Ned the wino really played the part good. He was also Esther's husband Woodrow on Sanford and Son as a wino. I believe he appeared on the Jeffersons on one episode as one of George's drunk friends. Brotha man must have been a wino in real life.

It was a Christmas episode of the Jefferson's and he told George about his mother and another man spending time together.

I was wondering that too, if he was a reformed alcoholic or something.

a shame how he typecasted himself.