Biography
Isabel Sanford was an American actress and comedian. She is best known for playing Louise Jefferson in the CBS sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1975) and its spin-off The Jeffersons (1975–1985).
Born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford in New York City, she began her career on stage with the American Negro Theatre. She made her professional debut in 1946 in On Strivers Row and appeared in other productions before moving to Los Angeles in 1960. Her first film role was as Tillie in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
Sanford received a Primetime Emmy Award in 1981 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The Jeffersons, becoming the first African-American actress to win in that category.
