Isabel Sanford (born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford; August 29, 1917 July 9, 2004) was an American stage, film, and television actress and comedian best known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson on the CBS sitcoms All in the Family (19711975) and The Jeffersons (19751985). 21042. Usually parents know whats best for their child, but were glad Isabel Sanford actually disobeyed her Moms rules that one time, or else we wouldve neverknown the loving Mother TV figure that we came to love as Weezy. We also would have never gotten to hear her yell in her signature raspy voice, George!. Langston Hughes, the author, loved my . Her performance in the film caught the attention of ace TV producer Norman Lear who cast her as Louise Weezy Jefferson in All in the Family., The CBS hit show premiered in 1971, and by 1975, Sanford and Hemsley had become fan favorites to the extent that they got their spin-off, The Jeffersons.. Hemsley also made a voice appearance as himself in the Seth MacFarlane animated comedy Family Guy in 2005. She is awesome! In the last three years the travel insurance industry has faced endless challenges, due to Climate Change and Pandemics and has struggled to respond to their A vengeful witch thinking that Samantha was Serena sends her back to 1868 New Orleans. The Jeffersons Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Isabel still followed her own mind, pursued her dream and got her start performing in local clubseven working her way up to the Apollo Theater. [13] For her contribution to the television industry, Isabel Sanford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard. Apart from his lengthy tenure as George in "All in the Family"and "The Jeffersons,"Helmsley also appeared in a third esteemed sitcom,"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." }); Copyright 2015 . He was 74. If I was to pull back something, then it just wouldn't work.". "I was in a play in elementary school and had to jump up and run away. ", She described him as "a very private person unlike George Jefferson. . (cardiopulmonary arrest and heart disease), March 15, 1945 - 1960 (his death, 3 children). NPR's Allison Keyes recounts the life her family, friends and . After contesting the will, Thornton halted progress on funeral arrangements, and as a result, Hemsley's body remained at the San Jose Funeral Home in El Paso and unburied for months. It has been listed on Rocket Homes since February 28, 2023 and is currently priced at $575,000. He was known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family (19731975; 1978) and The Jeffersons (19751985), Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen (19861991), and B. P. Richfield on the ABC series Dinosaurs. The Block Agency is a full service model and talent agency based in Nashville, TN, Denver, CO and Austin TX providing models, actors, hosts, stylists and hair and make up artists for your next commercial, print ad, social media project, convention, film or tv show and beyond. Appearing 1 Credit . Sanford was the first African-American actress to win a Lead Actress Emmy Award, and has a star . Ccile McLorin Salvant has released the title track to Mlusine, her new album, due March 24, along with a video she created for it.You can watch it here. Features: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. The two also appeared in a series of advertisements for Denny's and Old Navy. Heres what was reported in an interview she did with People: Marriage to a house painter shortly after high school graduation resulted in three children in quick succession, Pamela, Eric and SanfordI felt like an assembly lineand a separation after only a few years. ALL; GAMES (1) Filters: ALL CREDITED ROLES Disney's Math Quest With Aladdin (1998 Video . Rude. He was known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family (1973-1975; 1978) and The Jeffersons (1975-1985), Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen (1986-1991), and B. P. Richfield on the ABC series Dinosaurs.Hemsley also played Judge Carl Robertson on the NBC . Legendary thespian and Hollywood star Isabel Sanford, better known as "Weezie" from The Jeffersons, died Monday. Submitted Comments (Click here for meetings with SEC officials) Comments have been received from individuals and entities using the following Letter Type A: 31 B: 24 C: 6,254 D: 5 In her two-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Isabel Sanford (1917-2004) discusses her early years growing up and her entrance into live theatre. Enjoy! LA Times. I was nervous and tripped and fell down and everyone laughed. The youngest of seven children and the only one to survive infancy. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; He made his Broadway debut in 1970's "Purlie," a musical adaptation of Ossie Davis' Jim Crow-era play "Purlie Victorious." 18h ago. