Isabel Sanford
Isabel Sanford | |
---|---|
Born | Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford August 29, 1917 |
Died | July 9, 2004 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 86)
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park |
Nationality | American |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1946–2004 |
Known for | Louise "Weezy" Mills–Jefferson on All in the Family and The Jeffersons |
Spouse |
William E. Richmond
(m. 1945; died 1960) |
Children | 3 |
Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (The Jeffersons; 1981) |
Website | www |
Isabel Sanford (born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford; August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004) was an American stage, film, and television actress and
Early life
Sanford was born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford in
Career
In 1960, Sanford withdrew money from her retirement fund, boarded a bus with her three children, left her husband in New York, and moved to Los Angeles. Soon after her arrival, she was asked to join the national production of Here Today by actress
After The Jeffersons' cancellation in 1985, Sanford continued her career with guest-starring roles in television and film. In January 1987, she starred in her own sitcom, Isabel's Honeymoon Hotel, which aired five days a week in syndication. The series was created to showcase Sanford's comedic skills, but it failed to attract an audience and was quickly cancelled.[7][8] In the 1990s, Sanford mainly appeared in television guest appearances and cameo appearances in movies. She appeared on Dream On, Living Single, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, In the House, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Steve Harvey Show, and Hearts Are Wild. In 1996, she played a supporting role in the action movie Original Gangstas, starring blaxploitation film stars Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Richard Roundtree. Isabel Sanford appeared in Kojak Season 1 Episode 14 "Die Before They Wake" in 1974.
Sanford later reprised her role as Louise Jefferson in a touring company of The Real Live Jeffersons stage show in the mid-1990s alongside Sherman Hemsley. She and Hemsley also made a cameo appearance in the film
Personal life
Sanford married house painter William Edward "Sonny" Richmond in 1945. The couple had three children—two sons (Sanford K. Richmond and Eric Richmond) and a daughter (Pamela Richmond Ruff) before separating in 1960.[2][5] Following the separation, Sanford and the children moved to Los Angeles. Richmond remained in New York and died later that same year.[5]
Death
In September 2003, Sanford underwent preventive surgery on her
Broadway credits
Date | Production | Role |
---|---|---|
April 15 – June 26, 1965 | The Amen Corner | Sister Moore |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Tillie | |
1968 | The Young Runaways | Sarah | |
1969 | Pendulum | Effie | |
1969 | The Comic | Ethel | |
1970 | The Red, White, and Black | Isabel Taylor | |
1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | Beverly | Uncredited |
1972 | Every Little Crook and Nanny | Nanny Rose | Uncredited |
1972 | The New Centurions | Wilma | |
1972 | Hickey & Boggs | Maryanne- Nyona's Mother | |
1972 | Lady Sings the Blues | Madame Blaine | |
1972 | Pete 'n' Tillie | Nanny Mae | Uncredited |
1972 | Up the Sandbox | Maria | |
1974 | The Photographer | Mrs. Thomas Slade | |
1979 | Love At First Bite
|
Judge R. Thomas | |
1981 | Desperate Moves | Dottie Butz | |
1990 | Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog | Joanna | |
1992 | South Beach | Mama Joan | |
1996 | Original Gangstas | Gracie Bookman | |
1997 | Sprung | RosaLynn Charleson | |
1998 | Jane Austen's Mafia! | Mrs. Louise Jefferson | Uncredited |
2000 | Click Three Times | Dorothy | Short |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | The Carol Burnett Show | Sketch Performer | Episodes #2.1, 2.9, 2.12, 3.8 |
1968 | Bewitched | Aunt Jenny | Episode: "Samantha Goes South for a Spell" |
1968 | The Mod Squad | Lillian | Episode: "Love" Credited as Isabell Sanford |
1970 | Daniel Boone | Maybelle | Episode: "Sunshine Patriots" |
1971 | The Bill Cosby Show | Bertha | Episode: "The Barber Shop" Credited as Isabell Sanford |
1971 | The Interns
|
Dr. Alice Hearn | Episode: "The Choice" |
1971–1972 | Love, American Style | Various roles | 2 episodes |
