Isabel Sanford Dead At 86

Isabel Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her health had been declining several months prior to being admitted to the hospital on July 4.

Best known for her co-starring role as Louise Jefferson in the popular black television series "All In The Family" and then in the spin-off "The Jeffersons", Ms. Sanford began her acting career with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in the controversial movie "Look Who's Coming To Dinner". She appeared in many sitcoms and soap operas in her long career. She was the first black woman to win an Emmy for Best Actress in a comedy. More recently, she reprised her role as Weezie along with her Jeffersons co-star Sherman Helmsly for a series of Denny's commercials.

Ms. Sanford is survived by her daughter and two sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.