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner streaming? Many ancient pipes in CT aren't up to the task of draining storm water, yet officials just seem to shrug. Their laughter made me relax, so I pretended it was part of the show. Not the last time this will happen. Hemsley and she also made a cameo appearance in the film Sprung, and guest-starred in The Parkers, Mafia!, and two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Isabel Sanford Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage) . Word on the Old School curb is that business was booming for Sanford and her family back thenCha-ching! Let's takea look at "The Jeffersons" actors that you may not know have passed away. The album features a mix of originals and interpretations of songs dating as far back as the twelfth century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyl. The children didntmiss him much, and I just let it go at that, she shrugs. Louise Jefferson (ne Mills), portrayed by Emmy Award-winning actress Isabel Sanford, is the wife of George Jefferson, and the chief nemesis and next-door neighbor of Archie Bunker. Sanford upped and left with her three children, leaving the familiarity of New York for an unpredictable California in 1960. Shortly after, he joined Vinnette Carroll's Urban Arts Company appearing in these productions: But Never Jam Today, The Lottery, Old Judge Mose is Dead, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, Step Lively Boys, Croesus, and The Witch. Unfortunately, the reason behind her departure was far more tragic than just quitting the show to pursue other interests. The audience responded so well to the Jeffersons that All in the Family creator Norman Lear decided to give them their own show. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Miss Colborn marries engagement of Mike Moore to Don Marino Torl Onla a a Day Sooklal note. Her last role was voicing a caricuture of herself in an episode of the animated series, The Simpsons (starring Dan Castellaneta). In this production, Hemsley performed the solos "Lookin' Over From Your Side" in Act I and "Sermon" in Act II. Isabel Sanford (born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford; August 29, 1917 - July 9, 2004) was an American stage, film, and television actress and comedian best known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson on the CBS sitcoms All in the Family (1971-1975) and The Jeffersons (1975-1985). [10], In September 2003, Sanford underwent preventive surgery on her carotid artery. In 1996, she played a supporting role in the action movie Original Gangstas, starring blaxploitation film stars Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Richard Roundtree. Their chemistry as a married couple was so believable that many thought Hemsley and Sanford dated in real life. I had mixed parents, so I didn't see it as a big deal. He was weak and I was an ambitious young woman. She proved it by acting at night in church groups while working as a $49-a-week keypunch operator at a welfare office. On leaving the Air Force, Hemsley returned to Philadelphia, where he worked for the United States Postal Service during the day while attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts at night. Thank you for your tireless advocacy for families with young children! She also did voice acting for The Simpsons in her final television appearance before her death. And get this the name of it was Weezys! Smart move, right? Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Showing Editorial results for isabel sanford. Her mother was against the idea so Sanford snuck out of the house to perform in nightclubs. Cloris Leachman Miscarried & Got Call From Husband's A-List Star Mistress at 4 AM: 'I Felt Simply Awful', Norman Lear's 2nd Wife Got $100 Million Divorce Settlement after Working up the Courage to Leave Him, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz's Kids Lived Different Lives after Parents Thrust Them into the Spotlight, 'Who's the Boss? His wife, Weezie, was often his foil -- yet provided plenty of zingers as well. . She enjoyed getting fan mail from people who saw The Jeffersons for the first time in reruns, Lemack said. Isabel Sanford also sold Old Navy clothing and Lipton Tea on television. ending in 1991. "The Jeffersons" (L-R) George, Louise & Mother Jefferson. One of my favorite The Jefferson's I also remember her on Bewitched I luv her deep voice. It appears he moved on to real estate investments. Isabel Sanford owned a dry-cleaning business. