Lynn Hamilton, the veteran actress best known for her recurring roles on the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son” and the CBS historical drama “The Waltons,” died Thursday, June 19, at age 95 of natural causes at her home in Chicago.

Hamilton’s former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, confirmed her death in a statement posted on social media. Carson noted that Hamilton was “surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers” when she passed away.

Born Alzenia Lynn Hamilton on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she moved with her family to Chicago Heights, Illinois, when she was 11 years old. Hamilton studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama Theater and began her career in Chicago’s community theater scene before relocating to New York in 1956.

Hamilton made her Broadway debut in 1959 with the play “Only in America” and appeared in three other Broadway productions: “The Cool World,” “Face of a Hero,” and “Tambourines to Glory.” She spent three years performing with the New York Shakespeare Festival and became a member of President Kennedy’s cultural exchange program, touring internationally in productions of “The Miracle Worker” and “The Skin of Our Teeth.”

Her film career began with John Cassavetes’ 1959 drama “Shadows,” marking her debut in motion pictures. Hamilton went on to appear in notable films including “Brother John” (1971), “Buck and the Preacher” (1972), “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972), “Leadbelly” (1976), and “Legal Eagles” (1986).

Hamilton first appeared on “Sanford and Son” in February 1972 during the show’s seventh episode, playing a landlady who confronted Demond Wilson’s character Lamont Sanford. The producers were impressed with her performance and later cast her in the recurring role of Donna Harris, a registered nurse who became Fred Sanford’s girlfriend and eventual fiancée. Hamilton portrayed the character from 1972 to 1977 opposite Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford.

In a 2009 interview, Hamilton recalled that Foxx told her the show needed someone dignified to balance his earthier comedic style. She explained that producers were impressed with her initial landlady scene and decided to create the Donna Harris character specifically for her after auditioning approximately 100 actresses in Hollywood.

While working on “Sanford and Son,” Hamilton also secured a recurring role on “The Waltons” as Verdie Grant Foster, a neighbor of the Walton family. She appeared in 17 episodes of the series from 1973 to 1981 and later returned for holiday telefilms in 1993 and 1997. Her debut episode, “The Scholar,” featured her character receiving reading and writing lessons from John-Boy Walton and won an Emmy Award for screenwriter John McGreevey.

Hamilton’s television career extended beyond her two most famous roles. She appeared in the 1979 miniseries “Roots: The Next Generations” as Cousin Georgia Anderson and had starring roles in two soap operas: NBC’s “Generations” from 1989 to 1991, where she played matriarch Vivian Potter, and the syndicated nighttime soap “Dangerous Women” from 1991 to 1992 as ex-convict Cissie Johnson.

Her extensive guest appearance credits included “Room 222,” “Mannix,” “Gunsmoke,” “The Rockford Files,” “Quincy M.E.,” “The Golden Girls,” “227,” “NYPD Blue,” “Judging Amy,” and “Cold Case.” Hamilton’s final television appearance was on “Cold Case” in 2009.

Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his death in 2014 at age 89. The couple frequently collaborated on theater productions, including the acclaimed play “Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.” Carson described their partnership as “a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication.”

Throughout her career, Hamilton received recognition for her contributions to entertainment, including the prestigious NAACP Award. Carson’s statement emphasized that Hamilton’s illustrious career spanning over five decades left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry through her work as a model, stage performer, film actress, and television star.

Hamilton moved back to Chicago in 2014 following her husband’s death. Carson indicated that her passing marks the end of an era, but noted that her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations of performers and audiences.