Latest news with #SanfordAndSon
New York Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Lynn Hamilton, a Steady Presence on ‘Sanford and Son,' Dies at 95
Lynn Hamilton, who became a familiar presence in American living rooms in the 1970s playing Donna Harris, the elegant and unflinching girlfriend of Redd Foxx's irascible Fred Sanford, on 'Sanford and Son,' and Verdie Foster, a dignified matriarch, on 'The Waltons,' died on Thursday at her home in Chicago. She was 95. Her death was confirmed by her former manager and publicist, the Rev. Calvin Carson. Before landing her breakout television roles, Ms. Hamilton had considerable experience onstage and onscreen. She made her Broadway debut in 1959 in 'Only in America,' in a cast that also included Alan Alda. She appeared in John Cassavetes's first film as a director, 'Shadows' (1958); two films starring Sidney Poitier, 'Brother John' (1971) and 'Buck and the Preacher' (1972); and 'Lady Sings the Blues,' the 1972 Billie Holiday biopic starring Diana Ross. Still, almost no experience could have prepared her for working with Mr. Foxx, a hallowed comedian who grew up on the streets — he palled around Harlem with the young Malcolm X during their hustler days — and made his name with nightclub routines that were socially conscious and unapologetically dirty. 'Sanford and Son,' a groundbreaking NBC hit, broke racial barriers. A predominantly Black sitcom, it starred Mr. Foxx as Fred Sanford, a cantankerous and wholly unfiltered Los Angeles junk man, and Demond Wilson as Lamont, his sensible, long-suffering son. Ms. Hamilton was originally cast, as a landlady, for only one episode during the show's first season. She made enough of an impact to earn a regular role later that season as Donna, Fred's girlfriend and, eventually, fiancée. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Sanford and Son', ‘The Waltons' actress Lynn Hamilton dies at 95
Actress Lynn Hamilton, who performed on 'Sanford and Son' and 'The Waltons,' has died. She was 95. Hamilton 'transitioned peacefully' on Thursday at her Chicago home, 'surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers,' her former manager and publicist, Rev. Dr. Calvin Carson, said in posts on Facebook and Instagram. Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton and her family moved to Chicago when she was 4 years old. As the only Black actor in her class at the Goodman School of Drama Theater, Hamilton found roles hard to come by. After working briefly with a theater company on Chicago's South Side, she moved to New York in 1956, where she appeared in four Broadway plays and worked for three years with the New York Shakespeare Festival. She also toured with 'The Miracle Worker' and 'The Skin of Our Teeth' as part of President John F. Kennedy's cultural exchange program before joining the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. Hamilton had some small television roles, starting as an extra in John Cassavetes' 'Shadows,' before being cast as the leading characters' cantankerous landlady in the seventh episode of 'Sanford and Son' in 1972. The sitcom's producers decided a couple of months later 'to give Fred Sanford a girlfriend,' Hamilton told an interviewer in 2009, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hamilton spent the rest of the show's run in the recurring role of Donna Harris, a nurse who found herself frequently caring for Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), when they weren't passionately arguing — but not before a serious grilling by his late wife's sisters. The characters got engaged but never married before the series ended in 1977. Starting in 1973, Hamilton also played Verdie Grant Foster on 'The Waltons,' appearing in 16 episodes through 1981 and then in Waltons television movies 'A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion' and 'A Walton Easter' in 1993 and 1997, respectively. More recent roles included 'The Practice,' and 'Golden Girls' among other shows. '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,' Carson said in his statement. 'Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations.' ______
Fox News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Sanford and Son' and ‘The Waltons' actress Lynn Hamilton dead at 95
Lynn Hamilton, the actress known for her roles in "Sanford and Son" and "The Waltons," has died. She was 95. Hamilton died due to natural causes on Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, the actress's former publicist Rev. Calvin Carson confirmed to Fox News Digital. Carson also issued a statement on behalf of Hamilton's family in an Instagram post, in which he noted that she had passed away while "surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers." "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," the statement read. "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." "Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations," the statement read. In addition to her recurring roles on "Sanford and Son" and "The Waltons," Hamilton also made notable appearances on television shows and soap operas, including "Roots: The Next Generation," "The Golden Girls," "Generations," "Dangerous Women," "227" and "The Practice." Born on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton grew up in