William Edward Richmond: Truth About Isabel Sanford's husband

May 2024 · 3 minute read

William Edward Richmond was the husband of Isabel Sanford. William Edward Richmond’s wife Sanford was an American stage, film, and television actress and comedian best known for her role as Louise “Weezy” Mills Jefferson on the CBS sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1975) and The Jeffersons (1975–1985). In 1981, she became the second African-American actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award after Gail Fisher, and so far, the only African-American actress to win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

William Edward Richmond: Bio Summary

Full NameWilliam Edward “Sonny” Richmond.
famous ashusband of Isabel Sanford
Place of Birth United States of America
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityBlack
children3
SpouseIsabel Sanford (m. 1945)

There is no record of the date of birth, age and place of brith of William Edward Richmond. His wife Isabel Sanford on the other hand was born on August 29, 1917 in Harlem, New York, U.S. She was the youngest of seven children and was the only child to survive beyond infancy. William Edward Richmond is famous for being the husband of Sanford.

The actress was quite early with marriage, getting into it shortly after high school graduation, according to PEOPLE. No doubt, she nailed her portrayal of Weezy, but many may not know it probably had to do with the fact that the TV character had a lot in common with the real-life Isabel Sanford.

“I don’t think that Isabel Sanford is too different from Louise Jefferson,” the actress said, adding:

“When I was with my husband, I was the boss. I mean, what I said would go! He may have thought he won, but I won every argument. And Louise does, too. She’s the one who keeps George’s [her TV husband George Jefferson] feet on the ground. That’s the way I was with my family. Whenever we had to discipline them, Sonny used to say to the children ‘You just wait ‘til Isabel gets home.’”

Isabel Sanford and her husband had three children

William Edward Richmond was a house painter. He and his wife Sanford had three children- two sons (including Sanford K. Richmond) and a daughter (Pamela Richmond Ruff). The got married in 1945 in a beautiful ceremony in the presence of their freinds, family, and loved ones. Richmond and her wife saparated, the reason behind their saparation was not made public.

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After their separation, Sanford and the children moved to California in 1960, while Richmond remained in New York. Shortly after their arrival, Richmond died after being involved in an altercation with someone. Isabel Sanford modeled the perfect wife for many viewers in “The Jeffersons,” but in reality, not only did she leave a troubled marriage after three kids, but she also had no wish to remarry.

 Soon after her arrival, Sanford was asked to join the national production of Here Today by actress Tallulah Bankhead. In 1965, she made her Broadway debut in James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner. This role led to her being cast in the 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. In the film, she was credited as Isabell Sanford, playing the role of the maid “Tillie Binks,” and earned her good reviews. She caught the attention of major Hollywood players, including Norman Lear, who cast Sanford in the role of Louise Jefferson in All in the Family.

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Isabel Sanford’s death

In September 2003, William Edward Richmond’s wife, Sanford underwent preventive surgery on her carotid artery. In the ensuing months, her health steadily declined. Sanford was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on July 4, 2004, where she died five days later—a month before her 87th birthday. Her publicist attributed her death to unspecified natural causes. She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. For her contribution to the television industry, Isabel Sanford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard.

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