.” Besides, she also reportedly had to return $110,000 to her ex-partner.
After her separation from her hubby, Betty Foxx chose to stay far from the limelight. She didn’t involve in any kind of relationship afterward, yet Redd married two more women after their divorce.
The Sanford and Son star went on to marry Joi Yun Chi Chung from 1976 to 1981. Later he again married Kaho Cho in 1991 and was married to her till his death. Even before Betty, Foxx was married to Evelyn Killebrew from 1948 to 1951.
Betty Jean Has a Daughter Debraca Denise
Prior to Mr. Redd Foxx, Harris was in a relationship with another guy. Though she hasn’t revealed the identity of her previous husband in the media, she had a daughter with him.
Betty’s daughter with her late adoptive father.Betty’s only daughter’s name is Debraca Denise. She was only 9 years old when her biological mom and adoptive father exchanged vows. Denise was then adopted by Redd Foxx and goes by the name Debraca Denise Foxx.
Net Worth
Being a dancer and a singer in her career, Betty must have earned a good amount of money. However, her fortune is still under review.
On the other hand, her ex-husband late Redd Foxx had a net worth of $3.5million at the time of his death.