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Lynn Hamilton

Lynn Hamilton

Actor · Died June 19, 2025, aged 95 · 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 25, 1930
Died
June 19, 2025 (aged 95)
From
Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 63 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Up 24% in 30 days

What are Lynn Hamilton's films like?

Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
24%
Society
20%
Power
18%
Survival
16%
Ideas
13%
Bonds
8%

What they feel like to watch

their average across 3 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 0 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 1 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 2 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
4
Hopeful
3
Tense
2
Contemplative
1

How their films linger

Thought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lynn Hamilton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lynn Hamilton's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

63 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Chisolm (2009)

  • Baby's Breath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dr. Oberholser

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Wanda's Mom

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Faye Benton

  • Port Charles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Morgan #2

  • A Walton Easter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Verdie Grant Foster

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 7 episodes · as Judge P. Fulton

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Sunset Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Selita Jones

  • Dangerous Minds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Flora

  • Life's Work(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Rader

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Sister, Sister(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother Palmer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion(1993)

    as Verdie Grant Foster

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • NYPD Blue(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Doris Becker

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Vanishing(1993)

    as Miss Carmichael

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 51 episodes · as Cissie Johnson

  • Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Alma Hayes

  • Generations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 11 episodes · as Vivian Potter

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman #1

  • Elvis and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Hattie

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Phillips

  • Legal Eagles(1986)

    as Doreen

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • 227(1985)

    Show 5 episodes · as Emma Johnson

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Trudy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The New Leave It to Beaver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Dash

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mattie Taylor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Velma

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Jesse Owens Story(1984)

    as Mamma Solomon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Hero Who Couldn't Read (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mrs. Ellis

  • Riptide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah Tolley

  • Webster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Matthews

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Wade

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Powers of Matthew Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Condon

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cousin Georgia Anderson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Kellough · as Olivia Allen

  • Leadbelly(1976)

    as Sally Ledbetter

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Edith Dobey

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Hangup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mrs. Ramsey

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Eunice Charles Bingham

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Edwards

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • A Dream for Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Sarah Douglas

  • The Marcus-Nelson Murders(1973)

    as Arless Humes

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Padget

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Lady Sings the Blues(1972)

    as Aunt Ida

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Ellis

  • Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as The Attendant

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 17 episodes · as Verdie Grant Foster

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Buck and the Preacher(1972)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 22 episodes · as Donna Harris

  • Longstreet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Rose Carter

  • Brother John(1971)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Seven Minutes(1971)

    as Avis

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Beatrice

  • Then Came Bronson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Maybelle Giles

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Carter

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Harris

  • The Learning Tree(1969)

    as Funeral Attendee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mae

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Eve Chancellor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Johnson · as Nurse Clark

  • Shadows(1958)

    as Girl at Party

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The New Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Miss Thompson

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother Tabitha · as Reba

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 63 titles from 1955 to 2003; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

The Vanishing (1993)

$15M worldwide

Highest rated

Leadbelly (1976)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

Film career

19552003

Peak 1993 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting63 of 63: 63 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s9 · acting1970s20 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Lynn Hamilton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 79th percentile, the median of all 12; across a limited sample of 3 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 82nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Approval · how many liked their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 3

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The Seven Minutes (1971)

62nd percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Lynn Hamilton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lynn Hamilton's MovieCove titles; Art Evans shares the most, 2.