lynn Hamilton the talented actress whose

warm presence graced screens from the

1950s through the early 2000s has passed

away at the age of 95 born Alenia Lynn

Hamilton on April 25th 1930 in Yazu City

Mississippi she discovered her passion

for acting early on in Chicago after

dramatic training at the Goodman School

of Drama she made her Broadway debut in

1959 a milestone that marked the

beginning of a storied career her

breakthrough came in 1972

when she joined the cast of Sanford and

son as Donna Harris the dignified

registered nurse who became Fred

Sanford’s steady companion and later

fiance playing opposite Red Fox hamilton

brought grace and intellect to a series

filled with sharp humor and social

satire a role she inhabited for five

seasons in parallel she enchanted

viewers as Verie Foster on the Waltons

appearing in over a dozen episodes

between 1973 and 1981 showcasing her

versatile acting range beyond these

flagship shows Hamilton built a rich and

varied resume from her early work in

John Civites Shadows 1959 two roles in

films like Buck and the Preacher Brother

John and Lady Sings the Blues on

television she made guest and recurring

appearances in series such as Roots The

Next Generation Generations Dangerous

Women Curb Your Enthusiasm The Golden

Girls 227 and NYPD Blue Navigating

Across Genres with Grace Offscreen

Hamilton’s Partnership with Playright

Frank Jenkins her husband from 1964

until his death in 2014 yielded creative

collaborations including Nobody Buddy

the Bert Williams story spotlighting her

deep roots in storytelling her career

spanned over 50 years from Chicago’s

theater scene to television’s golden age

earning admiration for her elegance and

strength according to her former manager

Rev calvin Carson Hamilton passed away

peacefully on June 19th 2025 at her

Chicago home surrounded by loved ones

and caregivers today we celebrate a

woman whose talent poise and pioneering

spirit paved the way for many her

portrayals of smart steady women

resonated across generations leaving an

unforgettable legacy of warmth dignity

and grace win Hamilton may be gone but

her work endures in reruns memories and

the countless actors she inspired we

honor her life her artistry and the

remarkable journey she took from

Mississippi roots to television icon

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.

Lynn Hamilton in “Dangerous Women.” Courtesy Everett Collection
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.

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.”

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.

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.’ “

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.”

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.”