Broadway Veteran Lands Breakout TV Role
Isabel Sanford was a Broadway actress for over 30 years before moving to Hollywood. She made numerous guest appearances on shows like Bewitched and had a supporting role on The Carol Burnett Show. But her big break came when she was cast as Louise “Weezy” Jefferson on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family in the early 1970s.
Sanford’s sharp-tongued, wisecracking character and her on-screen chemistry with co-star Sherman Hemsley soon led to the pair getting their own spinoff sitcom, The Jeffersons, in 1975. The hit show about a successful African American couple who move into an affluent, predominantly white apartment building ran for 11 seasons on CBS.
Makes Emmy History With Lead Actress Win
In 1981, Sanford cemented her place in Emmy history when she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — becoming the first African American actress to earn the honor. She received a total of seven Emmy nominations and five Golden Globe nods for her defining role as Louise “Weezy” Jefferson.
Sanford credited the working-class character’s resilience and determination as key to connecting with audiences. “If there’s anything in life you consider worthwhile achieving — go for it,” Sanford once said. “I was told many times to forget show business, I had nothing going for me. But I pursued it anyway.”
Her Emmys victory 36 years ago this week paved the way for actresses of color like Quinta Brunson, who recently won the same award for her hit sitcom Abbott Elementary. Brunson gave a touching shoutout to Sanford in her acceptance speech.
Pioneering Career & Lasting Legacy
Even after The Jeffersons ended in 1985, Sanford continued reprising her role alongside Sherman Hemsley in commercials, public appearances, and even a stage play.
Sanford’s pioneering career made a lasting impact in Hollywood and Black representation on television. In addition to her Emmys milestone, she has received numerous tributes over the years, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Upon Sanford’s passing in 2004 at age 86, luminaries like Sidney Poitier and Marla Gibbs praised her as a trailblazer and inspiration. “She will always be a queen in our hearts,” Gibbs said.
Over 30 years since her Emmy victory, Sanford’s influence persists through rising talents like Brunson.
