‘Sanford and Son’ actress Lynn Hamilton dead at 95

She brought grace, warmth, and quiet strength to our screens — and now, one of television’s most elegant stars has left us.

Lynn Hamilton, best known for playing the poised and loving Donna Harris on the iconic ’70s sitcom Sanford and Son, has passed away at the age of 95.

For so many fans, Lynn Hamilton wasn’t just Fred Sanford’s sweetheart — she was the heart of every scene she touched.

Her presence was gentle yet powerful, and she carried herself with a class that’s rare on television today. Watching Lynn felt like watching someone you knew — someone kind, real, and deeply dignified. She made us laugh, made us feel, and made us believe in a softer kind of strength.

Beyond her memorable roles on Sanford and Son and The Waltons, Lynn Hamilton built an impressive television career with standout appearances across a wide range of beloved shows. She brought her talent to powerful dramas like Roots: The Next Generation, added charm to sitcoms like The Golden Girls and 227, and made her mark in soap operas including Generations and Dangerous Women. She also appeared in legal drama The Practice, further proving her incredible range and staying power on screen.

Only Black woman focused on “straight” acting

Lynn Hamilton, born Alzenia Lynn Hamilton in Yazoo City, Mississippi, spent her early years in the South before moving to Chicago Heights, Illinois, at age twelve.

Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an actress. She attended Bloom High School and sharpened her skills by studying acting at the renowned Goodman Theatre.

At Goodman Theatre, Lynn usually worked backstage or took on small maid roles. She stood out as the only Black woman focused on “straight” acting with the goal of performing on stage, while most other Black students were studying directing or other behind-the-scenes fields.

Her passion for performance then took root in Chicago’s community theater scene, where she first started acting. Lynn made her Broadway debut in 1959 with Only in America and went on to appear in three more Broadway productions.

She also showcased her talents Off-Broadway and spent three impactful years with the New York Shakespeare Festival, building a solid foundation for her remarkable acting career.

In the late 1960s, Lynn left New York to perform theater in Seattle. Later, she moved to Los Angeles — primarily because of the opportunities, as she put it herself.

The timing of her arrival in Hollywood couldn’t have been better. The film industry was starting to actively seek Black actors, right in the midst of the civil rights movement. The ’60s truly opened the door for Black talent on television like never before.

How she got the role as Donna Harris

Lynn Hamilton’s breakthrough came in 1972 when she landed a role on Sanford and Son. Playing Donna Harris, she quickly became a beloved and recognizable presence on television. But her role was initially meant to be a one-time appearance. She played a landlady who gives Lamont Sanford, played by Demond Wilson, a tough time when he tries to escape his father (Redd Foxx) and find his own place.

”I didn’t even have a name — I was just ‘the landlady,’” Hamilton recalled in a 2009 interview. “I had one scene, and I think I had to put him out or something. And I came in and I absolutely gave it to him. They said, ‘You can be as big as you want to be,’ and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I can use my stage stuff.’”

Throughout the 1980s, she continued to captivate audiences with her sincere and powerful performance on The Waltons, where she was one of the few Black characters featured on the show.

According to her IMDb page, Lynn Hamilton’s last acting credit was a guest role on an episode of Cold Case in 2009.

Lynn Hamilton cause of death

The veteran actress passed away from natural causes on Thursday at her home in Chicago, Illinois, her former publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, confirmed to Fox News Digital. She died on June 19, 2025.

Carson shared a heartfelt statement from Hamilton’s family on Instagram, noting that she was surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones, and caregivers at the time of her passing.

”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 said. “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 added.

Lynn was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins for 49 years, from November 1964 until his passing in August 2014. She is survived by grandchildren and other close friends.

Her legacy will forever live on in our hearts — and in every rerun where she lights up the screen. May she rest well in peace.