Isabel Sanford (1917–2004)

STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 1,959 this week
Isabel Sanford Picture
Trailer
1:18 | Trailer
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 (1967). Until her passing, Isabel continued to act frequently, most recently in a series of commercials for Old Navy stores with The Jeffersons (... See full bio »

Quick Links

Explore More
Show Less

Upcoming Reboots and Remakes We Can't Wait to See

Check out some of the most anticipated TV series revivals, live-action movie adaptations, and remakes currently in the works.

Browse our picks

2021 Golden Globe Nominees In and Out of Character

Check out our gallery of the 2021 Golden Globe nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life

See the full gallery

Related News

See all related articles »

Around The Web

 | 

Powered by ZergNet

On Prime Video

See more on Prime Video »

Watch on TV

All in the Family
The Longest Kiss (S5, Ep10)
Thu, Feb 25 2:00 AM PST on KFTRDT2 (1283)
All in the Family
Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood (S1, Ep8)
Thu, Feb 25 8:00 PM PST on KFTRDT2 (1283)
Explore more on IMDb TV »

Editorial Lists

Related lists from IMDb editors

African-American Milestones in Movies and TV
a list of 31 images
updated 06 Feb 2019
 
They're Back: Television Spin-offs We Love
a list of 34 images
updated 23 Oct 2018
 
Create a list »

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2004 Memoriam
a list of 34 people
created 11 months ago
 
African-American Milestones in Movies and TV
a list of 25 images
created 11 Feb 2017
 
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
a list of 46 people
created 4 months ago
 
problem images
a list of 24 images
created 23 Jul 2019
 
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
a list of 37 people
created 23 Aug 2017
 
See all related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

How Much Have You Seen?

How much of Isabel Sanford's work have you seen?

User Polls

See more polls »
Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

183 photos | 6 videos »

Known For

The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons Louise Jefferson
(1975-1985)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Tillie
(1967)
South Beach
South Beach Mama
(1993)
Lady Sings the Blues
Lady Sings the Blues The Madame
(1972)
Show Show all  | 
 |  Edit

Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actress (58 credits)
 2004 The Simpsons (TV Series)
Isabel Sanford
- Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore (2004) ... Isabel Sanford (voice)
 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 (voice)
 1998 Mafia!
Mrs. Louise Jefferson (uncredited)
 1998 Disney's Math Quest with Aladdin (Video Game)
 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 Jefferson
- I, Done: Part 2 (1996) ... Louise Jefferson
- Will Is from Mars... (1995) ... 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)
Margaret Duffy
- Season's Greedings (1994) ... Margaret Duffy
 1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series)
Judge
- The Courtship of Mark Cooper (1994) ... Judge
 1993 Living Single (TV Series)
Mrs. Ryan
- Quittin' Time (1993) ... Mrs. Ryan
 1993 South Beach
Mama
 1993 Dream On (TV Series)
Judge Isabel Kohner
- Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape (1993) ... Judge Isabel Kohner
 1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV Series)
Shirley McLoon
- A Bicycle Built for Boo! (1988) ... Shirley McLoon (voice)
 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
- Off-Off-Off-Off Broadway (1985) ... Louise Jefferson
- The Odd Couple (1985) ... Louise Jefferson
- The Truth Hurts (1985) ... Louise Jefferson
- And Up We Go (1985) ... Louise Jefferson
Show all 253 episodes
 1980-1983 The Love Boat (TV Series)
Tanya Evans / Tanya, Isaac's Aunt
- The Dog Show: Putting on the Dog/Going to the Dogs/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway? (1983) ... Tanya Evans
- The Baby Alarm/Tell Her She's Great/Matchmaker, Matchmaker Times Two (1980) ... Tanya, Isaac's Aunt
 1981 Steigler and Steigler
Dottie Butz
 1979 Love at First Bite
Judge
 1971-1979 All in the Family (TV Series)
Louise Jefferson
- The Family Next Door (1979) ... Louise Jefferson
- The Jeffersons Move on Up (1975) ... Louise Jefferson
- Archie's Contract (1974) ... Louise Jefferson
- George and Archie Make a Deal (1974) ... Louise Jefferson
- The Longest Kiss (1974) ... Louise Jefferson
Show all 26 episodes
 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
 1968-1973 The Carol Burnett Show (TV Series)
Maid / Beulah, a King Sister / Minerva / ...
- Episode #6.23 (1973) ... Maid
- Episode #3.8 (1969) ... Beulah, a King Sister
- Episode #2.12 (1968) ... Minerva / Self (uncredited)
- Episode #2.9 (1968) ... Blondie (uncredited)
- Episode #2.1 (1968) ... Sketch Performer
 1973 The Fuzz Brothers (TV Movie)
 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")
- Love and the Baby/Love and the Big Mother/Love and the Free Weekend/Love and the Jealous Husband/Love and the Old Cowboy (1971) ... Mrs. Jones (segment "Love and the Baby")
 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 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (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 Buffalo Soldier
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 Young Runaways
Sarah
 1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Tillie (as Isabell Sanford)
Show Show Soundtrack (3 credits)
Show Show Self (67 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (10 credits)

Related Videos

See all 6 videos »
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

TV commercial for Denny's Diner. See more »

Publicity Listings:

10 Articles | 1 Magazine Cover Photo | See more »

Alternate Names:

Isabell Sanford

Height:

5' 3" (1.6 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

If there's anything in life you consider worthwhile achieving -- go for it. I was told many times to forget show business, I had nothing going for me. But I pursued it, anyway. Voila! See more »

Trivia:

Her son Sanford K. Sanford and daughter Pamela Ruff appeared in her profile episode of Intimate Portrait (1990) on the Lifetime cable television network. Has another son named William Eric. See more »

Star Sign:

Virgo
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page



Clear your history

Recently Viewed