Chicago Heights, Illinois. She graduated from the Goodman School of Drama Theater and launched her career in Chicago's community theater scene. Hamilton later moved to New York, where she made her Broadway debut in 1959's "Only in America." She continued acting on Broadway with roles in the plays "The Cool World," "Face of a Hero" and "Tambourines to Glory." The actress spent three years performing with the New York Shakespeare Festival and became a member of President Kennedy's cultural exchange program. While working with the program, she toured around the world, performing in the plays "The Miracle Worker" and "The Skin of Our Teeth." Hamilton joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. She made her on-screen debut in John Cassavetes' improvisational film "Shadows." Hamilton went on to make guest appearances in TV series including "Room 222," "Mannix," "The Bill Cosby Show," "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five-O" and "Starsky & Hutch." Hamilton made her first appearance on "Sanford and Son" when she played a landlady in the show's seventh episode in February 1972. She was recast in the recurring role of nurse Donna Harris, who becomes the girlfriend and fiancée of series lead Demond Wilson (Lamont Sanford). Hamilton played the role of Donna from 1972 to 1977. The actress portrayed Verdie Grant Foster, a neighbor of the Walton family, in "The Waltons" from 1973 to 1981. Other TV credits include guest roles in "Moesha," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "NYPD Blue," "Port Charles" and "Judging Amy." Hamilton made her final on-screen appearance in an episode of "Cold Case" in 2009. Hamilton also appeared in the movies "Hangup," "Leadbelly," "The Jesse Owens Story," "Lady Sings the Blues," "Legal Eagles," "The Vanishing" and "Beah: A Black Woman Speaks." Carson's statement noted: "Throughout her remarkable career, Lynn frequently collaborated with her husband, Frank S. Jenkins, on various theater productions, including the acclaimed play 'Nobody, The Bert Williams Story.' Their partnership was a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication." Hamilton was married to Jenkins, a playwright and poet, from 1964 until his death in 2014.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sanford and Son and The Waltons star dies aged 95 as heartbroken family pay tribute to ‘extraordinary life'
GOLDEN Girls and The Waltons star Lynn Hamilton has died aged 95. The actress died of natural causes on Thursday at her home in Chicago. 2 The star's former manager and publicist Rev. Calvin Carson announced the tragic news on social media. He said: "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. "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." Hamilton was known for her roles including Donna Harris, Fred Sanford's girlfriend and later fiance on the sitcom Sanford and Son. She appeared in this between 1972 to 1977. The star also played Verdie Grant Foster in The Waltons from 1973 to 1981. In the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, she played Cousin Georgia Anderson. Hamilton has also appeared in various other series like Good Times, 227, Dangerous Women, and The Golden Girls. .
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home
'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home originally appeared on Parade. A well-known TV actress has died at her Chicago home at the age of 95. Lynn Hamilton, who had recurring roles on The Waltons and Sanford & Son, died Thursday, June 19, at the age of 95, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hamilton played Redd Foxx's character's girlfriend Donna Harris on Sanford & Son, and the neighbor Ms. Verdie Grant Foster on The Waltons. Additionally, she starred as matriarch Vivian Potter on the NBC soap opera Generations alongside Kelly Rutherford, Joan Pringle, Jonelle Allen and the late Kristoff St. John. Hamilton also starred on the short-lived primetime drama Dangerous Women alongside Katherine Justice and Casper Van Dien. In later years, Hamilton had recurring roles on 227, Sunset Beach and The Practice. She also appeared on such shows as Cold Case, Judging Amy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, NYPD Blue, Murphy Brown and The Golden Girls. In a 2009 interview, Hamilton said that the team behind Sanford & Son was "so impressed" with her day-player role as a landlord that they wrote the part of Foxx's girlfriend just for her. "A month or two later, they decided to give Fred Sanford a girlfriend,' said Hamilton, adding, "[They] needed somebody dignified opposite him; he was aware of his earthliness, shall we say." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamilton was born April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, but her family moved to Chicago when she was 4. She moved to New York in 1956 and appeared on Broadway in Only in America, The Cool World, Face of a Hero and Tambourines to Glory. She joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. Hamilton is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Jenkins, who was a poet and playwright. They married in 1964 and were together until his death in 2014. 'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home first appeared on Parade on Jun 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
