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Eloise Gwendolyn " Isabel" Sanford (August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004) was an American stage, film, and television actress and best known for her role as on the All in the Family (1971–1975) and (1975–1985). In 1981, she became the second African-American actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award after and the first African-American actress to win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.


Early life
Sanford was born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford on August 29, 1917, in , New York City, to Josephine (née Perry) and James Edward Sanford. She was the youngest of seven children and was the only child to survive beyond infancy. Sanford's mother Josephine was devoutly religious and insisted that her daughter attend church every Sunday, and occasionally made her attend on weeknights. As a teenager, Sanford aspired to be an actress, but her mother discouraged her dream, as she felt that show business was "the road to degradation." Sanford disobeyed her mother and began performing at local clubs. She also performed at amateur night at The Apollo Theater. After graduating high school, Sanford joined Harlem's American Negro Theater and The Star Players. She made her professional stage debut in 1946 in On Strivers Row, and appeared in several off-Broadway productions while also working as a keypunch operator at . In 1945, Sanford married house painter William Edward "Sonny" Richmond, with whom she had three children. Their marriage was tumultuous (a euphemism of the time for domestic violence), and they later separated.


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 Tallulah Bankhead. In 1965, she made her Broadway debut in 's The Amen Corner. This role led to her being cast in the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. In the film, she was credited as Isabell Sanford, playing the role of the maid "Tillie Binks." Her performance was noted and earned good reviews, despite limited screen time. She caught the attention of major Hollywood players, including , who cast Sanford in the role of Louise Jefferson in All in the Family. Sanford and her TV husband were so popular that Norman Lear decided to spin off the characters into their own weekly series . Sanford was initially reluctant to commit to working on a weekly series, as she was already working steadily, but decided to accept the offer. The Jeffersons premiered in January 1975, and was an immediate hit with audiences, ultimately running for 11 seasons. For her role in the series, Sanford earned five Golden Globe Award nominations and seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981, making her the first African-American actress to win in that category and remained the only African-American actress to do so until 2023-24 when achieved this feat for her role as Janine Teagues on Abbott Elementary.

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. In the 1990s, Sanford mainly appeared in television guest appearances and in movies. She appeared on Dream On , , Hangin' with Mr. Cooper , In the House , ', The Steve Harvey Show , and Hearts Are Wild . In 1996, she played a supporting role in the action movie Original Gangstas'', starring film stars , , , 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 . She and Hemsley also made a cameo appearance in the film Sprung, and guest-starred in , Mafia!, and two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The two also appeared in a series of for Denny's and . In January 2004, Sanford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the television industry. She made her final television appearance the following month as an animated version of herself in episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore."

(2010). 9780786456925, McFarland. .


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. Following the separation, Sanford and the children moved to Los Angeles. Richmond remained in New York and died later that same year.


Death
In September 2003, Sanford underwent preventive surgery on her carotid artery. In the ensuing months, her health steadily declined. She was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on July 4, 2004, where she died five days later at the age of 86. Her publicist attributed it to unspecified . She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills in . For her contribution to the television industry, Isabel Sanford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard.


Broadway credits
April 15 – June 26, 1965The Amen CornerSister Moore


Filmography
+ Film
1967Guess Who's Coming to DinnerTillie
1968The Young RunawaysSarah
1969PendulumEffie
1969Ethel
1970The Red, White, and BlackIsabel Taylor
1972Stand Up and Be CountedBeverlyUncredited
1972Every Little Crook and NannyNanny RoseUncredited
1972The New CenturionsWilma
1972Hickey & BoggsMaryanne- Nyona's Mother
1972Lady Sings the BluesMadame Blaine
1972Pete 'n' TillieNanny MaeUncredited
1972Up the SandboxMaria
1974The PhotographerMrs. Thomas Slade
1979Love At First BiteJudge R. Thomas
1981Desperate MovesDottie Butz
1990Pucker Up and Bark Like a DogJoanna
1992South BeachMama Joan
1996Original GangstasGracie Bookman
1997SprungRosaLynn Charleson
1998Jane Austen's Mafia!Mrs. Louise JeffersonUncredited
2000Click Three TimesDorothyShort

+ Television
1968The Carol Burnett ShowSketch PerformerEpisodes #2.1, 2.9, 2.12, 3.8
1968Aunt JennyEpisode: "Samantha Goes South for a Spell"
1968The Mod SquadLillianEpisode: "Love"
Credited as Isabell Sanford
1970Daniel BooneMaybelleEpisode: "Sunshine Patriots"
1971The Bill Cosby ShowBerthaEpisode: "The Barber Shop"
Credited as Isabell Sanford
1971The InternsDr. Alice HearnEpisode: "The Choice"
1971–1972Love, American StyleVarious roles2 episodes
1971–1975All in the FamilyLouise Jefferson26 episodes
1972The Mary Tyler Moore ShowMrs. Isabell WilsonEpisode: "His Two Right Arms"
1972The Great Man's WhiskersEllaTelevision film
1972Wait Till Your Father Gets HomeBetsyVoice, Episode: "Help Wanted"
1973Temperatures RisingMrs. Marny NolandEpisode: "The Mothers"
1974GraceEpisode: "Die Before They Wake"
1975–1985Louise Jefferson253 episodes
1978Vega$MaeEpisode: "Milliken's Stash"
1979RebaEpisode: "Pirouette"
1980–1983The Love BoatTanya Washington, Isaac's Aunt2 episodes
1984NarratorEpisode: "The Patchwork Quilt"
1986Crazy Like a FoxPamela1 episode
1986The New Mike HammerMama VibesEpisode: "Harlem Nocturne"
1987Isabel Sanford's Honeymoon HotelIsabel Scott5 episodes
1988A Pup Named Scooby-DooAdditional voicesEpisode "A Bicycle Built for Boo!"
1993Dream OnJudge Isabel KohnerEpisode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape"
1993Ms. Eunetta RyanEpisode: "Quittin' Time"
1994Hangin' with Mr. CooperJudge Annie ColtonEpisode: "The Courtship of Mark Cooper"
1994Ms. Margaret DuffyEpisode: "Seasons Greedings"
1995RoseanneLouise Jefferson, TV Mom #3Episode: "All About Rosey"
1995In the HouseNanna Roosetta Warren2 episodes
1995–1996The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirLouise "Weezy" Jefferson2 episodes
1996The Steve Harvey ShowMother HightowerEpisode: "That's My Mama"
1997Teen AngelLaurieEpisode: "Sings Like an Angel"
1998BerniceVoice, Episode: "Cocoon Gables/Green-Eyed Monster"
1999Jackie's BackMiss Isabel KrumesTelevision film
2001Evelyn "Nana" SmithEpisode: "Hands Off, Grandma"
2002The Young and the RestlessSylviaEpisode #1.7534
2004HerselfVoice, Episode: "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
2004Mrs. JeffersonEpisode: "Mother's Day", (final appearance)


Awards and nominations
1979Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1980Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1981Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsWon
1982Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1983Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1984Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1985Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe JeffersonsNominated
1977Golden Globe AwardBest TV Actress - Musical/ComedyThe JeffersonsNominated
1978Golden Globe AwardBest TV Actress - Musical/ComedyThe JeffersonsNominated
1983Golden Globe AwardBest Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/MusicalThe JeffersonsNominated
1984Golden Globe AwardBest Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/MusicalThe JeffersonsNominated
1985Golden Globe AwardBest Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/MusicalThe JeffersonsNominated
2004TV Land AwardsFavorite Cantankerous CoupleThe Jeffersons (Shared with Sherman Hemsley)Won


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