Biography

Became a minister in 1984.

Wilson served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 and was in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded.

In 1994, he formed the Restoration House of America, which gives Spiritual guidance and vocational training to former inmates.

His acting mentor was Redd Foxx.

Release of his book, "Second Banana: Bittersweet Memoir of Sanford and Son".

Travel around, preachin' the Lord's gospel, that's what. If He wants me to do a film or be a pastor, we'll have to wrestle a little bit. But I'll do whatever He wants me to do.

[When he was later called to be a minister rather than an actor]: I love preaching more than anything else I've ever done. I'm so happy now. I feel honored to be chosen. Even when you got everything - clothes, jewelry, nice house - you don't feel happy. I was like Jonah, running from the Lord.

[When he made the change from being an actor to a preacher]: On your own, you can't make the transition, I questioned it, too. God makes you a new person. He says, 'Just be patient - I'll show you how.'

God took me out of this world. He refined me and took my mind out of acting. I didn't have the desire to be in it anymore.

[on his first experience attending a Pentecostal church with his grandmother]: That was my first experience with jumping and shouting about the Lord, of which I'm a part of now, of which I choreograph, of which I promote! Hey, ya'lls not jumpin' and shoutin' enough over there!