Lynne Thigpen
Birthday: Born in 1948-12-22 in Joliet, Illinois, USA
Deathday: 2003-03-12
Cherlynne Theresa 'Lynne' Thigpen (December 22, 1948 – March 12, 2003) was an American actress of stage and screen. She was known for her roles as The Chief of ACME Crimenet on the game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and various spinoffs, Luna (The Moon) on the Playhouse Disney children's series Bear in the Big Blue House, and Ella Farmer on The District (2000–2003). For her varied television work, she was nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards and she also won a Tony Award in 1997 for portraying Dr. Judith Kaufman in An American Daughter.
TV Credits
Bear in the Big Blue House
Character: Luna (voice)
The series provides children with valuable tools for growth in key areas of music, social skill development, and cognitive learning through integrated programs combining music, movement, and exploration. With Bear and all his friends, learn about cooperation, teamwork and more....
Law & Order
Character: Judge Ida Boucher
In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to convict the perpetrator by proving the person guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Working together, these expert teams navigate all sides of the complex criminal justice system to make New York a safer place....
thirtysomething
Character:
Thirtysomething is an American television drama about a group of baby boomers in their late thirties. It was created by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick for MGM/UA Television Group and The Bedford Falls Company, and aired on ABC. It premiered in the U.S. on September 29, 1987. It lasted four seasons, with the last of its 85 episodes airing on May 28, 1991. The title of the show was designed as thirtysomething by Kathie Broyles, who combined the words of the original title, Thirty Something....
L.A. Law
Character: D.A. Ruby Thomas
L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay right...
King of the Hill
Character: Judge (voice)
Set in Texas, this animated series follows the life of propane salesman Hank Hill, who lives with his overly confident substitute Spanish teacher wife Peggy, wannabe comedian son Bobby, and naive niece Luanne. Hank has conservative views about God, family, and country, but his values and ethics are often challenged by the situations he, his family, and his beer-drinking neighbors/buddies find themselves in....
The Cosby Show
Character: Mrs. Hudson
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York....
Roseanne
Character:
A working-class family struggles to get by on a limited income in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois....
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?
Character: The Chief
A game show based on the Carmen Sandiego computer game series created by Brøderbund Software....
Gimme a Break!
Character:
Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC for six seasons, October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters....
Homicide: Life on the Street
Character:
An American police procedural chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit....
Hunter
Character: Lt. Marilyn Fowler
Hunter is an American police drama television series created by Frank Lupo, and starring Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. However, Kramer left after the sixth season to pursue other acting and musical opportunities. In the seventh season, Hunter partnered with two different women officers. The titular character, Sgt. Rick Hunter, was a wily, physically imposing, and often rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los ...
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Character: Mrs. Tracy
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The longest-running primetime series in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning during 1951 and continuing into 2013. From 1954 onward, all of its productions have been shown in color, although color television video productions were extremely rare in 1954. Many television movies have been shown on the program since its debut, ...
Love, Sidney
Character: Nancy
A middle-aged gay artist shares his New York apartment with a single mother and her little girl. Based on a short story written by Marilyn Cantor Baker, which was subsequently adapted into a TV movie entitled Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend. Love, Sidney was the first program on American television to feature a gay character as the central lead, although for the series, Sidney's homosexuality was almost entirely downplayed from its subtle yet unmistakable presence in the two-hour pilot....
Dear John
Character: Sarah Donnelly
Dear John starred Judd Hirsch as easygoing Drake Prep high school teacher John Lacey who is dumped by his wife, Wendy, via a Dear John letter. Wendy ends up with everything in the divorce settlement, including custody of the couple's son, forcing John to move into an apartment in Ozone Park, Queens. John soon joins the One-2-One Club, a self help group for divorced, widowed or lonely people. The group is led by Louise (Jane Carr), a sex-obsessed British woman. Other members of the group include ...
The Ellen Burstyn Show
Character:
Ellen Brewer is a Baltimore college professor living with her overbearing mother Sydney and recently divorced daughter Molly as well as young grandson Nick....
