Lynn Hamilton, a veteran actress beloved for her performances in Sanford and Son and The Waltons, has passed away at the age of 95. Her passing from natural causes occurred at her residence in Chicago on Thursday, as confirmed by her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson.

Hamilton brought a unique blend of warmth, resilience, and depth to numerous roles throughout TV’s golden era. In Sanford and Son, she famously portrayed Donna Harris, the composed and straightforward partner to Redd Foxx’s character, Fred Sanford. She first appeared on the series in 1972 in the seventh episode, portraying a formidable landlord. Her memorable portrayal led producers to invite her back for an extended role.

“The producers were so captivated by that one scene that, a month or two later, they decided Fred Sanford needed a girlfriend,” Hamilton shared in a 2009 interview. Regarding her co-star Redd Foxx, she added, “He was very much aware of his down-to-earth nature, and he remarked that his show required someone with dignity to stand beside him.”

Though Donna and Fred got engaged, they never walked down the aisle — much to the delight of Fred’s son Lamont (Demond Wilson), who famously called her “The Barracuda.” Hamilton remained on the hit NBC sitcom through 1977.

While working on Sanford and Son, Hamilton also made a lasting impact as Miss Verdie on The Waltons. She first appeared in 1973’s “The Scholar” episode — which won a screenwriting Emmy — playing a woman determined to learn to read and write. Hamilton reprised the role 16 more times through 1981 and returned for two Waltons holiday movies in the ’90s. In later seasons, Verdie married Harley Foster, played by Hal Williams, another Sanford and Son alum.

Her TV résumé didn’t stop there. Hamilton appeared on shows like 227 (as the sharply opinionated Emma Johnson), The Practice, Gunsmoke, The Rockford Files, Cold Case, NYPD Blue, and The Golden Girls. Soap fans might remember her from NBC’s short-lived Generations or the syndicated nighttime drama Dangerous Women.

Born Alzenia Lynn Hamilton on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she moved with her family to Chicago at age 4. Despite graduating from the Goodman School of Drama Theater, Hamilton once said, “I was the only Black [actor] in my class, and so there weren’t any roles for me.” She gained experience on the South Side’s theater circuit before moving to New York in 1956 and landing roles in John Cassavetes’ Shadows (1959) and on Broadway in several short-lived plays.

Hamilton’s film credits include Brother John (1971), Buck and the Preacher (1972), Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Leadbelly (1976), and Legal Eagles (1986).

A veteran of Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare productions and a touring member of the U.S. cultural exchange program under President Kennedy, Hamilton later settled in Los Angeles, where she built her prolific TV career.

She was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his death in 2014. The couple collaborated on multiple stage projects before she returned to Chicago, where she lived out her final years.