Lee Chamberlin

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Lee Chamberlin
Born
Alverta LaPallo

(1938-02-14)February 14, 1938
New York City, U.S.[1]
DiedMay 25, 2014(2014-05-25) (aged 76)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1968–2013
SpouseDaniel Edward Chamberlin (m. 1960; died 1999)[1]

Lee Chamberlin (born Alverta LaPallo;[1] February 14, 1938[1] – May 25, 2014[1]) was an American theatrical, film and television actress.

Early life

Chamberlin was born in New York City. She was the daughter of Ida Roberta (née Small) and Brazilian author Bernando LaPallo.[2] LaPallo was deemed at one point to be the oldest living man in the United States, dying at the claimed age of 114 in Tempe, Arizona, in 2015 although his case has since been disputed.[3][4]

Career

It's little known that Lee Chamberlin's first forays on stage were with the Pearl Primus dance company in Harlem which appears to have been a rite of passage. Prior to her acting career, Lee Chamberlin had a successful career in France as a singer. She was signed to a small label Chez Impact and in 1966 several songs were released that included Tu Vivras Toujours written by (J. Claudric - E. Marnay), Reponds Moi!, J'ai Eu Si Peur, J'Aimerais Tant que Tu sois La and a spirited number Haïlilolilolilolaï (Sven Nilsson - E. Marnay). She performed at L'Olympia in Paris. Once back in the United States she did the jazz circuit touring in The Playboy Clubs nationwide but soon tired of living on the road and being away from her family. Her acting career on stage began playing a Yoruba priestess who jumps into the sea preferring to drown rather than be raped by the slavers on in the 1968 Slave Ship, production at the Brooklyn Academy of Music based on the outline of LeRoi Jones later known as

AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theater on November 21, 1988, for her musical play Struttin’, performed at the Rosetta LeNoire AMAS Repertory Theater. She also appeared in the play Hospice as part of the Womens Series for the 1983-4 Season produced at Woody King Jrs New Federal Theatre then located at The Henry Street Settlement Theatre in Lower Manhattan.[5]

Chamberlin wrote and acted in her one-woman play 'Objects in the Mirror are Closer than They Seem first as a reading in

Miami, Florida, and later in 2010 as part of The Kitchen Theatre's Counter series in Ithaca, New York, from February 10–14 in a sold-out run. The play was directed by Rachel Lampert. Chamberlin founded a non-profit organization, Lee Chamberlin's Playwrights' Inn Project Inc., establishing it in France to nurture the work of African American playwrights.[6]

Chamberlin got her big break in television playing the role of Brenda, Gladys the Glow worm, Vi of Vi's Diner among other characters as part of the original cast of CTW children's show

James at 16
.

In the early 1980s, Chamberlin appeared on The White Shadow. Other guest spots in the 1980s included Ryan's Four and the film Beat Street.[8] in the role of Alicia. In 1994; she played Commander Della Thorne in Viper. In 1998, she played Dr. Timmi in The Practice, and Judge Leslie Battles in To Have and To Hold.

In 1999, Chamberlin made guest appearances on

Diagnosis Murder (television series) as Judge Gwen Mosford. In 2002, she appeared on episodes of Touched by An Angel and Judging Amy.[8]

Chamberlin's first role in film was a small part in Up the Sandbox starring Barbra Streisand.[8] She had a prominent role as Madame Zenobia in the United Artists film directed by Sidney Poitier Uptown Saturday Night and the follow-up Let's Do it Again. She also appeared in several television films including Long Journey Back (1978), Brave New World (1980), and Once Upon A Family (1980). Her final film role was in the award-winning short film Habeaus Corpus (2013) directed by Booker T Mattison. Others in the film included Tim Reid, Chad L. Coleman (The Wire) Jamie Hector (The Wire).[9]

Death

Chamberlin died of cancer at the age of 76 on May 25, 2014, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[1][2] She was survived by a daughter, Erika Chamberlin and a son, Matthew Chamberlin, a sister and two grandchildren.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1970 All at Sea Jim
1972 Up the Sandbox Jan
1974 Uptown Saturday Night Madame Zenobia
1975 Let's Do It Again Dee Dee Williams
1980 Brave New World Head Nurse 3-hour television film
1984 Beat Street Alicia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Slotnick, Daniel E. (June 1, 2014). "Lee Chamberlin, 'Electric Company' Actress, Dies at 76". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b Staff (May 29, 2014). "Actress and Playwright Lee Chamberlin Passes Away at 76". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "BERNANDO LAPALLO, SUPER CENTENARIAN, DEAD AT 114".
  4. ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/oldest-yankees-fan-bernando-lapallo-says-hes-111-but-has-no-proof-of-age/
  5. ^ "Hospice". New Federal Theatre. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Playwrights' Inn Project, Inc - Developing the work of diverse American playwrights". Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  7. ^ Pugh, Megan. "Lee Chamberlin Premier at The Kitchen - The Lansing Star Online". lansingstar.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Lee Chamberlin". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  9. ^ "'Electric Company' Actress Lee Chamberlain Dies at 76". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lee_Chamberlin&oldid=1194833831"