Lynn Hamilton, a retired actress who had a recurring role as Donna Harris in "Sanford and Son," died on June 19. She was 95. Hamilton died in her home in Chicago of natural causes, according to aFacebookpost from her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson. More from Variety Sian Barbara Allen, Actor in 'Scream, Pretty Peggy' and 'You'll Like My Mother,' Dies at 78 Harvey Laidman, 'The Waltons' and 'Hawaii Five-O' Director, Dies at 82 Marlene Clark, Who Appeared in 'Sanford and Son' and 'Ganja & Hess,' Dies at 85 "Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film and television actress," he wrote. In addition to "Sanford and Son," the actress held a recurring role on "The Waltons" as Verdie Grant Foster. She also made several TV appearances in sitcoms, soap operas and miniseries including, "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979), "The Golden Girls" (1985), "227" (1985), "Generations" (1989), "Dangerous Women" (1991) and "Port Charles" (1997). Born in Yazoo City, Miss., Hamilton moved with her parents to Chicago Heights, Ill., at 12 years old. She attended Bloom High School but gained acting experience at Goodman Theatre, beginning her career in Chicago's community theater scene. Once she moved to New York in 1956, she made her Broadway debut with the 1959 play "Only in America." She continued to act on stage, appearing in the following plays: "The Cool World," "Face of a Hero" and "Tambourines to Glory." She also spent three years with the New York Shakespeare Festival and was a member of President Kennedy's cultural exchange program, where she toured and performed in "The Miracle Worker" and "The Skin of Our Teeth." In 1966, she joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Once she took her talents on-screen, the first project Hamilton appeared in was John Cassavetes' 1958 drama "Shadows," where she held a background role during a party scene. She then went on to appear in NBC's "Sanford and Son" in the seventh episode of the series as a landlady before being cast in a recurring role as Fred Sanford's girlfriend and fiancée on the TV sitcom. Her character, Donna, was a nurse who frequently cared for Fred (played by Redd Foxx). She worked on the sitcom from 1972 to 1977. While on "Sanford and Son," Hamilton made her debut as Verdie on the drama series "The Waltons." Her recurring role lasted from 1973 to 1981. In between working on both shows, she also appeared in the 1974 films "Hangup" and "Leadbelly" (1976). Her other film credits include "The Jesse Owens Story" (1984), "Legal Eagles" (1986), "The Vanishing" (1993) and "Beah: A Black Woman Speaks" (2003). Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until he died in 2014. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.