Isabel Sanford was a stage, film and television actress known for her appearance on All in the Family, a CBS sitcom where she played the role of Louise Jefferson. She is also noted for her role on The Jeffersons, which was aired from 1975 through 1985. In 1981, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, which made her the first African-American winner of that award.

Born Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford on August 29, 1917 in New York City, New York, USA, she married William Edward "Sonny" Richmond, divorcing him in 1961. She had three children with Richmond, named William, Sanford and Pamela. She died on July 9, 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA at age 86.

From the 1930s up to her death in 2004, Sanford was active in the entertainment industry. She appeared in numerous notable film, television and stage productions. Her appearance on The Jeffersons earned her several other nominations, including seven for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, two for the Golden Globe Award for the Best TV Actress - Musical/Comedy, and three for the Golden Globe Award for the Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical category. Along with Sherman Hemsley, she won the Favorite Cantankerous Couple award during the TV Land Awards in 2004.