Latest news with #Generations
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Lynn Hamilton, veteran actor and dignified foil to Redd Foxx on ‘Sanford and Son,' dies at 95
Lynn Hamilton, an actor who made her mark on 'Sanford and Son' and 'The Waltons' and appeared in 132 episodes of 'Generations,' the first Black daytime drama, has died. Hamilton died Thursday surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers, her former manager and publicist the Rev. Calvin Carlson said in an announcement Sunday on social media. 'Her passing marks the end of an era,' Carlson wrote, 'but her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations.' Born Alzenia Lynn Hamilton on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Miss., and raised from age 12 in Chicago, she studied acting at the Goodman Theatre and later earned a bachelor of arts degree. She didn't see much success until she hit New York City, where she was in shows on Broadway and off and did Shakespeare in the Park. Hamilton was the first cast member onstage in the 1959 production of 'Only in America,' which featured a young Alan Alda at what is now the James Earl Jones Theatre. By the time the 1960s rolled around, she had joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre, where she met her husband, poet-playwright Frank Jenkins. They moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and by 1972 she had landed the recurring role of Donna Harris, actor Redd Foxx's nurse girlfriend and later his fiancée on 'Sanford and Son.' Makeup made her look older than she was, as Foxx — who died in 1991 — was eight years her senior. 'I like the show,' Hamilton said in an October 1972 interview. 'I think what the world needs is to laugh more and to love more and 'Sanford and Son' helps. On Friday night, when the show is on, I can hear the laughter coming at the same time from all the homes around me.' Hamilton told actor-singer-author Demetris Dennis Taylor, a.k.a. Big Meach (no relation to the Black Mafia Family founder), on his online talk show 'Dishing Tea' that she was chosen for the role from about '100 other actresses in Hollywood' who auditioned. She said raunchy comedian Foxx was 'impressed with my experience and he always said, 'You're so dignified' and 'I need somebody dignified opposite me.' 'He was aware of his, what, his earthiness, shall we say.' On 'The Waltons' she played Verdie Grant Foster, a character whose grandparents had been enslaved. Hamilton told Big Meach that Verdie was a role she was proud of because 'she proved that you can improve yourself at any time in your life. When we first see her ... she's a successful, accomplished wife and mother and had a good job and was well respected, but she couldn't read. And of course John-Boy [played by Richard Thomas] taught her how to read. ' Learning, Hamilton said, 'opened up a whole new world' for the character. The Verdie role recurred over the nine seasons the show ran. Hamilton won an NAACP Image Award for her 1984 performance in the original production of Christine Houston's play '227' at Marla Gibbs' Crossroads Theater in Los Angeles. She and Gibbs alternated in the play's female lead role. In 1985, she was proclaimed half of the 'most amusing twosome' in Celeste Walker's 'Reunion in Bartersville,' a play about members of a Black, small-town Texas high school's Class of 1933 who reunite 50 years down the line. Hamilton played nightclub owner Pollina, who brings along a 28-year-old spouse — the character's fifth husband. 'As a light vehicle for older black actors, [the play] runs like a well-tuned sports car,' The Times said in its review. Hamilton helped raise money in 1987 for skid row's Midnight Mission, joining in a benefit performance of Studs Terkel's 'Hard Times' at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Her castmates were Tyne Daly, John Lithgow, Martin Sheen, Ned Beatty, Barry Bostwick, Nan Martin, Doris Roberts and — wait for it — Little Richard. Husband and wife collaborated frequently, and as the new century began, Hamilton directed 'Driving While Black in Beverly Hills,' written by Jenkins. Set in 1970, it addressed racial profiling: The success and social status of the play's protagonist mean nothing to the police who target him and his companions because of their skin color. Hamilton had urged her husband to keep reworking a play he had started writing in 1968 about a wronged Black motorist. Fifteen drafts and 30 years later, that play became 'Driving While Black.' They found a producer in 2000 after a staged reading of the show, and that producer suggested Hamilton direct after learning that she had suggested elements of the reading that he liked. 'Under Lynn Hamilton's focused staging, the fine cast makes the play's earnest, often eloquent articulation of its issues affecting and persuasive,' The Times said in its March 2001 review of the show at the intimate Matrix Theatre on Melrose — though the critic also noted that the play's numerous lengthy speeches undermined its dramatic reality. 'Their partnership was a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication,' manager Carlson wrote Sunday. They also collaborated on the plays 'Nobody' and 'The Bert Williams Story.' Hamilton was still doing episodic TV into the 2000s, notching credits on 'NYPD Blue,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'Cold Case' and more after the turn of the century. Her many other acting gigs included roles in 'Dangerous Women,' 'Roots: The Next Generation,' 'A Dream for Christmas,' 'The Jesse Owens Story,' 'The Practice' and 'Lady Sings the Blues.' In an undated interview taped by her manager, she advised young performers to 'first and foremost, get proper training' in voice and diction. 'I'm amazed at the youngsters today. I can't understand what they're saying,' she said. 'Acting is a form of communication. You are trying to communicate to your audience what it is the playwright has given you to portray. And if I can't understand what you are saying, then everything is lost.'