FM
Character:
FM is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from August 17, 1989 to June 29, 1990....
The District
Character: Ella Farmer
The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department....
Reading Rainbow
Character: Herself - Narrator (voice)
Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories....
America's War on Poverty
Character: Self - Narrator (voice)
In the midst of unprecedented national prosperity in the 1960s, poverty was "rediscovered" by American policy makers, media and the public. This series examines how the poor fared during these years and the resultant evolution of foundation and public sector programs addressing the challenges of poverty....
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Character: Fran
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The longest-running primetime series in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning during 1951 and continuing into 2013. From 1954 onward, all of its productions have been shown in color, although color television video productions were extremely rare in 1954. Many television movies have been shown on the program since its debut, ...
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Character: Nate's Cousin
Molly Dodd — a mid-30s, divorced woman living in New York — faces the comedy and drama of a widely changing career, difficulties of apartment living, love life and its consequences, and more....
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Character: The Chief
A game show based on the Carmen Sandiego computer game series created by Brøderbund Software....
Cagney & Lacey
Character: Capt. Gigi Cardenas
Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all time....
The Equalizer
Character: Cleaning Lady
Robert McCall is a former agent of a secret government agency who is now running his own private crime fighting operation where he fashions himself as "The Equalizer." It is a service for victims of the system who have exhausted all possible means of seeking justice and have nowhere to go. McCall promises to even out the odds for them....
Tony Awards
Character: Self - Winner
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre....
Movie Credits
The Boys Next Door
Character: Mrs. Tracy
Kind-hearted social worker Jack Palmer feels guilty about not spending enough time with his wife due to the pressures of his job taking care of four developmentally disabled men: obsessive-compulsive Norman, bipolar Arnold, childlike Lucien, and schizophrenic Barry. When Jack announces his decision to leave his job, his four charges react quite unexpectedly to the news....
Novocaine
Character: Pat
A dentist finds himself a murder suspect after a sexy patient seduces him into prescribing her drugs....
Article 99
Character: Nurse White
Dr. Richard Sturgess leads a team of compassionate doctors at a veteran's hospital. Along with Drs. Morgan, Handleman and Van Dorn, he fights to deliver adequate care to needy veterans in the face of funding cuts and a corrupt administration. To succeed, the staff may have to bend the rules and circumvent the villainous "Article 99," a bureaucratic loophole that prevents veterans from receiving the benefits they deserve....
Naked in New York
Character: Helen
Naked in New York begins in the car of grown up Jake, he is talking to us about his girlfriend, Joanne, and to whom you can turn to for help while facing life. From there it flashes back to his memories of his parents, college, house across from a squirrel infested peanut factory, best friend, writing career and Joanne....
Bob Roberts
Character: Kelly Noble
Millionaire conservative Bob Roberts launches an insurgent campaign against incumbent senator Brickley Paiste, firing up crowds at his rallies by singing '60s-style acoustic folk songs with lyrics espousing far-right conservative social and economic views....
The Insider
Character: Mrs. Williams
A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco....
Tootsie
Character: Jo
When struggling, out of work actor Michael Dorsey secretly adopts a female alter ego – Dorothy Michaels – in order to land a part in a daytime drama, he unwittingly becomes a feminist icon and ends up in a romantic pickle....
Godspell
Character: Lynne
A modern day musical telling of the ministry of Jesus Christ set in New York. The Apostles, portrayed as an acting troupe re-enact the parables and teachings of Jesus....
Chance of a Lifetime
Character: Ms. Wood
Irreverent freelance investigative reporter Tom Maguire hits rock bottom when bigot editor in chief Ivan refuses to print his pieces anymore and his bad back most be operated, but his health insurance just expired. Sympathetic editor Irene Dunbar, feeling guilty she didn't save his job, volunteers for a fake marriage so he can use her insurance. The 'happy couple' in now constantly beleaguered by her mother and an insurance inspector, while each has his own affairs, but the co-habitation also se...
