Yun Chi Chung is the ex-wife of Redd Foxx. She was working as a cocktail waitress at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas at the time she met the American comedian. Regardless of the 20 years gap between them, the pair got along well and even dated for six months before they married in 1976.
Chung, the third wife of Redd Foxx was affectionately nicknamed “Joi” by her then-husband but they separated in 1981 on the grounds of incompatibility. Foxx paid about $300,000 as a divorce settlement.
Who is Yun Chi Chung?
Born and raised in Korea, Yun Chi Chung’s exact date of birth has not been given. However, since it has been reported that she was 20 years younger than Redd Foxx, it would be safe to say she was born in 1942 while Foxx, was born in 1922.
She Met Redd Foxx shortly After She Arrived in the US
During an interview with Jet Magazine, Chung revealed she worked as a cocktail waitress at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel shortly after she arrived in the US. While she was there, Redd was doing his late-night weekend show in the main room of the hotel.
Yun Chi Chung and Redd Foxx first met in the hallway of the hotel. The duo reportedly developed a romantic relationship six months before they got married on December 31, 1976, in a chapel in Las Vegas.
The marriage only lasted for two years until the comedian filed for divorce in November 1979 claiming they were not compatible. However, Chung filed a countersuit in Los Angeles accusing Foxx of cruelty.
Her lawyer also made claims at that time that Foxx had allegedly hit Chung with a gun, which made her ask for a restraining order against him. On his own part, Foxx revealed he could never say thing negative about Chung although he later claimed their cultural difference played a role in their divorce.
The divorce was finalized in 1981 and Redd Foxx paid a reported sum of $300,000 as a divorce settlement.
Yun Chi Chung’s Ex-husband’s was Married Four Times
Evelyn Killebrew
Redd Foxx also known as John Elroy Sandford was married four times during his lifetime. He married his first wife, Evelyn Killebrew in 1948 at the time he was washing dishes together with Malcolm X and at the same time pursuing his musical career. The marriage eventually ended in 1951.
Betty Jean Harris
Foxx met Betty Jean Harris, his second wife during his time in the nightclub circuit. Betty was a singer and was in a group with her two sisters. Betty gave up her career and became a full housewife after she married Foxx on July 5, 1956.
Although they never had any child, the Sanford and Son actor adopted Harris’s daughter from a previous relationship. They remained married for more than 19 years and Harris helped Foxx manage his finances until 1974 when Foxx filed for divorce and also obtained a restraining order against Harris. While Foxx claimed the divorce was based on incompatibility reasons, Harris revealed that there was another woman in the picture.
Due to how the marriage ended, Redd Foxx didn’t attend his daughter’s wedding in 1975. For that reason, Harris did not write his name as the bride’s father on the wedding invitations.
The actor was forced to pay over $150, 000 while he was awaiting his divorce and paid $10,000 monthly support after the divorce was finalized.
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Ka Ho Cho
Just Like Chung, Ka Ho Cho was also from Korea. She met Redd at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Although The Royal Family actor had previously said he was done with marriage, He went ahead to marry Cho at Little Church of the West in Las Vegas.
Ka Ho Cho remained married to the actor until he died.
Her Ex-Husband Died of a Heart Attack
Yun Chi Chung’s husband suffered a heart attack during rehearsals on set on October 11, 1991. Quite a number of people thought he faked it as he always does until they saw he wasn’t moving. When the medics came, they pronounced his death only to realize he was still alive.
Foxx was taken to Queen of Angels Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and four and a half hours later, he was declared dead again. Redd Foxx died at the age of 68.
Following his death, Chung’s ex-husband was reportedly in debt to the IRS that no one knew they could afford his burial. According to reports, the comedian owed more than $3.6 million in taxes at the time he passed.
As for his burial, comedian Eddie Murphy stepped up and paid for expenses that the burial would incur.
Where is Yun Chi Chung Now?
Ever since her marriage with Redd Foxx ended, Yun Chi Chung stayed away from the limelight. Even after his death, no news as regards her whereabouts although some facebook comments suggest she moved back to Korea where she worked in a certain company.