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Sophie Ndaba to help young designers turn creativity into business at Basha Uhuru
Fashion icon and entrepreneur Sophie Ndaba has curated the Business of Fashion workshop at the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival. Image: Supplied Former "Generations" actress Sophie Ndaba is set to facilitate the Business of Fashion workshop at this year's Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival. This won't be Ndaba's first time hosting a session at the festival; she previously led a wellness workshop, but this time, she's focusing on equipping the youth with a realistic understanding of the fashion industry as a business. 'I always say to young people, it's always about access. When you're part of a brand such as Basha, you already have access to the youth who need this advice,' Ndaba told IOL. 'For me, that was the most exciting part, having direct access to young people who need to be empowered.' The 51-year-old explained that her goal goes beyond simply hosting a fashion show; she wants to offer something lasting and meaningful. 'We want young people to see themselves as a business. Yes, they are creative, but how do they turn that creativity into a sustainable business?' 'It's about empowering young people to be self-sufficient,' she added. Curated by Ndaba herself, the workshop will feature two panels: one consisting of founders from well-known fashion brands such as Otiz Seflo and Tallit Wear; the other will include an advisory panel of industry experts who will guide attendees on matters like business registration and legal compliance. "Young people often think they don't need short-term insurance simply because they're driving a second-hand car; however, if something happens, where will they get the money to replace it? 'When you're running a business, that's when you need to think about things like having a will, not because you're planning for the end, but to protect the empire you're building for your family.' The panel will also feature PR specialist Simpiwe Majola, who will unpack how to transform a business into a recognizable brand. Designers will discuss the tough decisions entrepreneurs face, such as whether to offer ready-to-wear collections or leverage social media as a primary sales channel. They will also weigh the pros and cons of running an online store versus investing in a physical retail space. 'The business of fashion is about long-term thinking, sustainability, and growth. It's about building a brand from the ground up, one that brings consistent cash flow over time,' Ndaba explained. With years of business experience under her belt, from running a catering company to managing a wedding planning business, Ndaba knows the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. 'This workshop is designed to mentally prepare them for the reality of the fashion business: there will be losses, and there will be gains. Are you ready for both?' Having faced personal and professional setbacks, including losing it all, battling depression, and rebuilding from scratch, Ndaba speaks from hard-won experience. 'My journey of loss taught me valuable lessons, especially because I grew up without mentors. No one ever said, 'This is how you run a business.' 'Everything I built was self-taught. I can imagine if I had such mentorship, then where would I be?"
