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IMDbPro

Isabel Sanford(1917-2004)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Isabel Sanford 1976 © 1978 Ken Whitmore
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:18
The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
6 Videos
99+ Photos
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 (1975) co-star, Sherman Hemsley. She made several commercials for Nick-at-Nite as well when the cable channel premiered The Jeffersons (1975).
BornAugust 29, 1917
DiedJuly 9, 2004(86)
BornAugust 29, 1917
DiedJuly 9, 2004(86)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 5 wins & 12 nominations total

Funny Women of Television

Funny Women of Television

We salute the brilliant women behind all those unforgettable laughs on the small screen.
View the gallery
[object Object]
Photos

Photos182

Mel Stewart, Carroll O'Connor, Isabel Sanford, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
Mel Stewart, Carroll O'Connor, Isabel Sanford, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
Mel Stewart, Carroll O'Connor, Isabel Sanford, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
Norman Lear, Mike Evans, Sherman Hemsley, and Isabel Sanford in Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)
Sidney Poitier and Isabel Sanford in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Sidney Poitier and Isabel Sanford in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Isabel Sanford in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Katharine Hepburn and Isabel Sanford in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Katharine Houghton and Isabel Sanford in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Zara Cully and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)
Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker, and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)
Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)

Known for

Marla Gibbs, Paul Benedict, Franklin Cover, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Berlinda Tolbert in The Jeffersons (1975)
The Jeffersons
7.5
TV Series
  • Louise Jefferson
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Houghton in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
7.8
  • Tillie(as Isabell Sanford)
  • 1967
South Beach (1993)
South Beach
3.9
  • Mama
  • 1993
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Lady Sings the Blues
7.0
  • The Madame
  • 1972

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
    The Simpsons
    • Isabel Sanford (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2004
  • Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)
    The Young and the Restless
    • Sylvia
    • TV Series
    • 2002
  • Jenna von Oÿ, Ken Lawson, Mo'Nique, Countess Vaughn, Dorien Wilson, and Yvette Wilson in The Parkers (1999)
    The Parkers
    • Evelyn 'Nana' Smith
    • TV Series
    • 2001
  • Isabel Sanford (L) with Kelly Boczek.
    Click Three Times
    • Dorothy
    • Short
    • 2000
  • Jenifer Lewis in Jackie's Back! (1999)
    Jackie's Back!
    • Miss Krumes (Jackie's Play Mama)
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • Pepper Ann (1997)
    Pepper Ann
    • Bernice (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 1998
  • Mafia! (1998)
    Mafia!
    • Mrs. Louise Jefferson (uncredited)
    • 1998
  • Disney's Math Quest with Aladdin (1998)
    Disney's Math Quest with Aladdin
    • Mosaic Woman (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 1998
  • Teen Angel (1997)
    Teen Angel
    • Laurie
    • TV Series
    • 1997
  • Paula Jai Parker, Tisha Campbell, Rusty Cundieff, and Joe Torry in Sprung (1997)
    Sprung
    • Sista #1
    • 1997
  • Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Wendy Raquel Robinson in The Steve Harvey Show (1996)
    The Steve Harvey Show
    • Mother Hightower
    • TV Series
    • 1996
  • Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
    • Louise Jefferson
    • TV Series
    • 1995–1996
  • Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Fred Williamson in Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas
    • Gracie Bookman
    • 1996
  • Cybill Shepherd, Alicia Witt, Christine Baranski, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Alan Rosenberg in Cybill (1995)
    Cybill
    • Isabel Sanford (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1996
  • LL Cool J, Alfonso Ribeiro, Maia Campbell, and Kim Wayans in In the House (1995)
    In the House
    • Nanna
    • TV Series
    • 1995

Soundtrack

  • Cybill Shepherd, Alicia Witt, Christine Baranski, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Alan Rosenberg in Cybill (1995)
    Cybill
    • performer: " (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1996
  • Janeane Garofalo, Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, and Bob Odenkirk in The Ben Stiller Show (1992)
    The Ben Stiller Show
    • performer: "Movin' On Up" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1995
  • Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
    All in the Family
    • performer: "Bye Bye Blackbird"
    • performer: "Happy Birthday to You" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1974

Videos6

The Jeffersons
Trailer 1:18
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
Trailer 1:01
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons: The Complete Third Season
Trailer 1:24
The Jeffersons: The Complete Third Season
The Jeffersons
Trailer 1:26
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons: The Complete First Season
Trailer 2:04
The Jeffersons: The Complete First Season
The Jeffersons: The Complete Second Season
Trailer 1:30
The Jeffersons: The Complete Second Season

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Isabell Sanford
  • Height
    • 5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
  • Born
    • August 29, 1917
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • July 9, 2004
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(cardiopulmonary arrest and heart disease)
  • Spouse
    • William Edward (Sonny) RichmondMarch 15, 1945 - 1960 (his death, 3 children)
  • Children
      Sanford K. Sanford
  • Parents
      Josephine Perry Sanford
  • Relatives
    • Dorothy Butts(Cousin)
  • Other works
    TV commercial (voice) for Lucky Dog Long Distance.
  • Publicity listings
    • 11 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    The youngest of seven children and the only one to survive infancy.
  • Quotes
    On receiving her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she said: Here with stars in my eyes - something that I dreamed about when I was 9 years old. There are others that deserve it, but let everybody get their own.
  • Trademark
      Her distinct, gravelly voice.
  • Salary
    • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
      (1967)
      $600 /week

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