BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Alaina Reed Hall (November 10, 1946 – December 17, 2009) was an American actress best known for her roles as Olivia, Gordon's younger sister, on the long-running children's television series Sesame Street, and as Rose Lee Holloway on the NBC sitcom 227.
Early life and career
Born Bernice Ruth Reed in Springfield, Ohio, she began her career in Philadelphia and off-Broadway productions. She was among the original cast members in the 1974 off-Broadway production of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road. Hall appeared in productions of Hair (Chicago in 1970 and the 1977 revival),[1] Chicago, and Eubie!.[2]
In 1976, she won the role of Olivia on the children's series Sesame Street. Her character was a photographer and the kid sister of Gordon. In 1985, she also starred in the first ever Sesame Street movie Follow That Bird, reprising her role as Olivia. That same year, Hall co-starred on the sitcom 227, frequently traveling between New York City (where Sesame Street is taped) and Los Angeles(where 227 was taped). Due to this schedule, she left Sesame Street in 1988.
After 227 ended in 1990, Hall appeared in guest roles on various TV shows, including Herman's Head and Blossom. She also provided the voice for the animated characters on Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? and Sonic the Hedgehog. In 1995, Hall co-starred on the short-lived WB sitcom Cleghorne!, starring Ellen Cleghorne. The following year she appeared in the television film The Cherokee Kid. She has since had recurring roles on Ally McBeal, Any Day Now, and ER.
In addition to stage and television work, Hall has also appeared in some films including Death Becomes Her (1992), Cruel Intentions(1999), and the 2007 independent feature I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks). She also appeared in the short film A-Date, written by comedian Tim Powers.
Personal life and death
Hall was married three times. Her first marriage, which produced two children, ended in divorce. In December 1988, she married actorKevin Peter Hall after meeting him when he guest starred on 227.[3] She was widowed in 1991 after her husband died of pneumonia from AIDS complications after receiving a blood transfusion.[4][5]
In 2008, Hall married television director Tamim Amini.[6] On December 17, 2009, Hall died of breast cancer in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 63.[6] Her body was cremated and her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.[citation needed] Prior to her death, she was in talks to return to her famous role on Sesame Street since the cancelation of 227.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird | Olivia | |
| 1992 | Death Becomes Her | Psychologist | |
| 1993 | Me and the Kid | Sarah | |
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Nurse | |
| 2001 | Chasing Sunsets | Mrs. Stevens | |
| 2003 | Scrambled | Gert | |
| 2006 | The Shift | Mother | |
| 2007 | I'm Through with White Girls... | Jerri Moore | |
| 2007 | A-Date | Valerie | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976–1988 | Sesame Street | Olivia | Episodes 926–2485 |
| 1978 | Baby, I'm Back | Jackie | 1 episode |
| 1985–1990 | 227 | Rose Lee Holloway | 115 episodes |
| 1992 | Herman's Head | Margaret Bracken | 1 episode |
| 1992 | A Different World | Claims Officer #5 | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Blossom | Esther | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Additional voices | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | Friends | Admissions Woman | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Nurse Berkey | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Cleghorne! | Lena Carlson | 15 episodes |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show | Lois | 1 episode |
| 1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Ma Holsopple | Television movie |
| 1997 | The Steve Harvey Show | Corinthia Grier | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Between Brothers | Vera Ford | 1 episode |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Mrs. Angela Cheevers | 1 episode |
| 1997–1998 | Ally McBeal | Judge Elizabeth Witt | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Caroline in the City | Stanchfield | 1 episode |
| 1999 | NewsRadio | Landlady | 1 episode |
| 1998–2000 | Any Day Now | Aunt Della Watt | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Mrs. Mayweather | 1 episode |
| 2007 | ER | Betty Dixon | 2 episodes                                                                         |
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