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trust & Will Unveils EstateOS™, the First Intelligent Platform for Modern Legacy Planning -- and Announces Inaugural Generations Conference
SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning platform, today announced the launch of EstateOS™, the nation's first intelligent platform engineered to modernize how legacies are planned, managed, and preserved. Powered by the industry's most comprehensive first-party estate planning data, EstateOS transforms static documents into dynamic, connected, and continuously guided legacy plans that evolve with life. Designed for families, financial advisors, attorneys, nonprofits, and institutions, the platform delivers personalized insights and seamless coordination to ensure every plan stays aligned with life's changes. "EstateOS is more than a product, it's an intelligent system that is redefining how the estate planning industry is served," said Cody Barbo, Co-Founder & CEO of Trust & Will. "It currently supports over one million users, 20,000+ financial advisors, and 200+ institutional partners, tracking $200B+ in self-reported estate assets and 20,000+ planned charitable bequests. It's built to help families keep their plans current through every life stage and deliver value to all stakeholders involved in the legacy journey." For too long, estate planning has relied on static paperwork, infrequent updates, and disconnected professionals. The traditional process ends with a signature; often leaving families vulnerable to outdated plans, fragmented advice, and preventable risk. EstateOS is the next chapter: an intelligent, AI-powered platform that transforms estate planning into a dynamic, connected system for modern legacy management. Flagship features of EstateOS include: Plan Score™ – A dynamic rating system that surfaces personalized opportunities to help individuals understand, strengthen, and optimize their estate plans. Connected Networks – Connects key stakeholders, including beneficiaries, executors, advisors, and attorneys, while facilitating essential services like deed transfers and notaries. Intelligent Assistants – Embedded AI tools offering personalized, actionable guidance for families and professionals alike. Document Extraction & Summarization – Transforms uploaded documents into structured insights to accelerate plan creation and professional workflows. And coming later this year: a steady release of groundbreaking features including the Life Event Engine, the industry's first alert system that proactively notifies users of critical updates needed after life changes like marriage, relocation, birth, or death, bulk document ingestion for professionals, tax strategy simulations, tax and distribution insights, multi-beneficiary scenarios, and open API, MCP, and SDKs for enterprise integration. Introducing Generations: The Future of Planning, Together To celebrate and accelerate this next chapter in estate planning, Trust & Will is also announcing the launch of its inaugural event: Generations. Debuting in October 2025, Generations will convene financial advisors, attorneys, nonprofit leaders, innovators, and policymakers for a landmark summit on the future of wealth, family, and legacy planning. Held on the heels of EstateOS's debut, the conference will showcase the platform's continuous feature rollouts and provide exclusive access to the tools, insights, and partnerships driving the industry's transformation. Generations is more than a gathering; it's a rallying point for innovators, advisors, attorneys, nonprofits, and industry leaders redefining how families plan, protect, and pass on what matters most. A Platform Designed for Every Stakeholder EstateOS is the infrastructure driving Trust & Will's transformation into a lifelong partner in multi-generational wealth planning. For FamiliesEstateOS turns static paperwork into a dynamic, digital legacy plan. Families get one secure place to manage their wishes, track updates in real time, and stay organized through life's milestones. It helps prevent disputes and ensures peace, clarity, and continuity across generations. For Financial Advisors & Wealth ManagersEstateOS equips financial advisors and wealth managers with real-time visibility into client estate plans and AI-powered tools to streamline planning workflows at scale. It helps deepen relationships, strengthen retention, and turn estate planning into a strategic growth driver. With upcoming features like life event intelligence and expanded automation, advisors can stay proactive, connected, and indispensable across generations. For AttorneysEstateOS modernizes estate law practices with intelligent tools like AI-generated summaries, bulk document ingestion, and real-time collaboration with clients and partners. Attorneys can streamline operations, enhance referrals, and stay aligned with clients throughout life's changes. With life event intelligence and additional professional features on the horizon, EstateOS helps legal teams focus more on advising and legacy preservation, and less on administrative lift. For NonprofitsEstateOS brings clarity and insight to planned giving. Nonprofits gain visibility into donor intent, legacy commitments, and stewardship opportunities; surfacing bequests that might otherwise remain hidden. As AI tooling and life event alerts (including posthumous donor triggers) come online, organizations will be empowered to proactively engage supporters, secure legacy gifts, and maximize impact. For Partners & InstitutionsEstateOS enables banks, financial institutions, and