Lynne Thigpen's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Bear in the Big Blue House Luna The District Ella Farmer Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? The Chief Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? The Chief FM Naomi Sayers American Playhouse Telephone O… The Ellen Burstyn Show Pam James

Main Movie Roles 2003 - Anger Management 2001 - Novocaine 2000 - Shaft 1999 - The Insider 1999 - Bicentennial Man 1999 - Random Hearts 1995 - Just Cause 1994 - Blankman 1994 - The Paper 1993 - Naked in New York 1992 - Article 99 1992 - Bob Roberts 1990 - Impulse 1989 - Lean On Me 1988 - Running On Empty 1987 - Hello Again 1984 - Streets of Fire 1982 - Tootsie 1979 - The Warriors 1973 - Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew

BIOGRAPHY:

Cherlynne Theresa “Lynne” Thigpen (December 22, 1948 – March 12, 2003) was an American stage and television actress, most famous as "The Chief" in the various Carmen Sandiego television series.

Early life Thigpen was born in Joliet, Illinois, and obtained a degree in teaching. She taught English in high school briefly while studying theatre and dance at the University of Illinois. Thigpen moved to New York City in 1971 to begin her work as a stage actress.
Career Film Her first feature film role was Godspell (1973) co-starring opposite Victor Garber and David Haskell. She appeared notably as the omniscient Radio DJ in The Warriors, and as (Leonna Barrett) the mother of an expelled student in Lean on Me, a story of famous American principal Joe Louis Clark. She had a role in Shaft, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, as the murder victim's mother. She also played the Second President of the world council in Bicentennial Man (1999). Her last film was Anger Management (2003) starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson (which was released only a month following her death and paid tribute to her in the end credits).

Death Thigpen died of cerebral hemorrhage on March 12, 2003 in her Marina del Rey, California home. She was 54 years old. Thigpen had been complaining of headaches for several days. Drugs and foul play were ruled out by the coroner's autopsy, which found "acute cardiac dysfunction, non-traumatic systemic and spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage and hemorrhage in the brain". Thigpen was interred at Elmhurst Cemetery in her hometown of Joliet, Illinois.



TRIVIA:

• The official coroner's report on Lynne's sudden death stated that she died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Lynne had been suffering from severe headaches just days before her fatal attack.
• Has an elementary school in Joliet, Illinois, her home town, named after her.
• Although very well known for many roles, children everywhere know her and will always love her for her popular role in 'Bear In The Big Blue House' as the voice of Luna (The Moon).
• Won two Obie awards for "Boesman and Lena" in 1992 and "Jar the Floor" in 1999.
• Won Broadway's 1997 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "An American Daughter." She was previously nominated in 1981 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) for "Tintypes."