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New York Post
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Lynn Hamilton, ‘Sanford and Son' and ‘The Waltons' actress, dead at 95
Lynn Hamilton, the actress best known for her roles in the NBC sitcom 'Sanford and Son' and the CBS historical drama series 'The Waltons,' has died. She was 95. Hamilton died Thursday of natural causes in her Chicago home, according to her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson. 'With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia 'Lynn' Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire,' Carson wrote on Facebook. 7 Lynn Hamilton in 'Dangerous Women.' Courtesy Everett Collection 7 Lynn Hamilton attends the 40th anniversary reunion of 'The Waltons' in Jersey City, New Jersey in 2011. Getty Images '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 statement added. Hamilton, according to Carson, was 'surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers' when she passed away. 7 Redd Foxx, Lynn Hamilton in 'Sanford and Son.' Courtesy Everett Collection Born on April 25, 1930 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton moved to Chicago Heights when she was 11 years old and studied acting at Goodman Theater. After relocating to New York in 1956, Hamilton made her Broadway debut in the play 'Only in America' and her film debut in John Cassavetes' 1959 drama 'Shadows.' 7 Lynn Hamilton in the ABC TV movie 'A Dream for Christmas.' ABC Hamilton first appeared on 'Sanford and Son' in the seventh episode as a landlady, before she was cast in a recurring role as Donna Harris, Fred Sanford's girlfriend and later fiancée. In a 2009 interview, Hamilton said that producers were 'so impressed' with her scene as the landlady that they decided to create the role of Donna for her. 7 Lynn Hamilton, Redd Fox in 'Sanford and Son.' Courtesy Everett Collection 'I among, I don't know, 100 other actresses in Hollywood auditioned,' she recalled. 'We had a screen test … He was impressed with my experience. He always said, 'You're so dignified and I need somebody dignified opposite me.' ' 7 Lynn Hamilton, Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson in 'Sanford and Son.' Courtesy Everett Collection Hamilton starred on 'Sanford and Son' from 1972 to 1977. During that time, she made her first appearance as Verdie on 'The Waltons,' a role that lasted from 1973 to 1981. In addition, Hamilton made appearances in 'The Golden Girls,' 'Dangerous Women,' 'Generations,' 'NYPD Blue,' 'Port Charles,' 'The Practice,' 'Moesha' and 'Judging Amy.' 7 Lynn Hamilton, Hari Rhodes in the ABC tv movie 'A Dream for Christmas.' ABC Her 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's final acting gig was in one episode of 'Cold Case' in 2009, according to her IMDb. Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his death in 2014. The pair collaborated on various theater productions including the play 'Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.' Carson called Hamilton and Jenkins' partnership 'a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication.'
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'The Waltons' and 'Sanford & Son' star Lynn Hamilton dies at 95 at her Chicago home
Veteran television actress Lynn Hamilton, known for her memorable roles in The Waltons and Sanford & Son, has died at her Chicago home at the age of 95. She died of natural causes on June 19, her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, told The Hollywood Reporter. Hamilton portrayed Donna Harris, the girlfriend of Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford, in Sanford & Son, a role written specifically for her after an impressive day-player performance. She also played Verdie Grant Foster, the Waltons' neighbour and close friend, in the long-running CBS family drama The Waltons. Born on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton moved to Chicago with her family as a child. Her stage career began in New York, where she appeared on Broadway in productions including Only in America and Face of a Hero. She later joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. Hamilton also starred as Vivian Potter in NBC's soap opera Generations and appeared in Dangerous Women alongside Katherine Justice and Casper Van Dien. Her extensive television career included recurring roles in 227, Sunset Beach, and The Practice, with additional appearances in shows such as Cold Case, NYPD Blue, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Golden Girls. In a 2009 interview, she reflected on her casting in Sanford & Son, explaining that the showrunners needed someone 'dignified' to balance Fred Sanford's brash personality. Hamilton is survived by a lasting legacy in American television. She was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his passing in 2014.
India Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
When unstoppable ego met immovable megalomaniac: Trump-Musk breakup in 4 Acts
It officially began with a presidential shoutout, a public anointing of a tech mogul into the powerful Washington circle of power and politics. Less than six months ago, during his inaugural address on January 20, 2025, the newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States, Donald J Trump, hailed Elon Musk as a "super genius" and a 'star.'The billionaire, fresh off a $100 million spending spree to return Trump to the White House, was not just an ally; he was, in Trump's world, family. He had been there at Mar-a-Lago on election night, his young son X on his shoulders, posing with the triumphant Trump clan for a photo Kai Trump captioned, "The whole squad." advertisementMusk himself posted a picture with the President-elect under the Latin phrase, "Novus Ordo Seclorum" — a new order of the ages. But the new order, it turns out, had a tragically short shelf the first week of June, the bromance had detonated in a spectacular public display of bile and betrayal. The unstoppable ego of the world's richest man had finally slammed into the immovable megalomania of the world's most ensuing wreckage was a political and financial bloodbath, a saga of two titans whose alliance, forged in mutual ambition, was destined to collapse under the weight of their own colossal how the much-talked-about Trump-Musk bond dissolved into one of the most public, petty, and politically consequential breakups in American I: THE KINGMAKER AND HIS KINGadvertisementThe seeds of this grand alliance were sown in the feverish final months of the 2024 campaign. While he couldn't run for president himself — being a naturalised, not a natural-born, citizen — Elon Musk took on the next best role: kingmaker. He transformed from a tech titan into a political force of nature and left no stone unturned into ensuring Trump's glorious return to power. File photo shows Elon Musk at a rally for Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, 2024. (AFP photo) In a school auditorium in suburban Philadelphia, he took the stage to the strains of Brooks & Dunn's 'Only in America,' declaring the "future of America" and "civilisation itself" was at stake. At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he donned a black 'Make America Great Again' hat, branding himself "not just MAGA, I'm dark MAGA."This was not just a financial backing; it was a total ideological merger. As one report from The Atlantic presciently noted, "Musk is the one poised to live out the ultimate techno-authoritarian fantasy... His entanglement with Trump will be an Ayn Rand novel sprung to life."advertisementTrump, ever the transactional politician, saw the immense value in his new cheerleader. He was getting the world's richest man, a media-savvy provocateur with 220 million followers on his own social network, X."He's a very smart guy," Trump said in August 2024 when asked about giving Musk a role in his administration. "He's a brilliant guy."Musk quickly became a trusted advisor and frequent companion, notably leaping behind Trump on stage at an October investment paid Trump secured his victory, Musk was not just a guest at the Mar-a-Lago celebration; he was an honoured courtier, promised a powerful new fiefdom within the Trump's election, the tech billionaire stood by him during the oath of office, travelled on Air Force One for weekend visits to Mar-a-Lago, stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom, and attended Cabinet meetings sporting a MAGA II: THE 'TECH SUPPORT' IN WHITE HOUSEThe honeymoon was a televised spectacle. In a joint interview on Fox News in February 2025, the camaraderie was so thick the interviewer called them "two brothers." Musk, ever the showman, wore a T-shirt that read "Tech Support."advertisement"I love the president, I just want to be clear about that," Musk declared, adding with a flourish, "I love the President as much as any straight man could." He spoke of how Trump was "unfairly attacked in the media," a sentiment that was music to the president's in turn, laid the praise on just as thick. He had appointed Musk to head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE), a vehicle for Musk's self-proclaimed crusade to slash federal waste."I wanted to find somebody smarter than him," Trump beamed. "I searched all over. I just couldn't do it, I couldn't. I really tried hard. I couldn't find anyone smarter." Trump and Musk stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025. (AFP photo) Musk readily admitted his new role caused friction with his old liberal circles, diagnosing them with "Trump Derangement Syndrome." At a dinner party, he recounted, merely mentioning the president's name was like they "got shot with a dart in the jugular that contained methamphetamine and rabies." He had chosen his side, burning his old bridges with the glee of a asked about potential conflicts of interest between his government role and his sprawling business empire, both men brushed it aside. "If there's a conflict, he won't be involved," Trump asserted. Musk quickly added, "I have never asked the President for anything."Just three months prior, Trump had publicly demonstrated support for Musk's business by purchasing a Fiery red was a perfect symbiosis. Or so it III: THE CHAINSAW AND THE FALL FROM GRACEThe first sign of trouble came with a prop. In February, Musk appeared at a conservative gathering wielding a chainsaw engraved with the slogan, 'Viva la libertad, carajo' ('Long live liberty, damn it'), vowing to shred "wasteful and fraud" government spending. The fanboys roared. Musk holds a chainsaw reading But some prophecies are self-fulfilling, but in an ironic who had taken on the DOGE role with full fervour, was looking at the exit door in less than six months. His grand promises to drastically shrink the federal government ultimately fell flat. Instead of reshaping Washington, Musk departed with his own stature diminished, his