Lynn Hamilton, the veteran actress best known for her roles in “Sanford and Son” and “The Waltons,” died Thursday at age 95 of natural causes at her home in Chicago. Her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, confirmed her death, stating she was surrounded by grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers.
Born Alzenia Lynn Hamilton on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton moved with her family to Chicago Heights when she was 11 years old. She attended Bloom High School and studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama Theater, where she was the only Black actor in her class. Despite limited opportunities, she gained experience with a South Side theater company before relocating to New York in 1956.
Hamilton made her Broadway debut in 1959 with “Only in America” and continued her stage career with roles in “The Cool World,” “Face of a Hero” and “Tambourines to Glory.” She spent three years with the New York Shakespeare Festival and became a member of President Kennedy’s cultural exchange program, touring internationally in “The Miracle Worker” and “The Skin of Our Teeth.” In 1966, she joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Her screen debut came in John Cassavetes’ 1959 drama “Shadows,” where she played a background role during a party scene. Hamilton first appeared on NBC’s “Sanford and Son” in February 1972 during the show’s seventh episode, portraying a landlady who gives Lamont Sanford a difficult time. Producers were so impressed with her performance that they created the recurring role of Donna Harris, Fred Sanford’s girlfriend and later fiancée, specifically for her.
In a 2009 interview, Hamilton recalled how Redd Foxx told her that his show needed someone dignified opposite him, as he was aware of his earthliness. “You’re so dignified and I need somebody dignified opposite me,” Hamilton remembered him saying. She portrayed registered nurse Donna Harris from 1972 to 1977, though the character and Fred never married despite their engagement. Lamont derisively called her “The Barracuda.”
While working on “Sanford and Son,” Hamilton made her debut on CBS’s “The Waltons” in February 1973, playing Verdie Grant Foster, a neighbor of the Walton family. Her first episode, “The Scholar,” featured John-Boy giving Verdie reading and writing lessons as her daughter prepared to graduate from college. The episode won a screenwriting Emmy for John McGreevey. Hamilton appeared in 16 other episodes of the series through 1981 and returned for holiday telefilms in 1993 and 1997.
Her television career expanded to include roles on numerous shows including “Room 222,” “Mannix,” “Gunsmoke,” “The Rockford Files,” “Quincy M.E.,” “The Golden Girls,” “NYPD Blue,” “Judging Amy” and “Cold Case.” She starred as matriarch Vivian Potter on the NBC daytime drama “Generations” from 1989 to 1991, which ran against CBS’s “The Young and the Restless.”
Hamilton also appeared as Cissie Johnson on the syndicated nighttime soap “Dangerous Women” from 1991 to 1992 and played Cousin Georgia Anderson on the 1979 miniseries “Roots: The Next Generations.” She had recurring roles as Emma Johnson on NBC’s “227” and as a judge on ABC’s “The Practice.” Her final television appearance was on “Cold Case” in 2009.
Her film career included notable appearances in “Brother John” (1971) and “Buck and the Preacher” (1972), both starring Sidney Poitier, as well as “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972) alongside Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor. Other film credits included “Leadbelly” (1976), “The Jesse Owens Story” (1984), “Legal Eagles” (1986), “The Vanishing” (1993) and “Beah: A Black Woman Speaks” (2003).
Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his death at age 89 in 2014. The couple frequently collaborated on stage productions, including the acclaimed play “Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.” Carson noted their partnership was a shining example of creativity, love and dedication. After her husband’s death, Hamilton moved back to Chicago.
Carson indicated in his statement that Hamilton’s illustrious career spanned over five decades and left an indelible mark on the entertainment world through her work as a model, stage, film and television actress. He noted she was the recipient of the prestigious NAACP Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. Carson concluded that her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations.
Hamilton’s career began during a time when opportunities for Black actors were limited, yet she persevered to build a substantial body of work across multiple mediums. Her portrayal of strong, dignified characters on two of television’s most beloved series cemented her place in entertainment history. She worked consistently from the late 1950s through 2009, demonstrating remarkable longevity in a challenging industry.
