Isabel Sanford (Louise Jefferson), dead at 86.

[Serena]

I just saw her recently on TV Land's award show and she didn't look well at all. I hadn't realized she was 86.

For ten years she made America laugh as Sherman Hemsley's comic foil on 'The Jeffersons.' But On Friday, July 9th, actress Isabel Sanford, better known as Louise 'Weezie' Jefferson, made the move to the ultimate deluxe apartment in the sky when she died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Sanford had been hospitalized since July 4th. Her health had been deteriorating since undergoing preventive surgery on a neck artery 10 months ago; however, no specific cause of death was cited.

Sanford caught the attention of the television viewing public play the role of the long suffering wife, often apologizing for husband George's rude behavior. In 1981, Sanford became the first black woman to receive an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on 'The Jeffersons'.

Sanford is survived by a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeffersons' Actress Sanford Dies
7/13/04 - 12:18 AM ET
By Adam Gonshor

(andPOP) - Isabel Sanford, the actress best known for portraying Louise on The Jeffersons died on Friday. She was 86.

She passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Her funeral will be private, but a public memorial service is pending.

She portrayed the "Weezie" character on All in the Family, the Fresh Prince, and other guest spots, in addition to The Jeffersons, alongside Sherman Hemsley.

She received a star on the Walk of Fame in January.

 

[katw_03]

"The Jefferson's" was a wonderful sitcom. She
will be missed. I couldn't believe she was 86 either!!

 

[suziwong]

Bad News !

oh I am sorry !!
Thank you Serena for this information.
Let God rest her in peace !!
God Bless

suzi

 

[Amos Stevens]

I don't think I ever watched a complete episode of the Jeffersons,but remember her in Guess whos coming to dinner & Am really glad she was honored with the Walk of Fame while she was still alive!

Actress - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

Click Three Times (1999) .... Dorothy
Jackie's Back! (1999) (TV) .... Miss Krumes (Jackie's Play Mama)
... aka Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva (1999) (TV) (USA)
Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998) (uncredited) .... Mrs. Louise Jefferson
... aka Mafia! (1998) (USA: short title)
Sprung (1997) .... Sista #1
Original Gangstas (1996) .... Gracie Bookman
... aka Hot City (1996)
South Beach (1992) .... Mama
... aka Night Caller (1992) (UK: video title)
Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog (1990)
"Pup Named Scooby-Doo, A" (1988) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices
Desperate Moves (1981) .... Dottie Butz
... aka Desperate Case, A (1981)
... aka Rollerboy (1981)
... aka Save the Last Dance for Me (1981)
... aka Steigler and Steigler (1981) (USA)
... aka Stiegler: A Desperate Case (1981)
... aka Stiegler: A Serious Case (1981)
Love at First Bite (1979) .... Judge R. Thomas
Photographer, The (1975)
"Jeffersons, The" (1975) TV Series .... Louise 'Weezy' Mills Jefferson
Up the Sandbox (1972) .... Maria
Lady Sings the Blues (1972) .... First Madame
Hickey & Boggs (1972) .... Nyona's Mother
New Centurions, The (1972) .... Wilma
... aka Precinct 45: Los Angeles Police (1972)
Great Man's Whiskers, The (1972) (TV) .... Ella
"All in the Family" (1971) TV Series .... Louise Jefferson (1971-1975)
... aka "Those Were the Days" (1971) (USA: pilot title)
Red, White, and Black, The (1970) .... Woman
... aka Black Cavalry (1970) (Australia: video title)
... aka Buffalo Soldiers (1970)
... aka Soul Soldier (1970)
Comic, The (1969) .... Woman
... aka Billy Bright (1969) (USA)
Pendulum (1969) .... Effie
Young Runaways, The (1968) .... Sarah
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) .... Matilda 'Tillie' Binks, Drayton Maid




Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

Great Man's Whiskers, The (1972) (TV) (singer: "Things That Go Bump in the Night")



Herself - filmography
(2000s) (1980s) (1970s)
Second Annual TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV, The (2004) (TV) .... Herself
CBS at 75 (2003) (TV) .... Herself
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (2003) (TV) .... Herself
... aka 1st Annual TV Land Awards (2003) (TV) (USA: short title)
Intimate Portrait: Isabel Sanford (2003) (TV) .... Herself
Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (2002) (TV) .... Herself
Great American Quiz Show, The (1987) (TV) .... Herself
Circus of the Stars #7 (1982) (TV) .... Herself - Co-ringmaster
Night of 100 Stars (1982) (TV) .... Herself
33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The (1981) (TV) .... Herself - Award Winner
"CBS: On the Air" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Co-host - part VII




