Lynn Hamilton, the actress finest identified for her roles within the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son” and the CBS historic drama collection “The Waltons,” has died. She was 95.
Hamilton died Thursday of pure causes in her Chicago house, based on her former supervisor and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson.
“With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia “Lynn” Hamilton-Jenkins, whose exceptional legacy continues to uplift and encourage,” Carson wrote on Fb.
“Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film, and television actress,” the assertion added.
Hamilton, based on Carson, was “surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers” when she handed away.
Born on April 25, 1930 in Yazoo Metropolis, Mississippi, Hamilton moved to Chicago Heights when she was 11 years outdated and studied appearing at Goodman Theater.
After relocating to New York in 1956, Hamilton made her Broadway debut within the play “Only in America” and her movie debut in John Cassavetes’ 1959 drama “Shadows.”
Hamilton first appeared on “Sanford and Son” within the seventh episode as a landlady, earlier than she was solid in a recurring position as Donna Harris, Fred Sanford’s girlfriend and later fiancée.
In a 2009 interview, Hamilton stated that producers had been “so impressed” along with her scene because the landlady that they determined to create the position of Donna for her.
“I among, I don’t know, 100 other actresses in Hollywood auditioned,” she recalled. “We had a display screen check … He was impressed with my expertise. He at all times stated, ‘You’re so dignified and I would like someone dignified reverse me.’ “
Hamilton starred on “Sanford and Son” from 1972 to 1977. Throughout that point, she made her first look as Verdie on “The Waltons,” a job that lasted from 1973 to 1981.
As well as, Hamilton made appearances in “The Golden Girls,” “Dangerous Women,” “Generations,” “NYPD Blue,” “Port Charles,” “The Practice,” “Moesha” and “Judging Amy.”
Her different movie credit included “Leadbelly” (1976), “The Jesse Owens Story” (1984), “Legal Eagles” (1986), “The Vanishing” (1993) and “Beah: A Black Woman Speaks” (2003).
Hamilton’s ultimate appearing gig was in a single episode of “Cold Case” in 2009, based on her IMDb.
Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 till his dying in 2014. The pair collaborated on varied theater productions together with the play “Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.”
Carson known as Hamilton and Jenkins’ partnership “a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication.”
