Waltons and Golden Girls star dies aged 95

Lynn Hamilton, the beloved actress who brought warmth and grace to memorable roles on huge TV shows such as Sanford and Son and The Waltons, has passed away at the age of 95. Her long-time former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, confirmed that Hamilton died peacefully at her home in Chicago on Thursday, of natural causes (Picture: Getty Images)

Hamilton became a familiar face to TV audiences in the 1970s, especially as Donna Harris, Fred Sanford’s kind-hearted girlfriend/fiancée on NBC’s Sanford and Son. She initially appeared on the show in a guest role, but her performance was so well-received that producers created the recurring character of Donna specifically for her. Which is always a huge nod of appreciation to any actor working on the small screen (Picture: Getty Images)

'I among, I don’t know, 100 other actresses in Hollywood auditioned,' she said about securing arguably her most famous role in a 2009 interview. 'I had a screen test… they impressed with my experience. [co-star] Redd Foxx always said, "You’re so dignified and I need somebody dignified opposite me"' (Picture: Getty Images)

Rev. Carson paid tribute to her life and legacy in a Facebook post following her death: 'With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia ‘Lynn’ Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire,' he wrote. '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' (Picture: Getty Images)

Hamilton's acting journey began on stage. Born April 25, 1930, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she moved to Chicago Heights as a child and trained at the Goodman Theater. After relocating to New York in 1956, she made her Broadway debut in the play Only in America. Three years later she landed her first film role in John Cassavetes’ 1959 indie classic Shadows (Picture: Getty Images)

Though best known for her television work, Hamilton appeared in a number of films throughout her long career. These included the likes of Leadbelly, Legal Eagles and The Vanishing. Her last credited screen role came in 2009 on the crime drama Cold Case (Picture: Getty Images)

Alongside her success on Sanford and Son, Hamilton brought real heart to her role as Verdie on The Waltons, appearing on the CBS series from 1973 to 1981. She also made guest appearances on numerous shows, including The Golden Girls, NYPD Blue, Moesha, The Practice and Judging Amy (Picture: Getty Images)

Hamilton shared a long relationship - as well as a lengthy creative partnership - with her husband, the poet and playwright Frank Jenkins. The couple married in 1964 and remained together until his death in 2014, collaborating on several projects including the stage production Nobody: The Bert Williams Story. Carson called their relationship 'a shining example of creativity, love and dedication' (Picture: Getty Images)