
Lynn Hamilton
Born
April 25, 1930
Died
June 19, 2025 (95 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA
Lynn Hamilton began her career in Chicago's community theater scene. At 29, she made her Broadway debut in 1959's Only in America and went on to appear in numerous Broadway and Off Broadway productions, while also taking her talents to the small screen with roles on the television series Gunsmoke and Room 222. One of her most memorable roles was as Donna Harris on NBC's Sanford and Son. She also starred as 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. Her additional TV credits include roles on 227, The Golden Girls, NYPD Blue, Cold Case, and Judging Amy.

Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
Self
2004

Cold Case
Mary Chisolm (2009) · (1 episode)
2003

Baby's Breath
Dr. Oberholser
2003

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Wanda's Mom · (1 episode)
2000

Judging Amy
Faye Benton · (1 episode)
1999

Port Charles
Alice Morgan #2 · (1 episode)
1997

A Walton Easter
Verdie Grant Foster
1997

The Practice
Judge P. Fulton · (7 episodes)
1997

Sunset Beach
Selita Jones · (5 episodes)
1997

Dangerous Minds
Flora · (1 episode)
1996

Life's Work
Mrs. Rader · (1 episode)
1996

Moesha
Ruth Mitchell · (1 episode)
1996

Sister, Sister
Mother Palmer · (1 episode)
1994

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
Verdie Grant Foster
1993

NYPD Blue
Doris Becker · (1 episode)
1993

The Vanishing
Miss Carmichael
1993
Dangerous Women
Cissie Johnson · (51 episodes)
1991

Sisters
Alma Hayes · (1 episode)
1991
Generations
Vivian Potter · (11 episodes)
1989

Murphy Brown
Woman #1 · (1 episode)
1988

Elvis and Me
Hattie
1988

Amen
Mrs. Phillips · (1 episode)
1986

Legal Eagles
Doreen
1986

The Golden Girls
Trudy · (1 episode)
1985

227
Emma Johnson · (5 episodes)
1985

The New Leave It to Beaver
Ms. Dash · (1 episode)
1984

Highway to Heaven
Mattie Taylor · (1 episode)
1984

Hunter
Velma the Maid · (1 episode)
1984

The Jesse Owens Story
Mamma Solomon
1984

Riptide
Sarah Tolley · (1 episode)
1984

Webster
Mrs. Matthews · (1 episode)
1983

Knight Rider
Susan Wade · (1 episode)
1982

The Powers of Matthew Star
Judge Condon · (1 episode)
1982

Roots: The Next Generations
Cousin Georgia Anderson · (7 episodes)
1979

Quincy, M.E.
Mrs. Kellough · (1 episode)
1976

Quincy, M.E.
Olivia Allen · (1 episode)
1976

Leadbelly
Sally Ledbetter
1976

Starsky & Hutch
Edith Dobey · (1 episode)
1975

Hangup
Mrs. Ramsey
1974

The Rockford Files
Eunice Charles Bingham · (1 episode)
1974

Good Times
Mrs. Edwards · (1 episode)
1974

A Dream for Christmas
Sarah Douglas
1973

The Marcus-Nelson Murders
Arless Humes
1973

Barnaby Jones
Laura Padget · (1 episode)
1973

Lady Sings the Blues
Aunt Ida
1972

ABC Afterschool Special
Mrs. Ellis · (1 episode)
1972

Ghost Story
The Attendant · (1 episode)
1972

The Waltons
Verdie Grant Foster · (17 episodes)
1972

Buck and the Preacher
Sarah
1972

Sanford and Son
Donna Harris · (22 episodes)
1972

Longstreet
Mary Rose Carter · (1 episode)
1971

Brother John
Sarah
1971

The Seven Minutes
Avis
1971

The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children
Beatrice
1970

Then Came Bronson
Maybelle Giles · (1 episode)
1969

The Bill Cosby Show
Mrs. Carter · (1 episode)
1969

Room 222
Mrs. Harris · (1 episode)
1969

The Learning Tree
Funeral Attendee (uncredited)
1969

Hawaii Five-O
Mae · (1 episode)
1968

Mannix
Eve Chancellor · (1 episode)
1967

Ironside
Nurse Clark · (1 episode)
1967

Ironside
Mrs. Johnson · (1 episode)
1967

Shadows
Girl at Party
1960

Insight
Sara · (1 episode)
1960

Insight
Jenny Gaines · (1 episode)
1960

Insight
Sister St. Martin · (1 episode)
1960

Insight
Nurse · (1 episode)
1960
The New Girl
Miss Thompson
1960

Gunsmoke
Reba · (1 episode)
1955

Gunsmoke
Mother Tabitha · (1 episode)
1955