Isabel Sanford (August 29, 1917 - July 9, 2004) was an Emmy Award-winning American actress most known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on the CBS television sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1975) and The Jeffersons (1975–1985).
Born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford in New York City, New York, Sanford was the first African-American actress to win a Lead Actress Emmy Award (for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981), and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
During the 1960s, Sanford worked in the theatre industry, and in 1967 she made her film debut in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, playing the critically acclaimed role of the Drayton Family housekeeper Matilda 'Tillie' Binks. Sanford's pivotal scene with Sidney Poitier, turned her brief role, into a memorable performance. ...
TILLIE:
"...I got somethin' to say to you boy! Just exactly are you tryin' to pull here?"
DR.PRENTICE:
"...I'm not trying to pull anything. I was looking to find me a wife."
TILLIE:
"...Ain't that just likely? You wanna answer me somethin'? What kinda' doctor you supposed to be anyhow?"
DR. PRENTICE:
"...Would you believe horse -hahaha?"
TILLIE:
"...Oohhhh, you make with wittisims and all, huh ?! Well let me tell you somethin' ! You may THINK you're foolin' Miss Joey and her folks, but you ain't foolin' me for a minute ! You think I don't see what you are?? You one of those smoooth-talkin', smart-assed niggas, just out for all you can get! With all your "black power", and all that other trouble-making nonsense ! And you listen here, ...I brought up that child from a baby in her cradle. And ain't NOBODY gonna harm her none, while I'm here watching! And as long as you are ANYWHERE around this house, I'm right here watching !! ...You read me boy?? You bring any trouble in here, and you just like to find out what BLACK POWER really means !!
...And furthermore to THAT, you ain't even all the GOOD LOOKING !!!"
From performances like these, Sanford caught the attention of major Hollywood players, including Norman Lear, who cast Sanford in the role of Louise Jefferson in All in the Family. She almost turned down the role after receiving a bucket of fried chicken in her dressing room. Norman Lear assured her that it was a genuine gift, and she eventually agreed to play the part. Sanford and her TV husband, Sherman Hemsley, were so popular that The Jeffersons was spun-off into its own series, but were mostly typecast by the roles. Such was their compatibility and credibility as a married couple that no one seemed to notice or care that Sanford was twenty years older than Hemsley.
After production of The Jeffersons ended in 1985, Sanford was mostly limited to guest TV appearances and cameo appearances in movies, appearing in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Dream On, Roseanne, Living Single, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, In the House and The Steve Harvey Show, as well as the extremely short-lived 1992 CBS Hearts Are Wild (similar to Love Boat). She also did voice acting for The Simpsons in her final television appearance before her death.
Sanford also appeared with Sherman Hemsley in a series of advertisements for Denny's and Old Navy.
Sanford died on July 9, 2004 of cardiac arrest and heart disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 86 years old and was interred at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.
Sanford played the voice of secretary of Harry Boyle on the cartoon Wait 'til Your Father Gets Home In Italy, the voice over dubbing in The Jeffersons was done by comedian Isa di Marzio.
