Isabel Sanford Movies
Defying her mother's wishes, African-American actress Isabel Sanford secretly worked as a nightclub performer in her teens. Upon winning 3rd prize in an Apollo Theatre amateur contest, Sanford could keep her new career a secret no longer. Married to a house painter who worked only on a seasonal basis, she held down a full-time job as a keypunch operator at the New York City department of Welfare, spending her evenings acting with such groups as Harlem Y and the American Negro Theatre. Seeking out better opportunities, Sanford packed her family into a bus and headed to Hollywood in the early 1960s. Her breakthrough film role was in Stanley Kramer's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner; she played Tillie the cook, who heartily disapproved of the upcoming interracial marriage between Katharine Houghton and Sidney Poitier (the hardest part of this assignment was not mouthing the "controversial" dialogue but preparing dinner in a key scene; Sanford had never learned to cook!) On the strength of this film, Isabel Sanford was hired for several guest spots on The Carol Burnett Show, which led to her most famous characterization: Louise Jefferson, the acerbic but loving wife of "movin' on up" Sherman Hemsley, on the immensely popular sitcom The Jeffersons (1975-82). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1984
Florence (Marla Gibbs) is on cloud nine as she and her church choir prepare to go to an Ohio convention. Alas, the necessary traveling funds, along with the rest of the congregation's money, is stolen by none other than the church's "trusted" minister. Her faith in religion and her fellow man utterly shattered, Florence bleakly faces the prospect of a none-too-merry Christmas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Standing vigil at Jefferson Cleaners after several burglaries, George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) manage to trap a pair of youthful thieves. Though George is all for calling the cops, Louise is convinced that she can reform the kids. George is so certain that the young burglars are irredeemable that he promises to write a 2,000 dollar check for the Help Center's children's arts program if Louise succeeds. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
In this opening episode of The Jeffersons' 11th and final season, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is expected to be a donor for the Help Center blood drive. Terrified at the prospect, George pays Ralph (Ned Wertimer), the apartment building's doorman, to donate blood in George's name. When the precious fluid saves the life of Mrs. Wertimer, the wife of the Jeffersons' landlord, George is only to happy to take credit -- but Ralph has other ideas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Ebonie Smith makes her first series appearance as Jessica, the granddaughter of George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford). Louise can't stand it when haughty Mrs. Van Morris (Dorothy Butts), perennial winner of the Volunteer of the Year award, brags about the piano skills of her grandson Van (a pre-Family Matters Jaleel White). Hoping to show up Mrs. Van Morris once and for all, Louise arranges for Jessica (whose musical talent is rudimentary at best) to compete against Van in a piano recital. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Louise (Isabel Sanford) and Florence (Marla Gibbs) trick George (Sherman Hemsley) into appearing on a new hidden-video TV show titled "Bobbles, Bangles, and Booboos." A great many laughs are to be had when George "accidentally" confronts Louise at a massage parlor. But the joke is actually on Louise: the "TV producers" may actually be a gang of clever burglars. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Certain that she will win by a landslide, Louise (Isabel Sanford) runs for the presidency of her apartment building's tenant council. Her confidence turns to panic when Louise discovers that she will be running opposite her own husband George (Sherman Hemsley). Jack Fletcher makes his final series appearance as snooty landlord Whittendale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Florence (Marla Gibbs) is crestfallen when she is unable to join the Jeffersons and Willises at a charity ball where her favorite soap opera star (Hal Williams) is slated to appear. This dilemma segues into a fanciful dream sequence, in which Florence is cast as Cinderella, and her Prince Charming is none other than that selfsame soap idol. This episode was co-written by series regular Marla Gibbs and film favorite Billy Dee Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Louise (Isabel Sanford) is led to believe that George (Sherman Hemsley) is preparing a surprise birthday party for her. In truth, however, George has forgotten all about Louise's birthday -- again. But once he finds out what Louise is expecting of him, George desperately scours the city in search of an appropriate birthday gift, a task complicated by "helpful" doorman Ralph (Ned Wertimer). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
By the time The Jeffersons set forth upon its eleventh season in the fall of 1984, the series had been out of the Top 25 programs for nearly two years. In fine sitcom tradition, the producers tried to remedy the situation by first changing the time slot (from Sundays to Tuesdays, beginning in January 1985) and then introducing a new character -- though this one was not "new" at all, merely remodelled. In the spring of 1980, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) had become grandparents when their son Lionel (Mike Evans) and daughter-in-law Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert) brought forth a baby daughter, Jessica. This character had been virtually written out when both Evans and Tolbert left the series, and viewers were clearly unhappy. There was nothing to do but to bring Jessica back. Ebonie Smith was cast as Jessica, who through the magic of network television had grown into a healthy eight-year-old within a mere four-year span. While Jessica was a welcome addition, The Jeffersons itself was clearly tired and played out (as evidenced by its wearisome reliance upon celebrity guest stars in several episodes). Still, the cast assumed that the show would be renewed for a 12th season, and accordingly did not bother with taping a "grand finale," closing out the season with a standard, open-ended story line. But CBS had other plans, and with the telecast of the 253rd episode on June 26, 1985, the 11-year saga of The Jeffersons came to an abrupt end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Charles Lampkin guest stars as Otis, the elderly owner of the shoeshine stand outside of the Harlem dry-cleaning store owned by George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley). When an upscale black magazine offers to do a story about George's business empire, he worries that Otis is too much of an old-fashioned stereotype to suit the magazine's tastes. It is up to Otis himself to serve George a few heaping helpings of humble pie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) urge Ralph Hart (Ned Wertimer), their apartment building's doorman, to demand a raise from pinchpenny landlord Whittendale (Jack Fletcher). Alas, it may already be too late for any such negotiation. Whittendale announces that he is going to install an automatic door -- thereby rendering poor Ralph obsolete. