Title: Thigpen, Lynne (1948–2003)

THIGPEN, LYNNE (1948–2003). Actress. She was born Cherlynne Thigpen in Joiliet, Illinois. She taught high school English before pursuing an acting career. In 1971, she was part of an ensemble in the musical Godspell and was part of the original stage cast that took the play to film in 1973. She continued in stage musicals and received a Tony nomination for her role in Tintypes , and she won the 1997 Tony award for Best Actress in a featured role for her performance in An American Daughter . On television, she appeared in L.A. Law , the daytime soap All My Children , and the kiddie show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? She also portrayed Ellen Farmer in the dramatic series The District . Her many notable film appearances include Lean on Me , 1989; Tootsie , 1982; Running on Empty , 1988; and Random Hearts , 1999.

Filmography: Godspell , 1973; Streets of Fire , 1984; Rockabye , 1986; Lean on Me , 1989; Impulse , 1990; Separate but Equal , 1991; Bob Roberts , 1992; Article 99 , 1992; Naked in New York , 1993; The Paper , 1994; Just Cause , 1994; The Boys Next Door , 1996; Random Hearts , 1999; The Insider ; 1999; Bicentennial Man , 1999; Trial by Media , 2000; Shaft , 2000; Novacaine , 2001; Anger Management , 2003.