Isabel "Weezy" Sanford dies

[LB]

LOS ANGELES - Isabel Sanford, the first black woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a comedy series for her co-starring role in ``The Jeffersons,'' has died. She was 86.

The deep-voiced Ms. Sanford played strong-willed and level-headed Louise ``Weezie'' Jefferson opposite TV husband Sherman Hemsley's irascible and quick-tempered George in the hit series, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985.

The role earned Sanford the Emmy in 1981, in addition to six other Emmy nods and five Golden Globe nominations.

``The Jeffersons'' was the first series about an upscale black couple in prime time and the first to feature an interracial couple (played by Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker).

A stage veteran who appeared in Los Angeles and Broadway productions of James Baldwin's ``The Amen Corner,'' Ms. Sanford made her film debut in ``Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,'' director Stanley Kramer's 1967 interracial love story, starring Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier.

Ms. Sanford played Tillie, the white couple's loyal housekeeper who memorably speaks her mind to Poitier's successful doctor character about his plans to marry the couple's young daughter.

[LB]

Many people dont really think about it, but "The Jeffersons" were the first Black people on prime time with doe- that was a big look back then.

True, George was buffooning and shuffling a bit, but he was a successful Black businessman, with a stable family. How often do you see that on televison, even 20 years later?

BTW- is it me, or was the second Lionel kinda wack?

[JayeHunnie]

I forgot that was HER in "Guess Who's Coming...". Wow

Guest-LB said:

Many people dont really think about it, but "The Jeffersons" were the first Black people on prime time with doe- that was a big look back then...

You know what? That is a good point. The Jefferson's did open alot of doors for us on tv. (ie. successful business owner, interracial relationships...)

And yeah Lionel was WACK!

RIP Isabel Sanford,
Jaye

[DANJAJEFFERSON]

The second Lionel was wack because first of all, he sucked as an actor and secondly, the first Lionel was funny whereas this guy had not a punchline at all. I mean imagine if Good Times went and got a second JJ, or Cosby Show got a second Theo, or Family Matters got a second Eddie Winslow... my bad, he wasn't funny either... ok, nuff about that...

But yeah- Weezie was a great and forever classic character- as well as the show itself being a groundbreaking show for Black people. Who knows? Maybe we woulda never seen any Huxtables, Winslows, or Bankses if not for the Jeffersons. Fareal tho.

[LB]

Ayeo- speaking of the Winslows- did you see the porno stuff the youngest girl (Jamie Foxworth aka "Crave")was doing from Family Matters???

I saw her on VH1- Daaammmmmnnnn!

Apparently her peeps messed her money up- they did some bad business deals (shoulda checked with Gary Coleman) and the damn judge allowed the bankrupcy court to dip into her trust fund from her TV earnings to collect on debt- she turned 18 and was broke, so she started getting her "dirties on " for the camera at 15 grand a "pop".

www.bet.com/articles/0,,c5sc45gb4509pg1-5218,00.html

excaliburfilms.com/pornlist/starpgs/Crave.htm (warning-explicit!)

[JayeHunnie]

Awww dayummm gyrl! That's the saddest thing I've seen in a MINUTE. I really for sorry for Jamiee/Crave but I'm not buying the whole "my parents went bankrupt so I had to sell my azz on her camera" sobb story. I'm sure she had other options like, hmmm... I dont know, GROW UP AND GET A REAL JOB! But I guess she was used to that 'superstar' life. Sad.

"Did SHE do that?!",
JayeHunnie

[DANJA PLATO]

LOL @ 'did SHE do that?' oh yeah she did... she always had that look in her eye. Ain't that crazy though? Damn- next you gonna tell me Dana Plato from Diffrent Strokes robbed a video store...

[RSunn]

LOL