Lynne Thigpen filmography and biography
Date of birth: 22 December 1948, Joliet, Illinois, USA
Date of death: 12 March 2003, Los Angeles, California, USA (cerebral hemorrhage)
Lynne Thigpen biography
Multi-talented actress Lynne Thigpen was born Cherlynne Thigpen in
Joliet, Illinois, on December 22, 1948. She performed in community
theater and university theater productions while attending the
University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Following graduation, she
taught high-school English for a short time, but her interest in acting
eventually prevailed over teaching. Her desire to act professionally
was further fueled by a strong set of vocal chops.
Moving to New York, she subsequently won a singing role as part of the
ragtag disciple ensemble in the hip, flower-powered musical "Godspell"
in 1971. Two years later she transferred her role to film along with
several other members of the original stage cast.
Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew
opened a major door for Lynne as a performer of boundless energy and
vocal power, as exemplified by her rousing version of "O Bless the Lord
My Soul." She continued on the 1970s musical stage with roles in "The
Magic Show" and the blue-collar piece "Working," and in 1981 earned a
Tony nomination for her powerhouse performance in "Tintypes." She
eventually reasoned, however, that if she was to be taken seriously as
a dramatic actress, she would need to refocus her energies. She then
abandoned her tuneful ways and ventured assertively into films and TV.
During her 30-year career, Lynne went on to appear in nearly 40 movies
and numerous television series, usually secondary in nature but
alternately fiery and dignified in character. Lynne became a strong,
set-jawed figure in social and urban drama as she managed to avoid the
easy pitfalls of typecasting. Though most of her early film parts
seemed small and insignificant, she continued to grow and gain a more
assured footing while appearing in such popular features as
Tootsie, Sweet Liberty,
Hello Again, and Running on Empty. Every
now and then she was given a chance to shine, as with her volatile
school parent in Lean on Me. TV was a more palpable and
productive medium for her with a stand-out recurring role as a judge on
L.A. Law and a long-running part on the daytime soap
All My Children. She also committed herself to
wholesome viewing for children, portraying the unnamed Chief on the PBS
children's series
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? and
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, earning four Emmy
nominations in the process.
Throughout the years, Lynne remained a vital force on the stage. She won
a Los Angeles Drama Critics award for her performance in
August Wilson's "Fences," two off-Broadway Obies for
Athol Fugard's "Boesman and Lena" (1992) and "Jar the Floor"
(2000), and a Tony for "Best Supporting Actress" for her portrayal of a
half-Black, half-Jewish feminist in "An American Daughter" (1997).
Other strong theater roles came with "A Month of Sundays" (1987) and as
a spunky 101-year-old maiden woman in "Having Our Say." Lynne's
dusky-voiced command was also utilized to narrate more than 20 socially
relevant books on tape. Her last regular TV series role was as police
clerk and computer expert Ella Farmer on The District,
a role she played until her sudden death in 2003. Found unconscious at
her home in Marina del Rey, California, by a friend, Lynne died at age
54 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Her final film
Anger Management, which starred Adam Sandler (I)
and Jack Nicholson (I), was released posthumously.
Lynne Thigpen trivia
- Won Broadway's 1997 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play)
for "An American Daughter." She was previously nominated in 1981 as
Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) for "Tintypes."
- The official coroner's report on Lynne's sudden death stated that she
died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Lynne had been suffering from severe
headaches just days before her fatal attack.
- Won two Obie awards for "Boesman and Lena" in 1992 and "Jar the Floor"
in 1999.
- Has an elementary school in Joliet, Illinois, her home town, named after
her.
- Although very well known for many roles, children everywhere know her
and will always love her for her popular role in 'Bear In The Big Blue
House' as the voice of Luna (The Moon).