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IMDbPro

Lynne Thigpen(1948-2003)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Lynne Thigpen
Trailer for Anger Management
Play trailer2:27
Anger Management (2003)
7 Videos
10 Photos
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.
BornDecember 22, 1948
DiedMarch 12, 2003(54)
BornDecember 22, 1948
DiedMarch 12, 2003(54)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 8 nominations

Photos10

Lynne Thigpen in Tootsie (1982)
Lynne Thigpen in The Warriors (1979)
Lynne Thigpen in Article 99 (1992)
Craig T. Nelson, Roger Aaron Brown, Wayne Duvall, Jonathan LaPaglia, Elizabeth Marvel, Lynne Thigpen, and Sean Patrick Thomas in The District (2000)
1 sheet
Insert Movie Poster
Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Gilmer McCormick, Jeffrey Mylett, Jerry Sroka, and Lynne Thigpen in Godspell (1973)
Vicki Eibner, Peter Linz, Noel MacNeal, and Lynne Thigpen in Bear in the Big Blue House (1997)
Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Gilmer McCormick, Jeffrey Mylett, Jerry Sroka, and Lynne Thigpen in Godspell (1973)

Known for

The Warriors (1979)
The Warriors
7.6
  • D.J.
  • 1979
Robin Williams in Bicentennial Man (1999)
Bicentennial Man
6.9
  • Female President
  • 1999
Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler in Anger Management (2003)
Anger Management
6.2
  • Judge Brenda Daniels
  • 2003
Morgan Freeman in Lean on Me (1989)
Lean on Me
7.4
  • Leonna Barrett
  • 1989

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Tyler Bunch, Vicki Eibner, Peter Linz, and Noel MacNeal in Bear in the Big Blue House (1997)
    Bear in the Big Blue House
    • Luna
    • TV Series
    • 1997–2003
  • The District (2000)
    The District
    • Ella Farmer
    • TV Series
    • 2000–2003
  • Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler in Anger Management (2003)
    Anger Management
    • Judge Brenda Daniels
    • 2003
  • Steve Martin in Novocaine (2001)
    Novocaine
    • Pat
    • 2001
  • Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft (2000)
    Shaft
    • Carla Howard
    • 2000
  • Tom Skerritt and Christine Lahti in Trial by Media (2000)
    Trial by Media
    • Dr. Judith B. Kaufman
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Rebecca Budig, Cameron Mathison, and Darnell Williams in All My Children (1970)
    All My Children
    • Grace Keefer
    • Flora Baxter
    • Aunt Grace
    • TV Series
    • 1983–2000
  • Tyler Bunch, Peter Linz, and Noel MacNeal in Bear in the Big Blue House: Bear's Sense of Adventure (1999)
    Bear in the Big Blue House: Bear's Sense of Adventure
    • Luna the Moon (voice, as Lynn Thigpen)
    • Video Game
    • 1999
  • Robin Williams in Bicentennial Man (1999)
    Bicentennial Man
    • Female President
    • 1999
  • Ice-T, Sam Waterston, Mariska Hargitay, Camryn Manheim, Christopher Meloni, Jeffrey Donovan, Mehcad Brooks, Kelli Giddish, and Danielle Moné Truitt in Law & Order (1990)
    Law & Order
    • Trial Judge Ida Boucher
    • TV Series
    • 1995–1999
  • Russell Crowe and Al Pacino in The Insider (1999)
    The Insider
    • Mrs. Williams
    • 1999
  • Random Hearts (1999)
    Random Hearts
    • Phyllis Bonaparte
    • 1999
  • Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time (1999)
    Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time
    • The Chief
    • Video Game
    • 1999
  • Rebecca De Mornay and Keith Carradine in Night Ride Home (1999)
    Night Ride Home
    • Fran
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • Bill Cosby in Cosby (1996)
    Cosby
    • Dr. Holmes
    • Linda
    • TV Series
    • 1998

Soundtrack

  • Eve and the Fire Horse (2005)
    Eve and the Fire Horse
    • performer: "O Bless the Lord My Soul"
    • 2005
  • American Playhouse
    American Playhouse
    • performer: "If I Could've Been"
    • TV Series
    • 1982
  • The 35th Annual Tony Awards (1981)
    The 35th Annual Tony Awards
    • performer: "Fifty-Fifty"
    • TV Special
    • 1981
  • Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Gilmer McCormick, Jeffrey Mylett, Jerry Sroka, and Lynne Thigpen in Godspell (1973)
    Godspell
    • performer: "Bless The Lord" (uncredited)
    • 1973

Videos7

Godspell
Clip 3:24
Godspell
Godspell
Trailer 4:23
Godspell
Anger Management
Trailer 2:27
Anger Management
Bear in the Big Blue House
Trailer 0:58
Bear in the Big Blue House
Bear in the Big Blue House Collection
Trailer 0:34
Bear in the Big Blue House Collection
Bear In The Big Blue House
Trailer 2:13
Bear In The Big Blue House
s
Trailer 2:11
s

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Lynne Richmond
  • Height
    • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
  • Born
    • December 22, 1948
    • Joliet, Illinois, USA
  • Died
    • March 12, 2003
    • Marina del Rey, California, USA(cerebral hemorrhage)
  • Parents
      George W. Thigpen
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared in August Wilson's "Fences" on Broadway. Also in cast: Billy Dee Williams.
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    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.

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