About
"People on the street have asked me, 'how in the world could you stand that George Jefferson?' I said, 'well, if you were getting the money that I'm getting, you'd stand him too!"
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Isabel Sanford (1917-2004) discusses her early years growing up and her entrance into live theatre. 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. She speaks in detail about being cast for a one-time part on All in the Family, which led to her casting as Bunker neighbor, "Louise Jefferson." Sanford discusses her role in the spinoff, The Jeffersons, and her later work appearing in several guest roles on situation comedies and commercials. Brad Lemack conducted the interview on April 3, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Isabel Sanford on being called in to play "Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family by director John Rich
Isabel Sanford on "Louise Jefferson's" goodbye scene with Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker on All in the Family
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her teacher who encouraged her talent; on her mother's feeling on her being a performer, and on her comfort in being on stage early on
On her early interest in playing comedy, and on her style; on appearing at amateur night at the Apollo and with the Star Players; on her experience with World War II, and on her early memories of television and movies
Chapter 2
On appearing in "Striver's Row", and on balancing home life with her acting career; on moving to Los Angeles in 1960
on finding work in Los Angeles, and appearing in plays including the Los Angeles production of "Funny Girl", and "The Amen Corner" on Broadway; on her early representation, and on being cast in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"
Chapter 3
On appearing in the feature film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", and on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy helping with her transportation; on working with Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
On becoming a semi-regular on The Carol Burnett Show; on watching All in the Family before she was cast as "Louise Jefferson", and on auditioning for Norman Lear; on being called in to play "Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family by director John Rich
Chapter 4
On her reluctance to leave All in the Family, to do the spin-off The Jeffersons; on working the producers, and with the cast of All in the Family, and on Carroll O'Connor's absences from the show; on Sherman Hemsley being cast as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family
On the storylines of "George and Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family, and the public's response to "Louise Jefferson"; on "Louise Jefferson's" goodbye scene with Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker on All in the Family; on Mike Evans as "Lionel Jefferson" on All in the Family
On the audience reaction to The Jeffersons; on Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West the producers of The Jeffersons; on the supporting cast of The Jeffersons including Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker, Mike and Damon Evans, Paul Benedict, and Zara Cully
Chapter 5
On Marla Gibbs as "Florence Johnston", the maid of The Jeffersons and on the character of "Ralph the doorman"; on the notion of doing a reunion of The Jeffersons, and on working with Sammy Davis, Jr.; on winning an Emmy for playing "Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
On The Jeffersons theme song; on the end of The Jeffersons, on being upset over never having an official final episode, and on the continued popularity of the series; on the relationship between "George and Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
On appearing in a series of Old Navy and Denny's commercials with Sherman Hemsley; on making guest appearances on several shows; on her process as an actress
On appearing in the feature film "Original Gangstas" and in the television movie Jackie's Back!; on career achievements and regrets
Chapter 6
On how The Jeffersons, and "Louise Jefferson" will be remembered; on dealing with fame and celebrity; on The Jeffersons legacy within the African-American community
Shows
All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on being called in to play "Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family by director John Rich
Isabel Sanford on watching All in the Family before she was cast as "Louise Jefferson", and on auditioning for Norman Lear
Isabel Sanford on her reluctance to leave All in the Family, to do the spin-off The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on working the producers, and with the cast of All in the Family, and on Carroll O'Connor's absences from the show
Isabel Sanford on Sherman Hemsley being cast as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on the storylines of "George and Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family, and the public's response to "Louise Jefferson"
Isabel Sanford on "Louise Jefferson's" goodbye scene with Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker on All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on Mike Evans as "Lionel Jefferson" on All in the Family
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Isabel Sanford on becoming a semi-regular on The Carol Burnett Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Isabel Sanford on winning an Emmy for playing "Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Jeffersons, The
Isabel Sanford on how The Jeffersons, and "Louise Jefferson" will be remembered
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons legacy within the African-American community
Isabel Sanford on her reluctance to leave All in the Family, to do the spin-off The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on the audience reaction to The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West the producers of The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as "Tom and Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, Paul Benedict as "Mr. Bentley", and Mike and Damon Evans as "Lionel Jefferson"
Isabel Sanford on Zara Cully as "Mother Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on Marla Gibbs as "Florence Johnston", the maid of The Jeffersons and on the character of "Ralph the doorman"
Isabel Sanford on the notion of doing a reunion of The Jeffersons, and on working with Sammy Davis, Jr.
