Lynne Thigpen(1948-2003)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
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 at Urbana-Champaign. 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, Lynne 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 (1973)
opened a major door for the actress as a performer of boundless energy and
vocal power, as exemplified by her rousing version of "O Bless the Lord
My Soul."
Lynne 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 (1982),
Sweet Liberty (1986),
Hello Again (1987), and
Running on Empty (1988).
Every now and then she was given a chance to shine, as with her volatile
school parent in Lean on Me (1989). TV
was a more palpable and productive medium for her with a stand-out
recurring role as a judge on
L.A. Law (1986) and a long-running
part on the daytime soap
All My Children (1970). 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? (1991)
and
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996),
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 (2000), a role she
played until her sudden death.
Lynne was found unconscious at her home in Marina del Rey, California, by a friend. She died on March 12, 2003, age 54, of a
cerebral hemorrhage. Her final film
Anger Management (2003), which
starred Adam Sandler and
Jack Nicholson, was released
posthumously.
Joliet, Illinois, on December 22, 1948. She performed in community
theater and university theater productions while attending the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 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, Lynne 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 (1973)
opened a major door for the actress as a performer of boundless energy and
vocal power, as exemplified by her rousing version of "O Bless the Lord
My Soul."
Lynne 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 (1982),
Sweet Liberty (1986),
Hello Again (1987), and
Running on Empty (1988).
Every now and then she was given a chance to shine, as with her volatile
school parent in Lean on Me (1989). TV
was a more palpable and productive medium for her with a stand-out
recurring role as a judge on
L.A. Law (1986) and a long-running
part on the daytime soap
All My Children (1970). 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? (1991)
and
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996),
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 (2000), a role she
played until her sudden death.
Lynne was found unconscious at her home in Marina del Rey, California, by a friend. She died on March 12, 2003, age 54, of a
cerebral hemorrhage. Her final film
Anger Management (2003), which
starred Adam Sandler and
Jack Nicholson, was released
posthumously.