Fol-de-Rol
Character: Witch / Ensemble
A filmed version of Sid and Marty Krofft's 1968 live puppet show, set at a medieval fair. The special was a pilot for a weekly series....
Bear in the Big Blue House: A Berry Bear Christmas
Character: Luna (voice)
The winter holidays find Bear and his friends planning a big celebration. They're all getting ready for Christmas, but also learn about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Bear also celebrates his favorite tradition, the finding of the winter berry. As things start out, Pip and Pop have put together a reindeer wreath. Everyone wants to help out with the wreath, so Bear suggests they all add something of their own. Later, the group meets Santa Hogg and presents him with a large list of holiday wishes. Then the...
Rockabye
Character: Rica Towne
A young woman, striking out on her own after having left her husband in California, has her young son snatched from her moments after getting off the bus in New York City on her way to Vermont, and reluctantly accepts the help of a hard-nosed reporter in tracking him down after being given the runaround from the police....
Night Ride Home
Character: Fran
When a devastating accident tears apart the already frayed marriage of Neal and Nora Mahler, each family member must learn that their own emotions are best dealt with by relying on each other and their bonds as a family....
Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling
Character: Captain Gigi Gardenas
Cagney and Lacey work a case involving police corruption and document forgery. Chris seeks a prestigious promotion, while Mary Beth has to deal with the return of her sickly, aged father....
Blankman
Character: Grandma Walker
Darryl is a childlike man with a genius for inventing various gadgets out of junk. When he stumbles on a method to make his clothes bulletproof, he decides to use his skills to be the lowest budgeted superhero of all....
Lean On Me
Character: Leonna Barrett
When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line....
Random Hearts
Character: Phyllis Bonaparte
After losing their spouses in a plane crash, an internal affairs cop and a congresswoman find each other's keys in each other's loved ones' possessions and discover that the two were having an affair....
Anger Management
Character: Judge Daniels
After a small misunderstanding aboard an airplane escalates out of control, timid businessman Dave Buznik is ordered by the court to undergo anger management therapy at the hands of specialist Dr. Buddy Rydell. But when Buddy steps up his aggressive treatment by moving in, Dave goes from mild to wild as the unorthodox treatment wreaks havoc with his life....
Private Affairs
Character: Mrs. Meeks
A departure from most ABC Afterschool Specials, this one focuses on Madeline Green, a teenage girl who discovers her father's affair with a friend of her mother, and struggles to keep it from tearing her family apart....
Separate But Equal
Character: Ruth Alice Stovall
A dramatization of the events of Brown vs. Board of Education, the American court case that destroyed the legal validity of racial segregation....
The Warriors
Character: D.J.
Prominent gang leader Cyrus calls a meeting of New York's gangs to set aside their turf wars and take over the city. At the meeting, a rival leader kills Cyrus, but a Coney Island gang called the Warriors is wrongly blamed for Cyrus' death. Before you know it, the cops and every gangbanger in town is hot on the Warriors' trail....
Bear in the Big Blue House: Everybody's Special
Character: Luna (voice)
Join Bear and friends for fun and humorous learning...
Bear in the Big Blue House - Party Time with Bear
Character: Luna (voice)
Let your child learn, explore and have fun with this award-winning series. Celebrate good times with Bear and all his friends in three party-hearty episodes that teach sharing, encourage self-expression through movement, and reinforce the value of friendship. In "Mouse Party," everyone gets busy preparing for Tutter's surprise birthday, complete with presents and cake, too. A day of peaceful relaxation turns upside down at "Bear's Birthday Bash," and with a few lessons, Tutter's pals have him ...
Just Cause
Character: Ida Conklin
A Harvard professor is lured back into the courtroom after twenty-five years to take the case of a young black man condemned to death for the horrific murder of a child....
Streets of Fire
Character: Subway Motorwoman
Raven Shaddock and his gang of merciless biker friends kidnap rock singer Ellen Aim. Ellen's former lover, soldier-for-hire Tom Cody, happens to be passing through town on a visit. In an attempt to save his star act, Ellen's manager hires Tom to rescue her. Along with a former soldier, they battle through dangerous cityscapes, determined to get Ellen back....
