LaWanda Page, born Alberta Peal (October 19, 1920 - September 14, 2002) was an American actress, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Aunt Esther in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Page started her career in show business in small clubs, working as "The Bronze Goddess of Fire," an act which included her lighting cigarettes with her fingertips. She performed this routine on an episode of Sanford and Son, in which Fred held a circus in his side yard.

Page was convinced by her friend Redd Foxx to become a stand-up comedienne. Page recorded several live comedy albums for the Laff Records label in the late 1960's and early 1970's; One release, a gold-selling album called Watch it, Sucka!, was titled after Aunt Esther's catchphrase to cash in on her newfound TV fame.

On Sanford and Son, Page's "Aunt Esther" character was the sister of Elizabeth, Fred Sanford's (Foxx) late wife. Page was Foxx's only choice to play Aunt Esther. Esther would sometimes be accompanied by other stalwart ladies from her church, or by her henpecked, massively inebriated husband, Woodrow (played by Raymond Allen).

Aunt Esther was a genuinely funny combination of a devout church-goer and a 'tough-as-nails' realist, often sparring with Fred over both the state of his soul and the lack of his success, and getting insulted by Fred in return over his opinion of her homely looks. On occasion she would call Fred an "old fish-eyed fool." She once referred to Fred, during a public prayer, as a "snaggle-toothed jackass;" Fred once told her that, if they pressed her face into some dough, they could make "gorilla cookies." In another 'tender moment,' when Aunt Esther reminded Fred that her name was in the Bible (i.e., the book of Esther), Fred was reminded that "Samson slew the Philistines with your jaw-bone (i.e., that of an Ass; Judges 15:15)." Her "church lady" image was in direct contrast with the sexual material of her stand-up act and record albums. Page also portrayed her character on several episodes of Dean Martin's "Celebrity Roasts." She also acted in several episodes of other television shows, including Amen and Martin, and Diff'rent Strokes, and appeared in the Steve Martin film My Blue Heaven. Page's career experienced a brief revitalization in the early 90s after she appeared on several tracks of the debut album by RuPaul called Supermodel of the World, particularly the hit song Supermodel (You Better Work). She also appeared in several music videos from the album. Shortly before her death she appeared in several comical Church's Fried Chicken television commercials with the catchphrase of "Gotta love it!" She also made a cameo appearance in the hit movie Friday and stole the show with a movie opening one-liner.

Page succumbed to diabetes in September 2002. She is interred in an outdoor crypt at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Her daughter, Evangelist Clara Estella Roberta Johnson, died on June 4 2006, in Los Angeles, California at the age of 69.

Page began her career as a dancer and chorus girl on the club circuit. While performing as a stripper in St. Louis, Missouri, she was billed "The Bronze Goddess of Fire" because she lit cigarettes with her fingertips, swallowed fire and touched flaming torches to her body.

Born in Cleveland Ohio, but reared in St. Louis, Missouri.

A one-time dancer and chorus girl billed as "the Bronze Goddess of Fire" before turning to standup comedy.

Her childhood friend, comedian Redd Foxx, gave her the biggest break of her career when he insisted she play his fiery, Bible-thumping sister-in-law Aunt Esther on his hit 70s TV series "Sanford and Son" at the age of 53.

Most fittingly, she appeared in the stage production of "Take It to the Lord...Or Else."

Began her career as a standup comedienne as black theatres and nightclubs, along with comics such as Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.

Survived by one daughter, Clara Johnson.

Appears on Rupauls "Supermodel Of The World Album" and In The Remixes for "Supermodel", Including one named "Lawanda In Your Face Mix". She also appeared in Rupauls Video for "Back To My Roots" as Rupauls Mother.