The amazing Lynne Thigpen has passed away. From AP:LOS ANGELES -- Lynne Thigpen, a Tony Award-winning actress for "An American Daughter" and co-star of the CBS drama "The District," has died, the network said Thursday. She was 54. Thigpen died suddenly Wednesday night in her Los Angeles home. She had been in good health and the cause of death was not immediately known, network spokeswoman Beth Haiken said. Production was shut down Thursday on "The District," which stars Craig T. Nelson as Washington D.C. police chief Jack Mannion. Thigpen played Mannion's secretary, Ella Farmer. "I'm in shock. She was a wonderful actress and a friend," Nelson said in a statement. "We are all in shock and in mourning," said John Wirth, the drama's executive producer. "The beauty, compassion and talent that you saw on the screen was not just superb acting, it was the very essence of this wonderful woman. We will miss her terribly." The 20th episode was in production this week, Haiken said. A total of 22 was planned for the season. "Producers, cast and crew are in mourning and no decision has been made yet about how this will affect the show, because our first concern is Lynne's family," she said. Thigpen, who was born and raised in Joliet, Ill., and later made her home in New York, had a distinguished stage career and also worked steadily in films and television. In 1997, she received the Tony Award for best supporting actress for her role as a black Jewish feminist in Wendy Wasserstein's play "An American Daughter." Thigpen re-created the role in the 2000 TV movie version of the play. She was nominated for a Tony for her role in "Tintypes," and won Obie Awards for "Jar the Floor" and "Boesman and Lena" and an L.A. Drama Critics Award for her work in a Los Angeles production of August Wilson's "Fences." On TV, she portrayed the chief in the PBS series "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" and "Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?" She appeared in the series "thirtysomething" and "L.A. Law" and the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations of "Night Ride Home" and "The Boys Next Door." Her film credits included "The Insider," "Shaft," "Random Hearts," "Lean on Me," "Bob Roberts" and "Tootsie" and the current "Anger Management." Details on survivors and funeral services were not immediately available. Lynne was a wonderful woman. I met her a few years back through her longtime gentleman friend Larry (husband in all but paperwork and government sanction) and she was a true delight. Intelligent, fast on the draw, and everything you could ever want in a dinner companion, filled with stories of her own, yet eager to hear about yours. A few years back, I was at a party she threw at her home in New York, with Peter Riegert, Denny Dillon, and Wendy Wasserstein to celebrate both Christmas and her birthday. It is hard to imagine a more gracious hostess. (It also remains the only time I've spontaneously heard "Happy Birthday" sung spontaneously in four part harmony.) There was also the time I was at a party with Simon Jones (who she worked with on The News Is The News and remained good friends with) and Douglas Adams (who worked with Simon on The HitchHikers Guide To The Galaxy) and she was laughing as hard as anybody there. I'd invited Larry, she brought Lynne, Douglas brought Simon, and surprise! "What are you doing here?" etc. She was incredibly well-read. Never mind the audiobooks she performed-- Toni Morrison's Jazz was her first audiobook, but she also did Maya Angelou, Mildred Taylor, Virginia Hamilton, Ernest J. Gaines, and Zora Neale Hurston-- she also read science fiction a lot, I remember talking to her about the new Asimov book she'd read and I hadn't. And yes, she even showed up in a Star Trek audiobook. The word that gets bandied about a lot for her is "dignity". That both overstates and understates the case. She had a sense of humor and playfulness that touched everything she did, and it is a testament to her skill as an actress that you wouldn't see it onstage unless the role called for it. The word that I would use is "richness"-- richness in voice, talent, humor, wisdom, spirit, and soul. My deepest symapthies to Larry. She will be missed. UPDATE: Larry posted this elsewhere, and I hope he doesn't mind me reposting it here: Dearest Friends, Thank you for all your good thoughts and wishes, condolences and prayers. Lynne Thigpen was an incredible talent as an actress, a shining light of dignity and graciousness as a person and the love of my life for 32 wonderfully happy and exciting years. We will miss her so very, very much.
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Pete Wheeler (1:13 AM on Thu Mar 4, 2004)
I had the pleasure of meeting Lynne at the launch party for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy CD-ROM. I recognized her immediately (from her work on Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego?) and began talking with her. As the conversation moved from subject to subject, I learned that she and Larry were both avid motorcyclists and we spent the next 40 minutes or more discussing cycles and favorite riding destinations. I will always remember the easy, comfortable way that she spoke, even to a complete stranger. I was quite saddened to hear of her passing. My sympathies go out to Larry and the rest of her family and friends.kenneth (12:53 PM on Thu Apr 7, 2005)
I HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S BEEN OVER 1 YEAR SINCE MRS.THIGPEN UNTIMELY PASSING,BUT TO DATE I AM NOT AWARE OF WHAT CAUSED HER DEATH. DOES ANYONE KNOW?Kathy Colbeck (10:47 AM on Thu Aug 10, 2006)
I have only recently watched reruns of the District and was so impressed with Ms. Thigpen. Then I realized she had passed and I was filled with the sadness one usally feels when family members die. I feel so badly for the people who were lucky enough to work with her - especially Craig T. Nelson because you could tell in the episode where they announced her death that he was totally distraught - and for her family who were lucky to be blessed by her presence. I will continue to watch the District and think of her. As long as someone is thinking about you, you are never forgotten.