Lynne Thigpen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lynne Thigpen
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Thigpen as Miss Barrett in the 1989 film Lean On Me
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Cherlynne Theresa Thigpen
December 22, 1948 Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | March 12, 2003 (aged 54) |
| Resting place | Elmhurst Cemetery, Joliet, Illinois |
| Other names | Lynne Richmond |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1971–2003 |
| Television | The Chief in Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? |
| Awards | 1992 Obie Award – (Boesman and Lena) 1997 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – (An American Daughter) 1999 Obie Award – (Jar the Floor) |
Cherlynne Theresa Thigpen (December 22, 1948 – March 12, 2003) was an American actress. She was famous for her roles on stage, in movies, and on TV.
Many young people remember her as "The Chief" from the popular game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. She also voiced "Luna" (The Moon) in the children's series Bear in the Big Blue House. Lynne Thigpen won a Tony Award in 1997 for her acting in the play An American Daughter. She also played Ella Farmer on the TV show The District.
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Early life and education
Lynne Thigpen was born in Joliet, Illinois, a city near Chicago. Her parents were George and Celia Thigpen.
She first studied to become a teacher. She even taught high school English for a short time. While teaching, she also studied theater at the University of Illinois. She received a special scholarship for acting.
Career highlights
Lynne Thigpen had a very busy and successful career. She worked in theater, movies, and television.
Stage performances
In 1971, Thigpen moved to New York City. This is where she started her acting career on stage. She performed in many musicals and plays. Some of her famous musicals include Godspell and The Magic Show.
She won a special award called a Tony Award in 1997. This was for her role as Dr. Judith Kaufman in the play An American Daughter.
Film roles
Lynne Thigpen's first movie was Godspell in 1973. She played a character named Lynne. She also appeared in the movie The Warriors (1979).
Another memorable role was Leonna Barrett in Lean on Me (1989). This movie was about a high school principal named Joe Louis Clark. Her last movie was Anger Management (2003). It was released after she passed away and included a tribute to her.
Television appearances
Lynne Thigpen was best known for her TV roles. She played "The Chief" in the PBS children's show Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. This show taught kids about geography. She also played The Chief in the follow-up show Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?.
Another popular role was Luna, the voice of the moon, in Bear in the Big Blue House. She also appeared in many other TV series. These included All My Children and The District. On The District, she played Ella Mae Farmer, a crime analyst.
Voice work and computer games
Lynne Thigpen's voice was also used in many audio books. These books often had important social messages.
She also brought her character "The Chief" to life in computer games. She played The Chief in three Carmen Sandiego computer games. These included Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? and Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. She recorded many videos for these games. People often praised her performances in them.
Later life and passing
Lynne Thigpen passed away on March 12, 2003. She was at her home in Marina del Rey, California. Doctors found that she had a cerebral hemorrhage. She was buried in Elmhurst Cemetery in her hometown of Joliet, Illinois.
Awards and honors
Lynne Thigpen received several awards for her amazing acting.
- Awards
- 1992 Obie Award – Boesman and Lena
- 1997 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – An American Daughter
- 2000 Obie Award – Jar the Floor
- Nominations
- 1994, 1995, 1996 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series – Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
- 1997 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series – All My Children
- 1997, 1998 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series – Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?
- 2004 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series – Bear in the Big Blue House (nominated after her passing)
- Honors
- A school in Joliet, Illinois, was named after her: Lynne Thigpen Elementary School.
