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Isabel Sanford (1917–2004)


Isabel Sanford was a Broadway actress for over thirty years before moving to Hollywood. She made numerous guest appearances on TV, including a stint as a supporting cast member on The Carol Burnett Show. Until her passing, Isabel continued to act frequently, most recently in a series of commercials for Old Navy stores with The Jeffersons co-star... See full bio »

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Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActress (55 titles)
2002 The Young and the Restless (TV series)
Sylvia
Episode #1.7534 (2002) … Sylvia
 
2001 The Parkers (TV series)
Evelyn 'Nana' Smith
Hands Off, Grandma (2001) … Evelyn 'Nana' Smith
 
2000 Click Three Times (short)
Dorothy
 
1999 Jackie's Back! (TV movie)
Miss Krumes (Jackie's Play Mama)
 
1998 Pepper Ann (TV series)
Bernice
Cocoon Gables/Green-Eyed Monster (1998) … Bernice
 
1997 Teen Angel (TV series)
Laurie
Sings Like an Angel (1997) … Laurie
 
1997 Sprung
Sista #1
 
1996 The Steve Harvey Show (TV series)
Mother Hightower
That's My Mama (1996) … Mother Hightower
 
1995-1996 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV series)
Louise 'Weezy' Jefferson / Louise Jefferson
 
1996 Original Gangstas
Gracie Bookman
 
1995 In the House (TV series)
Nanna
Christmas Story (1995) … Nanna
Nanna Don't Play (1995) … Nanna
 
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV series)
Ms. Duffy
Season's Greedings (1994) … Ms. Duffy
 
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV series)
Judge
The Courtship of Mark Cooper (1994) … Judge
 
1993 Living Single (TV series)
Eunetta Ryan
Quittin' Time (1993) … Eunetta Ryan
 
1993 South Beach
Mama
 
1993 Dream On (TV series)
Judge Isabel Kohner
 
1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV series)
Additional Voices
 
1987 Isabel's Honeymoon Hotel (TV series)
Isabel Scott
 
1986 The New Mike Hammer (TV series)
Hot Mama Vibes
Harlem Nocturne (1986) … Hot Mama Vibes
 
1986 You Are the Jury (TV series)
Judge Elizabeth Robbins
The State of Ohio vs. James Wolsky (1986) … Judge Elizabeth Robbins
 
1986 Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)
The Duke Is Dead (1986)
 
1975-1985 The Jeffersons (TV series)
Louise Jefferson
Red Robins (1985) … Louise Jefferson
 
1980-1983 The Love Boat (TV series)
Tanja Evans / Tanya, Isaac's Aunt
 
1981 Steigler and Steigler
Dottie Butz
 
1979 Love at First Bite
Judge R. Thomas
 
1979 Supertrain (TV series)
Reba
Pirouette (1979) … Reba
 
1978 Vega$ (TV series)
Mae
Milliken's Stash (1978) … Mae
 
1974 The Photographer
Mrs. Slade
 
1974 Kojak (TV series)
Grace
Die Before They Wake (1974) … Grace
 
1973 The New Temperatures Rising Show (TV series)
Mrs. Noland
The Mothers (1973) … Mrs. Noland
 
1972 Up the Sandbox
Maria
 
1972 Pete 'n' Tillie
Maid (uncredited)
 
1971-1972 Love, American Style (TV series)
Mother of the Bride (segment "Love and the Perfect Wedding") / Mrs. Jones (segment "Love and the Baby")
Love and the Clinic/Love and the Perfect Wedding/Love and the President/Love and the Return of Raymond (1972) … Mother of the Bride (segment "Love and the Perfect Wedding")
 
1972 Lady Sings the Blues
The Madame
 
1972 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (TV series)
Betsy
Help Wanted (1972) … Betsy (voice)
 
1972 Hickey & Boggs
Nyona's Mother
 
1972 The New Centurions
Wilma
 
1972 Every Little Crook and Nanny
Prospective Nanny #1 (uncredited)
 
1972 Stand Up and Be Counted
Beverly (uncredited)
 
1972 The Great Man's Whiskers (TV movie)
Ella
 
1972 Mary Tyler Moore (TV series)
Mrs. Wilson
His Two Right Arms (1972) … Mrs. Wilson
 
1971 The Interns (TV series)
Dr. Hearn
The Choice (1971) … Dr. Hearn
 
1970-1971 The Bill Cosby Show (TV series)
Aunt Bertha
The Barber Shop (1971) … Aunt Bertha (as Isabell Sanford)
The Lincoln Letter (1970) … Aunt Bertha
 
1970 The Red, White, and Black
Isabel Taylor
 
1970 Daniel Boone (TV series)
Maybelle
Sunshine Patriots (1970) … Maybelle
 
1969 The Comic
Woman in Detergent Commercial (as Isabell Sanford)
 
1969 Pendulum
Effie
 
1968 Mod Squad (TV series)
Lillian
Love (1968) … Lillian (as Isabell Sanford)
 
1968 Bewitched (TV series)
Aunt Jenny
Samantha Goes South for a Spell (1968) … Aunt Jenny (as Isabell Sanford)
 
1968 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)
Sketch Performer
Episode #2.1 (1968) … Sketch Performer
 
1968 The Young Runaways
Sarah
 
1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Tillie (as Isabell Sanford)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (3 titles)
1996 Cybill (TV series)
Romancing the Crone (1996) (performer: " Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" - uncredited)
 