wealth firms to integrate estate planning into client experiences. With open APIs, branded tools, and enterprise infrastructure, partners can scale services, deepen engagement, and build generational loyalty. As trillions in wealth change hands, EstateOS puts Trust & Will and its partners at the center of modern legacy planning. AvailabilityEstateOS is live for families, advisors, attorneys, nonprofits, and enterprise partners. To learn more, visit To stay informed about the upcoming Generations conference, visit About Trust & WillFounded in 2017, Trust & Will is the leading digital estate planning platform in the U.S., trusted by over one million individuals and families. Our simple, secure, and attorney-approved online solutions help Americans easily create wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and other essential estate planning documents tailored to state-specific laws. With a focus on easy access and a guided experience, we're transforming how families plan for the future and protect their legacies. Our platform supports 20,000+ registered financial advisors, along with 200+ enterprise partners and financial institutions, including AARP, Fifth Third Bank, LPL Financial, UBS, and USAA. We empower professionals to integrate estate planning into their client services, enabling multi-generational wealth planning. With more than one million users and $200+ billion in self-reported estate assets, Trust & Will is redefining estate planning as a relationship-deepening driver of financial wellness. Recognized for innovation and leadership, Trust & Will has earned spots on the CNBC Disruptor 50, Inc. 5000, and Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ lists. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Trust & Will
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home
'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home originally appeared on Parade. A well-known TV actress has died at her Chicago home at the age of 95. Lynn Hamilton, who had recurring roles on The Waltons and Sanford & Son, died Thursday, June 19, at the age of 95, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hamilton played Redd Foxx's character's girlfriend Donna Harris on Sanford & Son, and the neighbor Ms. Verdie Grant Foster on The Waltons. Additionally, she starred as matriarch Vivian Potter on the NBC soap opera Generations alongside Kelly Rutherford, Joan Pringle, Jonelle Allen and the late Kristoff St. John. Hamilton also starred on the short-lived primetime drama Dangerous Women alongside Katherine Justice and Casper Van Dien. In later years, Hamilton had recurring roles on 227, Sunset Beach and The Practice. She also appeared on such shows as Cold Case, Judging Amy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, NYPD Blue, Murphy Brown and The Golden Girls. In a 2009 interview, Hamilton said that the team behind Sanford & Son was "so impressed" with her day-player role as a landlord that they wrote the part of Foxx's girlfriend just for her. "A month or two later, they decided to give Fred Sanford a girlfriend,' said Hamilton, adding, "[They] needed somebody dignified opposite him; he was aware of his earthliness, shall we say." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamilton was born April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, but her family moved to Chicago when she was 4. She moved to New York in 1956 and appeared on Broadway in Only in America, The Cool World, Face of a Hero and Tambourines to Glory. She joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. Hamilton is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Jenkins, who was a poet and playwright. They married in 1964 and were together until his death in 2014. 'The Waltons' Actress Dies at Her Chicago Home first appeared on Parade on Jun 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'The Waltons' and 'Sanford & Son' star Lynn Hamilton dies at 95 at her Chicago home
Veteran television actress Lynn Hamilton, known for her memorable roles in The Waltons and Sanford & Son, has died at her Chicago home at the age of 95. She died of natural causes on June 19, her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, told The Hollywood Reporter. Hamilton portrayed Donna Harris, the girlfriend of Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford, in Sanford & Son, a role written specifically for her after an impressive day-player performance. She also played Verdie Grant Foster, the Waltons' neighbour and close friend, in the long-running CBS family drama The Waltons. Born on April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Hamilton moved to Chicago with her family as a child. Her stage career began in New York, where she appeared on Broadway in productions including Only in America and Face of a Hero. She later joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1966. Hamilton also starred as Vivian Potter in NBC's soap opera Generations and appeared in Dangerous Women alongside Katherine Justice and Casper Van Dien. Her extensive television career included recurring roles in 227, Sunset Beach, and The Practice, with additional appearances in shows such as Cold Case, NYPD Blue, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Golden Girls. In a 2009 interview, she reflected on her casting in Sanford & Son, explaining that the showrunners needed someone 'dignified' to balance Fred Sanford's brash personality. Hamilton is survived by a lasting legacy in American television. She was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his passing in 2014.