considerable wealth significantly eroded by a restless tenure at DoGE was a masterclass in hyperbole over substance. He promised to slash up to $2 trillion in spending; analysts estimated his actual cuts were a fraction of that, around $150 billion, much of it offset by lawsuits from enraged unions and Musk was playing politics, his empire was bleeding. Tesla's stock plummeted 33% between December 2024 and May 2025, battered by Chinese competition and protests against his polarising political role. "I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics," Musk would later regret in an ultimate slight, however, was personal. During Trump's diplomatic blitz through the Middle East in May, Musk, who was part of the entourage, found himself sidelined. According to The New York Times, he was visibly upset over a rival AI firm's deal with the ultimate indignity came at Qatar's Lusail Palace. "On May 14," the Times reported, "as a crowd of Mr. Trump's wealthy supporters milled inside... Mr. Musk waited along with everyone else in the receiving line to shake Mr. Trump's hand." The "first buddy" was now just another face in the May end, Musk exited the administration. He bid farewell to Trump at a somewhat sombre news conference in the Oval Office last week. But the two maintained their 'friendship' till this point. Trump gifts Musk a But days later, the stage was set for the final, ugly IV: IMMOVABLE OBJECT AND UNSTOPPABLE FORCEThe final blowup came at breathtaking speed. On Tuesday, June 3, Musk began his public assault on Trump's signature domestic policy: a sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. Musk, the supposed champion of efficiency, called it a "disgusting abomination" that would balloon the nation's $36.2 trillion social media posts amplified a growing rift within the Republican party. For two days, Trump held his Thursday, June 5, the dam broke."Look, Elon and I had a great relationship," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, his tone laced with menace. "I don't know if we will anymore." He expressed being "very disappointed" in Musk. He suggested Musk was truly upset about the bill's elimination of EV tax credits and simply missed working for him.'He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that will be next,' Trump stated, anticipating the day's events. 'But I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot.'Trump contended that Musk's opposition to the bill stemmed from its rollback of electric vehicle tax credits. 'False,' Musk quickly retorted on X as the president continued speaking. 'This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!'In a subsequent post, Musk suggested Trump could retain spending cuts but 'ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.'Beyond the electric vehicle tax credits, Trump noted another point of contention: Musk's promotion of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Trump withdrew Isaacman's nomination over the weekend, labelling him 'totally a Democrat' on Trump spoke, Musk's fury erupted on X. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he posted. "Such ingratitude."The war was his Truth Social platform, Trump delivered a crushing blow, a threat aimed at the core of Musk's business empire. "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts," he wrote. 'Go ahead, make my day," Musk quickly responded on market reacted instantly. Tesla's stock plummeted, shedding $150 billion in value in a single day. Musk's personal holdings in Tesla saw a reduction of about $20 after the closing bell, Musk escalated the feud into a perceived constitutional crisis. When an X user suggested Trump should be impeached, Musk responded with a single, devastating word: "Yes." The tech entrepreneur also shared a social media post advocating for Trump's impeachment and criticised the president's signature tariffs, predicting a recession this whose SpaceX is the sole American provider of astronaut transport to the International Space Station, then threatened to begin decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft. Hours later, Musk announced SpaceX would indeed start phasing out the spacecraft used for NASA astronaut and cargo transport to the International Space rallied his followers with a poll: "Is it time to create a new political party in America?" And he issued a simple, three-word directive to his followers regarding Trump's legislation: "KILL THE BILL."Musk further alleged, without presenting evidence, that Trump was 'in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!'Trump countered on Truth Social that Musk "went crazy." A White House official, speaking on background, provided the official epitaph for the relationship. "The president is making it clear: this White House is not beholden to Elon Musk on policy," the official stated. "By attacking the bill the way he did, Musk has clearly picked a side."Observers had long speculated whether the friendship between these two brash billionaires, known for their online barbs, would combust dramatically. It did, in less than a reiterated in the Oval Office on Thursday that he and Musk had shared a strong relationship, but mused: "I don't know if we will anymore." He also commented that some individuals who depart his administration 'miss it so badly' that they 'actually become hostile.' 'It's sort of Trump derangement syndrome, I guess they call it,' he added. He downplayed the billionaire's efforts to support his election last year, including a voter sweepstakes in Pennsylvania reportedly valued at $1 million per 'love' Musk felt for Trump back in February was clearly over and the breakup was $150 billion deep, televised, tweeted, and very, very real. The red Tesla, a relic of their short-lived alliance, still sat in the White House parking lot, a silent witness to the explosive end of an era, as per an Associated Press fallout calls to mind the chilling words of Joker, the notorious agent of chaos from the DC Universe: "This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."