1992 The Ben Stiller Show (TV series)
ZooTV at Night (performer: "Movin' On Up" - uncredited)
 
1974 All in the Family (TV series)
The Bunkers and Inflation: Part 1 (1974) (performer: "Bye Bye Blackbird" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (50 titles)
2004 Candid Camera (TV series)
Mrs. Jefferson
Mother's Day (2004) … Mrs. Jefferson
 
2004 The 2nd Annual TV Land Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2004 The Simpsons (TV series)
Herself
Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore (2004) … Herself (voice)
 
2001-2003 Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 21 November 2003 (2003) … Herself
Episode dated 20 November 2003 (2003) … Herself
Episode dated 19 November 2003 (2003) … Herself
Episode dated 18 November 2003 (2003) … Herself
Episode dated 17 November 2003 (2003) … Herself
 
2003 CBS at 75 (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2003 TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
2003 Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary)
Herself
Isabel Sanford (2003) … Herself
 
2002 Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2000 Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals 4 (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1998 The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 4 May 1998 (1998) … Herself
 
1996 Cybill (TV series)
Herself
Romancing the Crone (1996) … Herself (uncredited)
 
1995 Roseanne (TV series)
Herself - Louise Jefferson, TV Mom #3
All About Rosey (1995) … Herself - Louise Jefferson, TV Mom #3
 
1992-1993 Vicki! (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 28 September 1993 (1993) … Herself
Episode #1.50 (1992) … Herself
 
1993 John & Leeza from Hollywood (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.15 (1993) … Herself
 
1992 The Ben Stiller Show (TV series)
Herself
ZooTV at Night … Herself
 
1992 The Howard Stern Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 11 July 1992 (1992) … Herself
 
1990 The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1986-1987 The New Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 7 December 1987 (1987) … Herself
Episode dated 23 February 1987 (1987) … Herself
Episode dated 20 October 1986 (1986) … Herself
 
1987 The Great American Quiz Show (TV special)
Herself
 
1987 The 1st Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
1983-1986 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 31 October 1986 (1986) … Herself
Episode dated 19 June 1983 (1983) … Herself
 
1984-1985 Body Language (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 13 December 1985 (1985) … Herself
Episode dated 12 December 1985 (1985) … Herself
Episode dated 11 December 1985 (1985) … Herself
Episode dated 10 December 1985 (1985) … Herself
Episode dated 9 December 1985 (1985) … Herself
 
1985 Reading Rainbow (TV series)
Herself
The Patchwork Quilt (1985) … Herself (voice)
 
1985 The 6th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1984 Star Search (TV series)
Herself - Introducer
Episode #2.10 (1984) … Herself - Introducer
 
1984 The 36th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
 
1984 The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
 
1984 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Herself
Isabel Sanford (1984) … Herself
 
1983 The 4th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1982 Circus of the Stars #7 (TV special documentary)
Herself - Co-Ringmaster
 
1982 The 34th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
 
1982 The Shape of Things (TV series)
Herself
Episode #1.2 (1982) … Herself
 
1982 The 28th Annual Genii Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
1982 Night of 100 Stars (TV special)
Herself
 
1981 The John Davidson Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 11 November 1981 (1981) … Herself
 
1981 The 33rd Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series & Presenter: Best Variety, Music or Comedy Program
 
1981 The 7th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Co-Presenter: Favourite New Television Comedy Program
 
1976-1980 The Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 25 February 1980 (1980) … Herself
Episode dated 10 December 1979 (1979) … Herself
Episode dated 18 June 1979 (1979) … Herself
Episode dated 9 April 1979 (1979) … Herself
Episode dated 25 December 1978 (1978) … Herself
 
1980 Family Feud (TV series)
Herself
The Jeffersons vs. Dallas (1980) … Herself
The Jeffersons vs. Dukes of Hazzard (1980) … Herself
 
1979 Kids Are People, Too (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 23 December 1979 (1979) … Herself
 
1979 The 31st Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
 
1978 America 2-Night (TV series)
Herself
Man of the Year Award (1978) … Herself
 
1978 CBS: On the Air (TV mini-series documentary)
Co-host - part VII
 
1977 Break the Bank (TV series)
Herself
Episode dated 4 January 1977 (1977) … Herself
 
1976 Saturday Night Live (TV series)
Herself
Norman Lear/Boz Scaggs (1976) … Herself (uncredited)
 
1975 Tony Orlando and Dawn (TV series)
Herself
Episode #2.7 (1975) … Herself
 
1968 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)
Herself
Episode #2.8 (1968) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (4 titles)
2005 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Herself - Memorial Tribute
 
2004 TV's Greatest Sidekicks (TV special)
 
1977 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)
 
1968 Black History: Lost Stolen, or Strayed (TV documentary)
Herself/Drayton Maid (uncredited)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

TV commercial for Denny's Diner (2001). See more »

Publicity Listings:

10 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Isabell Sanford

Height:

5' 3" (1.60 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Who never wanted any credit or any publicity for her philanthropy and regularly turned down invitations to be publicly recognized for her support, she said: Use the money to do the research, to do the work, to help people, I don't give to be thanked. I give because I want to help. See more »

Trivia:

Her son Sanford K. Sanford and daughter Pamela Ruff appeared in her profile episode of TV's Intimate Portrait on the Lifetime cable TV network. Has another son named William Eric. See more »

Star Sign:

Virgo