Isabel Sanford on winning an Emmy for playing "Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons theme song
Isabel Sanford on the end of The Jeffersons, on being upset over never having an official final episode, and on the continued popularity of the series
Isabel Sanford on the relationship between "George and Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Topics
Emmy Awards
Isabel Sanford on winning an Emmy for playing "Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Fame and Celebrity
Isabel Sanford on dealing with fame and celebrity
Historic Events and Social Change
Isabel Sanford on her experience with World War II, and on her early memories of television and movies
Pop Culture
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons theme song
Representation on Television
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons legacy within the African-American community
Television Industry
Isabel Sanford on dealing with fame and celebrity
TV Theme Songs
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons theme song
Underrepresented Voices
Isabel Sanford on The Jeffersons legacy within the African-American community
War
Isabel Sanford on her experience with World War II, and on her early memories of television and movies
World War II
Isabel Sanford on her experience with World War II, and on her early memories of television and movies
Professions
Actress
Isabel Sanford on her process as an actress
Performers
Isabel Sanford on her process as an actress
Genres
Comedy Series
Isabel Sanford on appearing as Louise Jefferson on All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on appearing as Louise Jefferson on The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford on playing "Louise Jefferson" on The Jeffersons
Commercials
Isabel Sanford on appearing in a series of Old Navy and Denny's commercials with Sherman Hemsley
People
Paul Benedict
Isabel Sanford on Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as "Tom and Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, Paul Benedict as "Mr. Bentley", and Mike and Damon Evans as "Lionel Jefferson"
Franklin Cover
Isabel Sanford on Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as "Tom and Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, Paul Benedict as "Mr. Bentley", and Mike and Damon Evans as "Lionel Jefferson"
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Isabel Sanford on the notion of doing a reunion of The Jeffersons, and on working with Sammy Davis, Jr.
Mike Evans
Isabel Sanford on Mike Evans as "Lionel Jefferson" on All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as "Tom and Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, Paul Benedict as "Mr. Bentley", and Mike and Damon Evans as "Lionel Jefferson"
Marla Gibbs
Isabel Sanford on Marla Gibbs as "Florence Johnston", the maid of The Jeffersons and on the character of "Ralph the doorman"
Sherman Hemsley
Isabel Sanford on Sherman Hemsley being cast as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family
Isabel Sanford on appearing in a series of Old Navy and Denny's commercials with Sherman Hemsley
Katharine Hepburn
Isabel Sanford on appearing in the feature film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", and on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy helping with her transportation
Isabel Sanford on working with Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Norman Lear
Isabel Sanford on watching All in the Family before she was cast as "Louise Jefferson", and on auditioning for Norman Lear
Don Nicholl
Isabel Sanford on Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West the producers of The Jeffersons
Carroll O'Connor
Isabel Sanford on working the producers, and with the cast of All in the Family, and on Carroll O'Connor's absences from the show
Sidney Poitier
Isabel Sanford on working with Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
John Rich
Isabel Sanford on being called in to play "Louise Jefferson" on All in the Family by director John Rich
Roxie Roker
Isabel Sanford on Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as "Tom and Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, Paul Benedict as "Mr. Bentley", and Mike and Damon Evans as "Lionel Jefferson"
Michael Ross
Isabel Sanford on Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West the producers of The Jeffersons
Jean Stapleton
Isabel Sanford on "Louise Jefferson's" goodbye scene with Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker on All in the Family
Spencer Tracy
Isabel Sanford on appearing in the feature film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", and on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy helping with her transportation
Isabel Sanford on working with Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Bernard West
Isabel Sanford on Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West the producers of The Jeffersons