Isabel Sanford Dies! RIP, Weezie.

[darklinensuit]

Did we even list her in the Distinctive Voices thread? She sure had one.
Loved her in All In The Family, The Jeffersons, & Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Tolerated the Old Navy commercials.

- Jake



Isabel Sanford of 'The Jeffersons' Dies

37 minutes ago

By RYAN PEARSON, Associated Press Writer

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. She was 86.


Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. Her daughter, Pamela Ruff, was at her side, he said.


Her health had waned after undergoing preventive surgery on a neck artery 10 months ago, Lemack said. He did not give a cause of death.


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.


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, a native New Yorker, was joined by "Jeffersons" creator Norman Lear and others in January when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


"Here with stars in my eyes — something that I dreamed about when I was 9 years old," she said at the time. "There are others that deserve it, but let everybody get their own."


She enjoyed getting fan mail from people who saw "The Jeffersons" for the first time in reruns, Lemack said.


"She was just amazed and so pleased that the show had that kind of lasting power and entertainment because she loved to make people laugh," he said.


Sanford made her feature film debut in the 1967 classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."


Recently, Sanford lent her voice to "The Simpsons" and appeared in commercial campaigns for Denny's restaurants and retailer Old Navy.


Besides her daughter, Sanford is survived by two sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

[darklinensuit]

BTW, as a bit of trivia, I saw her interviewed years ago where she said she fought the casting of Sherman H. as George. She screamed at the producer "You're gonna try to pair me with that little pipsqueak?!" But of course they ended up getting along.

- Jake

[amber]

Show was a staple in my house, my mom liked it. Loved the song. Weezie my least favorite character, and when i was 8 I didn't think she was a very good actress...However, RIP, many blessings, all that...
Amber

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by amber

Loved the song.
Amber

One of the best theme songs ever, for sure.

- Jake

[Patti]

Too bad, I always liked Isabel Sanford. RIP.

Patti

[amber]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

One of the best theme songs ever, for sure.

- Jake

Tooootally, I sing it around the house, or when i get my paycheck
A

[golddustwoman77]

I was just reading about this on Yahoo! Very sad. She was a TV icon. Rest in Peace.

[Hawkeye]

AHHHHH NOOO. This is so Shocking This is the most shocking of all the deaths that have shocked us the past few years. OMG Weezie's dead.

[sparky]

I loved me some Weezie. One of my favorite shows ever. She rocked.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

AHHHHH NOOO. This is so Shocking This is the most shocking of all the deaths that have shocked us the past few years. OMG Weezie's dead.

You're kidding, right? I cried when John Ritter died...Then Johnny cash, same day? That, THAT was shocking...John Ritter, my first crush...oh, sorry...
Amber

[Hawkeye]

OK John Ritter was really shocking and should really be more shocking, but really even though Isabel Sanford was 86 this just was so shocking to me.

[Johnny Stew]

I loved Isabel Sanford (well, as much as you can love someone you don't know!)... she had such an amazing personality. Plus, she had that "larger than life" vibe about her, that the most interesting celebrities always have.

She'll be missed.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I loved Isabel Sanford (well, as much as you can love someone you don't know!)... she had such an amazing personality. Plus, she had that "larger than life" vibe about her, that the most interesting celebrities always have.

She'll be missed.

She had that expressive face to match the voice. She smiled with her whole face, and when she liooked annoyed (like in GWCTD?) you felt that too.

- Jake

[markolas]

She was 86???

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by markolas

She was 86???

Yeah. She's some years older than Sherman Helmsley.

- Jake