Tintypes
Character:
Debuting on Broadway in 1980, Tintypes is a musical review featuring songs from the early twentieth century providing the audience with a look into that turbulent time in American history. Nominated for three Tony Awards, and winner of several Obie Awards, this production stars Carolyn Mignini, Lynne Thigpen, Trey Wilson, Mary Catherine Wright, and Jerry Zaks....
Pretty Poison
Character: Jane Azenauer
A clueless cheerleader falls for a mysterious young man who tells her he's a secret agent. But the truth is much simpler and darker....
The Paper
Character: Janet
Henry Hackett is the workaholic editor of a New York City tabloid. He loves his job, but the long hours and low pay are leading to discontent. Also, publisher Bernie White faces financial straits, and has hatchet-man Alicia Clark—Henry's nemesis—impose unpopular cutbacks....
Fear Stalk
Character: Barbara
A producer from Beverly Hills is shocked when someone steals all of her belongings out of her purse. The thief begins to make threatening phone calls and withdraws money from her accounts. The stalker becomes more and more dangerous until he finally tries to kill the producer....
Impulse
Character: Dr. Gardner
A Los Angeles vice cop, caught between her undercover role as a sex worker and her personal relationships, is thrown into a web of murder and deceit....
Working
Character: Telephone Operator
This musical adaptation of the Studs Terkel book examines the average worker's viewpoint--showing that he or she is anything but average. Based on a series of interviews with real working people--construction workers, waitresses, firemen, secretaries, and cleaning women, Working is both an exploration of the individuals' occupations and a lament for lost hopes and dreams....
Flanagan
Character: Woman Cop
Aging New York cabbie Flanagan still has hopes of making it as a stage actor. He can recite any Shakespeare sonnet and is facile with accents, but he can't land an agent or a job. During the course of one summing-it-all-up day, he drives his cab around the city dealing with fare evaders, an insolent stage manager determined to keep him from auditioning for his choice director, his estranged wife who has a new lover, his mistress who seems awfully close to her "drawing teacher", and two teenage s...
Shaft
Character: Carla Howard
New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness....
When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate
Character: Featured Performer
This lively, spirit-lifting musical celebrates the sheer joy -- and survival -- of black music, song and poetry since the days of America's Civil War. With utter grace and ease, the gifted eight-member singing ensemble glides from gospel to disco and from slave-quarter sermons to contemporary black poetry....
Sweet Liberty
Character: Claire
Michael Burgess is an academic who has written a scholarly book on the American Revolution which Hollywood has bought the film rights to. The arrival of the film crew seriously disrupts him as actors want to change their characters, directors want to re-stage battles, and he becomes infatuated with Faith who will play the female lead in the movie. At the same time, he is fighting with his crazy mother who thinks the Devil lives in her kitchen, and his girlfriend who is talking about commitment....
Bicentennial Man
Character: Female President
Richard Martin buys a gift, a new NDR-114 robot. The product is named Andrew by the youngest of the family's children. "Bicentennial Man" follows the life and times of Andrew, a robot purchased as a household appliance programmed to perform menial tasks. As Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought, the Martin family soon discovers they don't have an ordinary robot....
Running on Empty
Character: Contact at Eldridge St.
The Popes are a family who haven't been able to use their real identity for years. In the late sixties, the parents set a weapons lab afire in an effort to hinder the government's Vietnam war campaign. Ever since then, the Popes have been on the run with the authorities never far behind. Their survival is threatened when their eldest son falls in love with a girl, and announces his wish to live his life on his own terms....
Hello Again
Character: Reporter #2
A suburban housewife chokes to death and is brought back to life by a spell cast by her wacky sister....
A Mother's Instinct
Character: "Mike" Wheelwright
Holly Mitchell a divorcee, remarries widower, Carl Gibbons, the father of two small boys. When she begins to question his past, he disappears with the boys. She then learns that the boys' mother is still alive, having been deserted five years ago. The two 'wives' join forces to find him and the boys....