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Sanford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame in January 2004, and six months later, the world lost a TV icon that defined an entire generation. CineMagia person ID. The sitcom ran for 11 seasons from 1975 to 1985. She had a rough marriage- her husband, William Edward Sonny Richmond, at a young age and they had a really rocky relationship and separated soon after their three children were born. Age, Biography and Wiki. In 1981, she became the second African-American actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award after Gail Fisher, and so far, the only African-American actress to win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Isabels marketing skills and business sense were on point. He had a malignant mass on one of his lungs for which chemotherapy and radiation had been recommended, according to the El Paso County Texas Medical Examiner's report. So sad.Isabel Sanford Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage) "But the fact is that I did not know Sherman when he was in the limelight. A performance to be found in the role of Isabel Sanford (voice) in the series The Simpsons. They launched their own successful TV show, The Jeffersons. Olivia Jefferson was one of the great sitcom moms. She was 86. Per Jet magazine, the civil rights organizationNAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) awarded Cully's work with a posthumous ImageAward. "Weezy" from "The Jeffersons" had a side hustle that she started after becoming a big time TV superstar on and let's just say, she was determined to keep her "piece of the Pi-i-ie" (I couldn't resist singing that one). Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. "[8] This was followed in 1992 by Dance, an album of rhythm and blues music. In 2011, he reprised his role as George Jefferson for the final time, alongside Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston, on Tyler Perry's House of Payne. [3] In January 2004, Sanford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the television industry. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Hemsley, on his part, noticed Sanfords disdain, saying, She expected a big guy. Louise appeared first on the television series All In The Family and made her debut on the series in the episode Lionel Moves Into The Neighboorhood during the first season of All in the Family. Paul Benedict played one of the Jefferson's neighbors, the United Nations interpreter Harry Bentley. 81377. "', Sherman Hemsley, star of 'The Jeffersons,' found dead in his Texas home, North Haven PD: Man arrested for fake bomb threat at movies, Police: Man found in CT with drugs, gun in car arrested, In this 1986 file photo, actor Sherman Hemsley poses for a photo in Los Angeles. He then retired from acting but continued to appear with Isabel Sanford, reprising their roles on televisions shows as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and in commercials for Denny's, Old Navy, and The Gap. She was 86. And mrs. Melbert b. But Isabel Sanford, 60ish, who plays the TV mother, "Weezy" Jefferson, did it backward. Two years later, "The Jeffersons" was spun off. Her goal was to strike gold in Hollywood. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Recommended Stories. Word on the Old School curb is that business was booming for Sanford and her family back thenCha-ching! In 1981, she became the second African-American actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award after Gail Fisher . officials said. Cully was already in her 80s when she worked on "The Jeffersons," and per theSt. Petersburg Times, the prolific actress died on February 28, 1978, at 86 years old. Actress, Isabel Sanford a.k.a. Sanford co-starred with Sherman Hemsley from 1975 to 1985 on CBS The Jeffersons, a spin-off of the popular series All in the Family, in which she also appeared. With Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, Clarke Gordon. Her Tv Family Is More Loyal Than Royal, but Isabel Sanford Is a Queen on 'the Jeffersons' Shes the only one of her siblings to survive Isabel Sanford was the only one of her parents- James Edward and Josephine Sanford- 7 children to actually survive past infancy. Isabel Sanford Voices. View 1 image of Isabel Sanford's character from their voice acting career. Sanford said in the interview that Rich had made the right decision, since the world has been hitching us together ever since., The Jeffersons Isabel Sanford Felt Disrespected That the Series Never Aired a Finale: Mary Tyler Moore Got a Closing Show. Stone a Eon of or. "Some people come out of the woodwork - they think Sherman, they think money", Enchinton told AP. Roxie Roker, who playedHelen Willis in "The Jeffersons," was 66 years old when she died on December 2, 1995 in Los Angeles (per The New York Times). Isabel Sanford, (born August 29, 1917, New York, New York, U.S.died July 9, 2004, Los Angeles, California), American actress best known for her role as Louise ("Weezy") Jefferson in the long-running television situation comedy The Jeffersons (1975-85). Damon Evans, who played the second Lionel, and Jay Hammer (the Williss son) are also alive today aged 73 and 78 respectively. However, they grew closer as the show continued. After portraying the iconic character in "All in the Family"and the first season of "The Jeffersons," Evans returned as Lionel from Season 6 onwards. Hemsley then was a voice actor in the ABC live-action puppet series Dinosaurs, where he played