Lynn Hamilton
Biography
Lynn Hamilton was an actress born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on April 25, 1930, and she passed away on June 19, 2025, at the age of 95. Also known as Alzenia, she began her career in the Chicago community theater scene before making her Broadway debut in 1959 at age 29 in Only in America. She subsequently appeared in various Broadway and Off Broadway productions. Her television career included roles in series such as Gunsmoke, Room 222, Sanford and Son as Donna Harris, The Waltons as Miss Verdie, Generations as Vivian Potter, Dangerous Women as Cissie Johnson, and Roots: The Next Generation as Georgia Anderson. Additional television credits feature appearances in 227, The Golden Girls, NYPD Blue, Cold Case, Then Came Bronson, and Longstreet.
Career overview
Lynn Hamilton began her career in Chicago's community theater scene before making her Broadway debut in 1959 at the age of 29 in Only in America. Over the course of her stage career, she appeared in numerous Broadway and Off Broadway productions.
Transitioning to the small screen, Hamilton secured television roles on various series, including Gunsmoke and Room 222. Among her most memorable television work was playing the role of Donna Harris on the NBC series Sanford and Son. Her extensive television credits also include playing Miss Verdie on The Waltons, Vivian Potter on the daytime drama Generations, ex-con Cissie Johnson on the 1991 nighttime soap Dangerous Women, and Georgia Anderson in Roots: The Next Generation. Additionally, her television career featured roles on programs such as 227, The Golden Girls, NYPD Blue, Cold Case, Then Came Bronson, and Longstreet.
Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on April 25, 1930, Hamilton was also known by the name Alzenia. She passed away at the age of 95 on June 19, 2025. During her extensive acting career, she accumulated 65 known credits on the screen, establishing a recognizable presence in both theater and television productions over several decades.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Lynn Hamilton.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
68 titles- A Star Without a Star: The Untold Juanita Moore Story (2022) as Self
- Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (2004) as Self
- Cold Case (2003) as Mary Chisolm (2009)
- Baby's Breath (2003) as Dr. Oberholser
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Wanda's Mom
- Judging Amy (1999) as Faye Benton
- The Practice (1997) as Judge P. Fulton
- Sunset Beach (1997) as Selita Jones
- Port Charles (1997) as Alice Morgan #2
- A Walton Easter (1997) as Verdie Grant Foster
- Moesha (1996) as Ruth Mitchell
- Dangerous Minds (1996) as Flora
- Life's Work (1996) as Mrs. Rader
- Sister, Sister (1994) as Mother Palmer
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Doris Becker
- The Vanishing (1993) as Miss Carmichael
- A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993) as Verdie Grant Foster
- Dangerous Women (1991) as Cissie Johnson
- Sisters (1991) as Alma Hayes
- Generations (1989) as Vivian Potter
- Murphy Brown (1988) as Woman #1
- Elvis and Me (1988) as Hattie
- Amen (1986) as Mrs. Phillips
- Legal Eagles (1986) as Doreen
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Trudy
- 227 (1985) as Emma Johnson
- Hunter (1984) as Velma the Maid
- Highway to Heaven (1984) as Mattie Taylor
- Riptide (1984) as Sarah Tolley
- The New Leave It to Beaver (1984) as Ms. Dash
- The Jesse Owens Story (1984) as Mamma Solomon
- The Hero Who Couldn't Read (1984) as Mrs. Ellis
- Webster (1983) as Mrs. Matthews
- Knight Rider (1982) as Susan Wade
- The Powers of Matthew Star (1982) as Judge Condon
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Cousin Georgia Anderson
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Mrs. Kellough
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Olivia Allen
- Leadbelly (1976) as Sally Ledbetter
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) as Edith Dobey
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Eunice Charles Bingham
- Good Times (1974) as Mrs. Edwards
- Hangup (1974) as Mrs. Ramsey
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Laura Padget
- The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) as Arless Humes
- A Dream for Christmas (1973) as Sarah Douglas
- The Waltons (1972) as Verdie Grant Foster
- ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Mrs. Ellis
- Sanford and Son (1972) as Donna Harris
- Ghost Story (1972) as The Attendant
- Buck and the Preacher (1972) as Sarah
- Lady Sings the Blues (1972) as Aunt Ida
- Longstreet (1971) as Mary Rose Carter
- The Seven Minutes (1971) as Avis
- Brother John (1971) as Sarah
- The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children (1970) as Beatrice
- Room 222 (1969) as Mrs. Harris
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969) as Mrs. Carter
- Then Came Bronson (1969) as Maybelle Giles
- The Learning Tree (1969) as Funeral Attendee (uncredited)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Mae
- Ironside (1967) as Nurse Clark
- Ironside (1967) as Mrs. Johnson
- Mannix (1967) as Eve Chancellor
- Shadows (1960) as Girl at Party
- The New Girl (1960) as Miss Thompson
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Reba
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Mother Tabitha
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lynn Hamilton best known for?
Lynn Hamilton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wet Hot American Summer (2001), The Count of Monte-Cristo (1975), Hostage (2005), Doctor Dolittle (1998).
When and where was Lynn Hamilton born?
Lynn Hamilton was born on April 25, 1930 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA. They passed away on June 19, 2025.
How many credits does Lynn Hamilton have?
Lynn Hamilton has accumulated over 68 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1955 to 2022.
What is Lynn Hamilton's background in cinema and television?
Lynn Hamilton was an actress born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on April 25, 1930, and she passed away on June 19, 2025, at the age of 95. Also known as Alzenia, she began her career in the Chicago community theater scene before making her Broadway debut in 1959 at age 29 in Only in America. She subsequently appeared in ...
Lynn Hamilton by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Dangerous Minds (1996) as Flora — aged about 66
- The Jesse Owens Story (1984) as Mamma Solomon — aged about 54
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Wanda's Mom — aged about 70
- Good Times (1974) as Mrs. Edwards — aged about 44
- Cold Case (2003) as Mary Chisolm (2009) — aged about 73
- The Practice (1997) as Judge P. Fulton — aged about 67
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Lynn Hamilton.