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Lynne Thigpen

Highest Rated: 96% The Insider (1999)

Lowest Rated: 12% Blankman (1994)

Birthday: Dec 22, 1948

Birthplace: Joliet, Illinois, USA

A powerful and commanding singer and actress, Lynne Thigpen first gained attention on stage in the pop musical "Godspell" and repeated her role in the 1973 film version. She continued to carve out a niche on stage in productions varied as "The Magic Show" (1976) and a Tony-nominated turn in multiple roles in "Tintypes" (1981). Thigpen again played several roles (including an ex-slave and entertainer Moms Mabley) in Off-Broadway's "And I Ain't Finished Yet" before making the most of a small role as a camera operator in the hit comedy film "Tootsie" (1982). Segueing to the small screen, she joined the cast of the NBC sitcom "Love, Sidney" in 1982, playing a secretary and was among the cast of regulars in the summer variety series "The News Is the News" (NBC, 1983). One of her best screen roles came as a black activist determined to oust hard-nosed principal Joe Clark (portrayed by Morgan Freeman) in the biopic "Lean on Me" (1989). That same year, Thigpen portrayed the straight-laced radio station manager in the NBC sitcom "FM." While she continued to act in features ("Bob Roberts" 1992; "Just Cause" 1995) and on stage (notably in "Fences" opposite Billy Dee Williams and a Tony-winning turn as a feminist doctor in "An American Daughter"), she is perhaps best known to children of a certain age as 'The Chief' of the game shows "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" (PBS, 1991-96) and "Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?" (PBS, 1996-98). Fans of daytime television would also remember her for her compelling turn as the grief-stricken Grace Keefer (who kidnapped a baby) in ABC's "All My Children," a role she essayed from 1993 to 1997 while primetime viewers may recognize her from her series parts or recurring roles on "L.A. Law" (as a district attorney) and "thirtysomething." More recently, Thigpen landed the pivotal role of the new employer of tobacco industry whistle-blower Jeffery Wigand in Michael Mann's Oscar-nominated "The Insider" (1999). The following year, she made regular appearances in support of Craig T Nelson in the CBS drama "The District."

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Highest rated movies

96% 90% The Insider Watchlist 91% 81% Tootsie Watchlist
89% 66% The Paper
Watchlist
88% 88% The Warriors
Watchlist
71% 70% Streets of Fire
Watchlist
68% 85% Lean on Me
Watchlist
67% 40% Shaft
Watchlist
63% 71% Godspell
Watchlist
43% 54% Article 99
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42% 39% Naked in New York
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
42% 59% Anger Management Judge Daniels (Character) $133.8M 2003
38% 37% Novocaine Pat (Character) $2.0M 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dinner and a Movie Unknown (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet An American Daughter Dr. Judith B. Kaufman (Character) - 2000
67% 40% Shaft Carla Howard (Character) $70.3M 2000
96% 90% The Insider Mrs. Williams (Character) $29.0M 1999
37% 59% Bicentennial Man President Marjorie Bota (Character) $58.2M 1999
18% 24% Random Hearts Phyllis Bonaparte (Character) $31.1M 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night Ride Home Fran (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chance of a Lifetime Ms. Wood (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pretty Poison Jane Azenauer (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Mother's Instinct 'Mike' Wheelwright (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 88% The Boys Next Door Mrs. Tracy (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling Capt. Gigi Cardenas (Character) - 1995
26% 46% Just Cause Ida Conklin (Character) $35.7M 1995
12% 41% Blankman Grandma Walker (Character) $7.4M 1994
89% 66% The Paper Janet, Henry's Secretary (Character) $36.6M 1994
42% 39% Naked in New York Helen (Character) $1.0M 1993
43% 54% Article 99 Nurse White (Character) $6.2M 1992
33% 18% Impulse Dr. Gardner (Character) $1.4M 1990
68% 85% Lean on Me Leonna Barrett (Character) $28.9M 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rockabye Rica Towne (Character) - 1986
71% 70% Streets of Fire Subway Motorwoman (Character) - 1984
91% 81% Tootsie Jo (Character) - 1982
88% 88% The Warriors D.J. (Character) - 1979
63% 71% Godspell Lynne (Character) - 1973

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bear in the Big Blue House Unknown (Voice) 1997-1999 2001-2003 2005-2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet The District Unknown (Character) 2000-2003
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 1995 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cosby Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 77% King of the Hill Judge (Guest Voice) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Promised Land Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
67% No Score Yet The Preston Episodes Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet 68% The Cosby Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dear John Unknown (Guest Star) 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Lt. Marilyn Fowler (Guest Star) 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet FM Naomi Sayers (Character) 1989-1990
83% No Score Yet thirtysomething Rosie (Guest Star) 1989
76% 78% Roseanne Dr. Bryce (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Frank's Place Unknown (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gimme a Break Unknown (Guest Star) 1985-1986