1971–1975 | All in the Family | Louise Jefferson | 26 episodes |
1972 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Mrs. Isabell Wilson | Episode: "His Two Right Arms" |
1972 | The Great Man's Whiskers | Ella | Television film |
1972 | Wait Till Your Father Gets Home | Betsy | Voice, Episode: "Help Wanted" |
1973 | Temperatures Rising | Mrs. Marny Noland | Episode: "The Mothers" |
1974 | Kojak | Grace | Episode: "Die Before They Wake" |
1975–1985 | The Jeffersons | Louise Jefferson | 253 episodes |
1978 | Vega$
|
Mae | Episode: "Milliken's Stash" |
1979 | Supertrain | Reba | Episode: "Pirouette" |
1980–1983 | The Love Boat | Tanya Washington, Isaac's Aunt | 2 episodes |
1984 | Reading Rainbow | Narrator | Episode: "The Patchwork Quilt" |
1986 | Crazy Like a Fox | Pamela | 1 episode |
1986 | The New Mike Hammer
|
Mama Vibes | Episode: "Harlem Nocturne" |
1987 | Isabel's Honeymoon Hotel | Isabel Scott | Unknown episodes |
1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Additional voices | Episode "A Bicycle Built for Boo!" |
1993 | Dream On | Judge Isabel Kohner | Episode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape" |
1993 | Living Single | Ms. Eunetta Ryan | Episode: "Quittin' Time" |
1994 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Judge Annie Colton | Episode: "The Courtship of Mark Cooper" |
1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Ms. Margaret Duffy | Episode: "Seasons Greedings" |
1995 | Roseanne
|
Louise Jefferson, TV Mom #3 | Episode: "All About Rosey" |
1995 | In the House | Nanna Roosetta Warren | 2 episodes |
1995–1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Louise "Weezy" Jefferson | 2 episodes |
1996 | The Steve Harvey Show | Mother Hightower | Episode: "That's My Mama" |
1997 | Teen Angel | Laurie | Episode: "Sings Like an Angel" |
1998 | Pepper Ann | Bernice | Voice, Episode: "Cocoon Gables/Green-Eyed Monster" |
1999 | Jackie's Back | Miss Isabel Krumes | Television film |
2001 | The Parkers | Evelyn "Nana" Smith | Episode: "Hands Off, Grandma" |
2002 | The Young and the Restless | Sylvia | Episode #1.7534 |
2004 | The Simpsons | Herself | Voice, Episode: "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore" |
2004 | Candid Camera | Mrs. Jefferson | Episode: "Mother's Day", (final appearance) |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | Primetime Emmy Award
|
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1980 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Won |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1984 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1985 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1977 | Golden Globe Award
|
Best TV Actress - Musical/Comedy | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1978 | Golden Globe Award | Best TV Actress - Musical/Comedy | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1983 | Golden Globe Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1984 | Golden Globe Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
1985 | Golden Globe Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
2004 | TV Land Awards
|
Favorite Cantankerous Couple | The Jeffersons (Shared with Sherman Hemsley) | Won |
References
- ISSN 0012-9011.
- ^ a b c d e f Shattuck, Kathryn (July 13, 2004). "Isabel Sanford, 86, Actress Who Portrayed Mrs. Jefferson". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c d McLellan, Dennis (July 13, 2004). "Isabel Sanford, 86; Won Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Biography. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ ISSN 0012-9011.
- ^ a b "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series". Bangor Daily News. July 13, 2004. p. B6. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ "Isabel Sanford to star in new syndicated sitcom". The Washington Afro-American. September 6, 1986. p. 8. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ "Sanford's 'Honeymoon Hotel' Does Slow Business". Los Angeles Daily News. January 14, 1987.
- ISBN 978-0786456925.
- ^ Today. July 12, 2004. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ "Actress Isabel Sanford dead at 86". The Madison Courier. July 13, 2004. pp. B–4. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Kemp, Joe; Goldsmith, Samuel (July 7, 2009). "Michael Jackson will be buried among Tinseltown's legends at Forest Lawn". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ "Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 24, 2013.