Bradley P. Richfield, the boss of the main character, Earl. He then became a voice actor in the ABC live-action puppet series "Dinosaurs," playing 'Bradley R. Richfield' which ran four seasons until 1994. "[14], On July 24, 2012, Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas, at age 74. By the time they landed their spinoff, Hemsley and Sherman were pretty inseparable. Is CT recycling going into the trash? In a T.V. After "The Jeffersons" was abruptly canceled, Hemsley starred in the sitcom "Amen" as a fiery Philadelphia church deacon, Ernest Frye. In 1981, she became the second African-American actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award after Gail Fisher . Last month, actress/comedian Wanda Sykes gave life one more time to Sanfords career-defining character in a one-night recreation of The Jeffersons produced by Lear and late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Hemsley made his Broadway debut in Purlie and toured with the show for a year. According to ILOSM, the actress capitalized on the plot of The Jeffersons to open a dry-cleaning business named, Weezys Dry Cleaning. Yes! She was 86. She was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on July 4, 2004, where she died five days latera month before her 87th birthday. Isabels mother did not want her to become an actress- Her mother was extremely religious and made her daughter go to church every Sunday and sometimes on weeknights. This 2,174 square foot home, which was built in 2011, sits on a 0.17 acre lot. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) In Israel's divisive debate over the government's planned legal overhaul, proponents claim that curtailing the power of judges and courts is good for the country Before leaving New York, Sanford had been involved in several theater productions, but on getting to California, her first job was as a keypunch operator, a position she held for seven years. Hemsley continued to work steadily after the show's cancellation, largely typecast in George Jefferson-like roles. It ran for 11 seasons from 1975 until its sudden and controversial cancellation in 1985. Isabel Sanford: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Sherman Helmsley's George Jefferson was a truly trailblazing television protagonist, and the actor was nominated for multiple awards for the role, winning a NAACP Image Award in 1982 and a joint TV Land Award with Isabel Sanford in 2004. [15][16][17], On August 28, 2012, an El Paso news anchor interviewed Flora Isela Enchinton, the sole beneficiary of Hemsley's will, who said that the two were friends and had been business partners for more than two decades. While Hemsley was on Broadway with Purlie, Norman Lear called him in 1971 to play the recurring role of George Jefferson in his new sitcom, All in the Family. EPA/Landov. [1] Hemsley graduated from Barrat Middle School. [18] During this time she lived with Hemsley and his friend Kenny Johnston. [1] She also performed at amateur night at The Apollo Theater. Isabel Sanford net worth and salary: Isabel Sanford was an American actress and comedian who had a net worth of $3 million at the time of her death. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981, making history as the first African American actress to win in that category. Hemsley was born and raised in South Philadelphia by his mother, who worked in a lamp factory. In 1920, after her father abandoned the . Isabel Sanford Sanford played George's wife Louise "Wezzy" Jefferson. Isabel Cary weds h. A store Only relatives and a few friends present As the Bride 19 in mourning. Her health had waned after undergoing preventive surgery on a neck artery 10 months ago, Lemack said. A loudmouth. Like the rest of her family,Mother Jefferson debuts in "All in the Family" and immediately develops an antagonistic relationship with Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), thanks to the latter's characteristically ham-fisted comments. However, her Mother was not having that, and forbade her to follow her dream because she believed that a career in entertainment was the road to degradation, according to The Jeffersons star. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actress Isabel Sanford, best known as "Weezie," Louise Jefferson on the television sitcom "The Jeffersons," died of natural causes, her publicist said Monday. Sanford had also done voice roles providing a voice to herself in the popular animated sitcom "The Simpsons." Sanford died F Isabel Sanford passed away on July 9, 2004 at the age of 87, after falling ill from a neck surgery she had a week prior. The Jeffersons proved to be one of Lear's most successful series, enjoying a run of eleven seasons through 1985. In the cinema, in the role of Mrs. Louise Jefferson (uncredited) in the feature film Jane Austen's Mafia!. Enchinton told the Associated Press that Hemsley never mentioned any relatives. target_type: 'mix' Despite the character's many faults -- money-driven, prejudiced, temperamental, a boor -- Hemsley managed to make the character endearing, part of the reason it stayed on the air for so long. Hemsley read for the part and "the minute he opened his mouth he was George Jefferson," Lear said. Sitelinks. Shes the one who keeps Georges [her TV husband George Jefferson] feet on the ground. She wasn't convinced about the potential of the new show, and she felt that her role on the parent series was stable and . [2][5] After their separation, Sanford and the children moved to California in 1960, while Richmond remained in New York. 0 references. The Simpsons as Isabel Sanford (voice) 1987: The Great American Quiz Show : 1984: Crazy . They launched their own successful TV show, The Jeffersons. Actress best known for playing Louise 'Weezie' Jefferson on 'The Jeffersons' became the first black woman to receive an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the sitcom. Some haulers caught, Arming guidance counselors? Sanford and Hemsley, unfortunately, both have passed away. Hemsley was smaller than O'Connor's Archie but "he was every bit as strong as Archie," Lear said. She had a rough marriage- her husband, William Edward Sonny Richmond, at a young age and they had a really rocky relationship and separated soon after their three children were born. Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. [6] In 1995, Hemsley made four appearances in the sitcom Sister, Sister as Tia and Tamera Mowry's grandfather. She was American by nationality. Was born Aug 29, 1917 - New York City, New York, United States. The series, premised on the TV familys upward movement to Manhattan from Queens as a result of George Jeffersons booming dry-cleaning business, was an instant hit. [citation needed] For high school, Hemsley attended Central High School for ninth grade and Bok Technical High School for tenth. In 1989, Hemsley, who had been a jazz keyboardist, released a single, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head. Marc Wilmore, a television writer and producer known for his work on "In Living Color," "F Is for Family" and "The Simpsons," died on Saturday of complications related to Covid-19. He was also known for hisrole as the Numbers Painter in "Sesame Street.". He was so popular and he didn't even know it. Ocoee, FL housing market in January 2023 saw over 4 . Her son, Sanford K. Sanford, ran Weezys Dry Cleaning, while his mother sat back, invested and collected those checks. The New Voice of Ukraine. Postal Service. Find where to watch Isabel Sanford's latest movies and tv shows . Isabels mother did not want her to become an actress- Her mother was extremely religious and made her daughter go to church every Sunday and sometimes on weeknights. She made numerous guest appearances on TV, Sanford portrayed Louise Weezy Jefferson to a Tee: the long-suffering yet firm wife of her on-screen husband George Jefferson (played by Sherman Hemsley). Actress Isabel Sanford, best known as "Weezie," Louise Jefferson on the television sitcom "The Jeffersons," died of natural causes, her publicist said Monday. He twice reprised George Jefferson, appearing as his famous character on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and, in 2011, on "House of Payne.". Apart from her acclaimed role as "Weezie," Sanford was active in the business since the late 1960s, and her final acting credit was a voice acting role in a 2004 episode of "The Simpsons" voicing a version of herself, no less. SFD person ID. She was 86. Weezy from The Jeffersons had a side hustle that she started after becoming a big time TV superstar on and lets just say, she was determined to keep her piece of the Pi-i-ie (I couldnt resist singing that one). He also had roles in some pretty iconic movies, such as the 1975 version of "The Stepford Wives" and Oliver Stone's "Wall Street.". [1] He then moved to New York, continuing to work for the post office during the day while working as an actor at night. She later became . Isabel Sanford (August 29, 1917 - July 9, 2004) was an American actress best known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on the CBS television sitcoms All in the Family (1971-1975) and The Jeffersons (1975-1985). He was weak and I was an ambitious young woman., We agreed to disagree, Sanford added in a 1980 interview with Ebony Magazine. Isabel Sanford is a 105 years old actress (29 aot 1917). Search instead in Creative? His final screen credit is the 2008 movie "Side by Each," and on December 1 of that year, the 70-year-old actor was found dead in his home. A season and a half into the show, she was introduced to her future decade-long onscreen husband. CBS' "The Jeffersons" is without doubt one of the funniest sitcoms in TV history, which is all the more impressive because it was a spin-off of "Allin the Family,"another highly esteemed show of the genre. Hemsley then was a voice actor in the ABC-TV live-action puppet series Dinosaurs, where he played Bradley P. Richfield, main character Earl's sadistic boss. Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 - July 24, 2012) was an American actor. In the last three years the travel insurance industry has faced endless challenges, due to Climate Change and Pandemics and has struggled to respond to their Isabel was our queen and thats what we called her on the show, said Marla Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons maid Florence Johnston. He was an extraordinary human being that made a huge difference with his talent. Heres what was reported in an interview she did with People: Marriage to a house painter shortly after high school graduation resulted in three children in quick succession, Pamela, Eric and SanfordI felt like an assembly lineand a separation after only a few years. Among the numerous "All in the Family" spin-offs ("Maude," "Archie Bunker's Place, "704 Hauser"), "The Jeffersons" ran the longest. [3] She made her final television appearance the following month as an animated version of herself in The Simpsons episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore. A rain garden is an area dug slightly below the surrounding area that can catch and collect rainfall and keep it from carrying pollutants downstream. Kris Martin. She was born on August 29, 1917 at Harlem, New York, United States. "When I got older I realized, 'Oh, that's why it was a big deal that my grandmother was married to a white man on the show.' She was the first Black American woman to win an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. She speaks about her move to Los Angeles and her subsequent roles on stage, including "The Amen Corner" and "Funny Girl", as well as her first television appearances. LOS ANGELES - Actress Isabel Sanford, best known as "Weezie," Louise Jefferson on the television sitcom "The Jeffersons," died of natural causes, her publicist said Monday. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. In January 1987, she starred in her own sitcom, Isabel's Honeymoon Hotel, which aired five days a week in syndication. Isabel Sanford owned a dry-cleaning business. In an interview with the Gloucester County Times in 2011, Hemsley said his show business career actually began in childhood. Obsessed with money. About a month after she arrived in California with the kids, Sanford heard that her husband, Sonny, had died after getting involved in a fight. His onscreen wife, Berlinda Tolbert (the Williss daughter), and the Jeffersons housekeeper played by Marla Gibbs (91) are the only two surviving cast members of the original cast. And he brought some of his hometown with him. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Isabel Sanford, the first black woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a comedy series for her co-starring role in "The Jeffersons," has died. 0 references. . The sitcom enjoyed a run of five seasons, ending in 1991. ", Hemsley frequently turned up as a guest on sitcoms like "Family Matters," "The Hughleys" and even, in a voice role, "Family Guy." He appeared in the film American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009). After The Jeffersons' cancellation in 1985, Sanford continued her career with guest-starring roles in television and film. "I don't think I really understood it until way later in my life because you have to have a bigger perspective of what's going on in the world," Ze Kravitz reflected her grandmother's legacy to Harper's Bazaar. EL PASO, Texas -- George Jefferson was a bigot. Hemsley also played Judge Carl Robertson on the NBC series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Over time, Zara Cully's character becomes a very entertaining combination of a nice, old lady and a mother-in-law from hell. Sanford portrayed Louise "Weezy" Jefferson to a Tee: the long-suffering yet firm wife of her on-screen husband George Jefferson (played by Sherman . Isabel Sanford (August 29, 1917 - July 9, 2004). Sanford was born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford in Harlem, New York City, to Josephine (ne Perry) and James Edward Sanford. By high school she was playing even men's rolesincluding "a man in a Chinese opera"thanks to her basso voice. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2db3aafc1140f0 [5] Sanford was a Democrat who attended an event with Dennis Weaver for presidential candidate Jesse Jackson in 1988. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Sanford wasn't interested in a spin-off series at first. Her mother Josephine nee Perry was a homemaker. Whenever we had to discipline them, Sonny used to say to the children You just wait til Isabel gets home.. IE 11 is not supported. Mike Evans, one of the two actors to play Lionel Jefferson, died in 2006 of throat cancer, four years after his wife Helena Jeffersons death. One of the reasons Sanford so excelled in the role of Louise was that the story of a blue-collar family finding success hit fairly close to home (via the Los AngelesTimes).