Notable TV Guest Appearances

"Simpsons, The" (1989) playing "Herself" (voice) in episode: "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (episode # 15.12) 15 February 2004
"Young and the Restless, The" (1973) playing "Sylvia" (episode # 1.7534) 13 December 2002
"Parkers, The" (1999) playing "Evelyn Smith" in episode: "Hands Off, Grandma" (episode # 2.16) 26 February 2001
"Teen Angel" (1997) playing "Laurie" in episode: "Sings Like an Angel" (episode # 1.3) 10 October 1997
"Steve Harvey Show, The" (1996) playing "Mother Hightower" in episode: "That's My Mama" (episode # 1.11) 24 November 1996
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" (1990) playing "Louise 'Weezy' Jefferson" in episode: "I, Done: Part 2" (episode # 6.24) 20 May 1996
"Cybill" (1995) playing "Herself" in episode: "Romancing the Crone" (episode # 2.18) 10 March 1996
"In the House" (1995) playing "Nanna" in episode: "Christmas Story" (episode # 2.10) 11 December 1995
"In the House" (1995) playing "Nanna" in episode: "Nanna Don't Play" (episode # 2.8) 13 November 1995
"Roseanne" (1988) playing "TV Mom #3" in episode: "All about Rosey" (episode # 7.19) 1 March 1995
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" (1990) playing "Louise Jefferson" in episode: "Will Is from Mars..." (episode # 5.17) 20 February 1995
"Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" (1993) playing "Ms. Duffy" in episode: "Season's Greedings" (episode # 2.9) 4 December 1994
"Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" (1992) playing "Judge" in episode: "The Courtship of Mark Cooper" (episode # 2.15) 28 January 1994
"Living Single" (1993) playing "Eunetta Ryan" in episode: "Quittin' Time" (episode # 1.10) 24 October 1993
"Dream On" (1990) playing "Judge Isabel Kohner" in episode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape" (episode # 4.1) 2 June 1993
"Ben Stiller Show, The" (1992) playing "Herself" in episode: "ZooTV at Night" (episode # 1.13) 24 January 1993
"Howard Stern Show, The" (1990) playing "Herself" 11 July 1992
"Mike Hammer" (1984) playing "Mama Vibes" in episode: "Harlem Nocturne" (episode # 3.7) 26 November 1986
"Crazy Like a Fox" (1984) in episode: "The Duke Is Dead" (episode # 2.19) 5 April 1986
"Reading Rainbow" (1983) playing "Herself" (voice) in episode: "The Patchwork Quilt" 1985
"Love Boat, The" (1977) in episode: "Putting on the Dog/Going to the Dogs/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway?" (episode # 6.25) 25 March 1983
"Love Boat, The" (1977) playing "Tanya, Isaac's Aunt" in episode: "Tell Her She's Great/Matchmaker, Matchmaker Times Two/The Baby Alarm" (episode # 4.8) 29 November 1980
"All in the Family" (1971) playing "Louise Jefferson" in episode: "The Family Next Door" (episode # 9.21) 18 March 1979
"Supertrain" (1979) playing "Reba" in episode: "Pirouette" (episode # 1.7) 7 March 1979
"Vega$" (1978) playing "Mae" in episode: "Milliken's Stash" (episode # 1.7) 8 November 1978
"America 2-Night" (1978) playing "Herself" in episode: "Man of the Year Award" (episode # 1.64) 6 July 1978
"Saturday Night Live" (1975) playing "Herself" (uncredited) (episode # 2.2) 25 September 1976
"Hollywood Squares, The" (1966) 30 August 1976
"Tony Orlando and Dawn" (1974) playing "Herself" 22 October 1975
"Kojak" (1973) playing "Grace" in episode: "Die Before They Wake" (episode # 1.14) 6 February 1974
"Temperatures Rising" (1972) in episode: "The Mothers" 6 November 1973
"Love, American Style" (1969) playing "Mother" in episode: "Love and the Perfect Wedding" (episode # 4.8b) 3 November 1972
"Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) playing "Mrs. Wilson" in episode: "His Two Right Arms" (episode # 2.24) 4 March 1972
"Love, American Style" (1969) in episode: "Love and the Baby" (episode # 3.9a) 12 November 1971
"Bill Cosby Show, The" (1969) playing "Bertha" in episode: "The Barber Shop" (episode # 2.22) 21 February 1971
"Daniel Boone" (1964) playing "Maybelle" in episode: "Sunshine Patriots" (episode # 6.15) 22 January 1970
"Mod Squad, The" (1968) playing "Lillian" in episode: "Love" (episode # 1.10) 10 December 1968
"Bewitched" (1964) playing "Aunt Jenny" in episode: "Samantha Goes South for a Spell" (episode # 5.2) 3 October 1968

 

[suziwong]

Thank you very much Amos it's great information !!
suzi

 

[Serena]

Thanks, Amos! I had no idea she was in so many different things. That was quite an extensive career she had. She did indeed deserve to be honored on the Walk of Fame.

 

[yudansha]

I haven't seen much of her, but she contributed alot to the entertainment industry.

Sad news.

Thanks, Amos.

 

[TDWoj]

I'd seen that on ET a day or two ago. She was just on Hollywood Squares with Sherman Helmsley, too, I guess it was in February or thereabouts (they're showing re-runs right now, I think, in which I saw her again.)

Another loss.