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Louise (Isabel Sanford) is a bit put out when her husband, George (Sherman Hemsley), receives an affectionate -- and heavily perfumed -- letter from his ex-girlfriend Yvonne (Barbara McNair). Even so, Louise decides that the right thing to do would be to let George pay a visit to his old flame. What George doesn't know -- until it is too late -- is that the grudge-bearing Yvonne has murder on her mind, and a pistol in her purse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker) cannot agree on how to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. After much heated "discussion," they decide on a romantic weekend in the same hotel where they spent their first honeymoon. But things have changed a lot in three decades -- and not necessarily for the better. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Having previously (and memorably) guest-starred on All in the Family, Sammy Davis Jr. returns to Norman Lear-land in this episode of The Jeffersons. Hoping to escape his fans -- not to mention a snoopy reporter -- Sammy pseudonymously sublets the apartment across the hall from George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford). Once she learns the true identity of her new neighbor, Louise swears that she'll keep Sammy's secret...but... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Left alone in the Jefferson apartment while George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) vacation in Atlantic City, Florence (Marla Gibbs) has no objections when the NYPD asks to use the apartment as a stakeout command post. Before long, however, Florence wishes she hadn't been so hospitable. Oh, the cops get the crooks, all right -- but the end result is a wounded Florence in a hospital bed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Hoping to produce an animated TV commercial for his dry-cleaning chain, George (Sherman Hemsley) hires a brilliant young artist named Walter (Randy Brooks). Upon discovering that Walter can neither read nor write, Louise (Isabel Sanford) is afraid to tell George for fear that he'll fire the young man. But once the truth is known, it is up to George to goad Walter into finishing his education. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
The celebrated insensitivity of George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) reaches its peak in this episode. When George casually breaks two dinner engagements with their friends, wife Louise (Isabel Sanford) is outraged. As she tries to make amends for George's boorish behavior, Louise daydreams that she herself is George -- and with the same callous attitude towards friendship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Jealous of their wives' handsome and muscular self-defense instructor (Michael Halsey), George (Sherman Hemsley) and Tom (Franklin Cover) embark upon a hunting trip to prove they are manly men. Returning empty-handed from their expedition, our heroes nonetheless hope to impress their wives with an expensive collection of stuffed animals. Dorian Gibbs, the real-life son of series regular Marla Gibbs, appears as a delivery boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
Florence (Marla Gibbs) and Louise (Isabel Sanford) bamboozle George (Sherman Hemsley) into letting Florence's teenaged country cousin, Rhonda (Ren Woods), stay in the Jefferson apartment. It soon becomes obvious, however, that Rhonda is a hot-tempered, manipulative little vixen who doesn't like being answerable to anyone. After a bitter quarrel with Florence, Rhonda storms out -- and quickly finds work as a mud wrestler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1984
The singing group Sister Sledge guest stars as the Satin Sisters, a gospel quartet befriended by Florence (Marla Gibbs). Much against his will, George is persuaded by Florence to act as manager for the melodious Satins. Unfortunately, the first booking George arranges is a tough country & western bar where the redneck patrons "don't cotton" to gospel singers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
Thanks to a series of financial windfalls, the Jeffersons and the Willises are living high off the hog. Envious Florence (Marla Gibbs) would like to get in on this good fortune, especially after Helen Willis (Roxie Roker) meets a number of celebrities at a fancy health spa. Using her own savings, Florence arranges a session at the selfsame spa, where in due course she meets none other Gladys Knight -- whom she fails to recognize. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
George (Sherman Hemsley) and his poker buddies leave their usual weekly mess behind, resulting in a few sharp words from George's long-suffering housekeeper, Florence (Marla Gibbs). Fed up with her complaining, George bets Florence a week's vacation (with pay) that he can get her full day's cleaning done in three hours. Perhaps George should have watched all those old two-reel comedies in which Andy Clyde and Hugh Herbert made similar bets -- with similarly disastrous results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
For several years, George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford) have been financing the education of Jimmy Townsend, the foster son they've never met. Imagine their surprise when "little" Jimmy turns out to be a middle-aged man with an apparent larcenous streak. Former Saturday Night Live regular Garrett Morris makes his first series appearance as Jimmy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
Irwin Keyes returns in the role of Hugo Mojelewski, the hulking, thick-eared former bodyguard of George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley). Although George's daughter-in-law, Jenny (Berlinda Tolbert), has no confidence in his abilities as a fashion designer, Hugo expresses unbridled admiration of her work. But his interest is not entirely motivated by his fashion sense: Hugo has fallen in love with Jenny, and never mind that she already has a husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1983
The Help Center is again in dire financial straits, forcing Louise (Isabel Sanford) to take desperate measures. Seeking out a wealthy benefactor, Louise goes to her former employer Lillian Warren (Amzie Strickland) -- a woman who once patronizingly regarded Louise as a just another piece of property. Have the years changed Ms. Warren, or does she still think of Louise as merely "my girl"? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
