Lynne Thigpen - wikipedia Lynne Thigpen This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2013 ) Lynne Thigpen Thigpen as Miss Barrett in the 1989 dramatized biographical film Lean On Me Cherlynne Theresa Thigpen ( 1948 - 12 - 22 ) December 22, 1948 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. March 12, 2003 ( 2003 - 03 - 12 ) ( aged 54 ) Marina del Rey, California, U.S. Cause of death Cerebral Hemorrhage Resting place Elmhurst Cemetery, ( Joliet, Illinois ) Other names Lynne Richmond Education University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Occupation Actress Years active 1971 -- 2003 Awards 1992 Obie Award -- ( Boesman and Lena ) 1997 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play -- ( An American Daughter ) 1999 Obie Award -- ( Jar the Floor ) Cherlynne Theresa `` Lynne '' Thigpen ( December 22, 1948 -- March 12, 2003 ) was an American actress, best known for her role as `` The Chief '' of ACME in the various Carmen Sandiego television series and computer games from 1991 to 1997. For her varied television work, Thigpen was nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards ; she won a Tony Award in 1997 for portraying Dr. Judith Kaufman in An American Daughter. Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2.1 Stage 2.2 Film 2.3 Television 2.4 Audio productions 3 Death 3.1 Response and legacy 4 Work 4.1 Stage 4.2 Radio 4.3 Film 4.4 Television 4.5 Software 4.6 Voice 5 Awards and honors 6 References 7 External links Early Life and education Born in Joliet, Illinois, Thigpen obtained a degree in teaching. She taught English in high school briefly while studying theatre and dance at the University of Illinois. Career Stage Thigpen moved to New York City in 1971 to begin her career as a stage actress. She had a long and prolific theater career and appeared in numerous musicals including Godspell, The Night That Made America Famous, The Magic Show, Working, Tintypes, and An American Daughter ( for which she won her Tony Award for her portrayal of Dr. Judith Kaufman in 1997 ). Film Her first feature film role was as Lynne in Godspell ( 1973 ), co-starring opposite Victor Garber and David Haskell. Thigpen also portrayed a radio DJ ( shown only from the nose down ) in Walter Hill 's The Warriors ( 1979 ), and Leonna Barrett, the mother of an expelled student, in Lean on Me ( 1989 ), the story of famous American high school principal Joe Louis Clark. She had a role in the remake of Shaft ( 2000 ) ( as Carla Howard, the mother of a murder victim ), and played the Second President of the World Congress in Bicentennial Man ( 1999 ). Her last film was Anger Management ( 2003 ), starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson ( which was released only a month after her death and paid tribute to her in the end credits ). Television Thigpen was perhaps best known for playing Luna in the television show, Bear in the Big Blue House as well as `` The Chief '' of the ACME Detective Agency in the long - running PBS children 's geography game show Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego ?, which involves both education and comedy, and, on occasion, musical performance. She remained The Chief in the successor show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego ?, but of ACME Time Net. She also appeared in many other television series during her career, most notably in a recurring role as Grace Keefer on the ABC daytime drama All My Children and a supporting role as Ella Mae Farmer, a crime analyst for the Washington, D.C. police department, on the CBS crime drama The District. She guest - starred in episodes of Gimme A Break !, L.A. Law, Law & Order, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Homicide : Life on the Street, and Thirtysomething, and was a regular cast member on the short - lived NBC sketch comedy series The News Is the News. Audio productions She appeared in radio skits of the Garrison Keillor program The American Radio Company of the Air. Her voice was also heard on over 20 audio books, primarily works with socially relevant themes. Death Thigpen died of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 12, 2003, in her Marina del Rey, California home after complaining of headaches for several days. She was 54 years old. 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. '' She was entombed next to her parents at Elmhurst Cemetery in her hometown Joliet, Illinois. Response and legacy When Thigpen died, the Season 3 finale of The District had a tribute to her character Ella Mae Farmer. Thigpen 's death also led to a three - year hiatus of Bear in the Big Blue House, and a planned film version of Bear was put on hold. Two years after Thigpen 's death, Bear star, Tara Mooney, who played the character Shadow, stated in an interview with Ray D'Arcy on Today FM, `` The crew 's hearts just were n't in it anymore ''. Thigpen was posthumously nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for voicing Luna the moon in Bear in the Big Blue House, but she lost to Jeff Corwin for his wildlife reality series The Jeff Corwin Experience. Thigpen 's friends and family established a non-profit foundation, The Lynne Thigpen - Bobo Lewis Foundation, to help young actors and actresses learn how to survive and succeed in New York theater and to mentor the next generation of Broadway stars. Her final film, Anger Management ( 2003 ), was dedicated to her memory. Also, Lynne Thigpen Elementary School in her hometown ( Joliet, IL ) was named in her honor. Work Stage Godspell : 1973 The Night That Made America Famous : 1975 The Magic Show : 1976 Working But Never Jam Today : 1979 Tintypes : 1980 -- 81 Fences by August Wilson : 1988 Boesman and Lena by Athol Fugard : Obie award, 1992 A Month of Sundays Wendy Wasserstein 's An American Daughter : 1996 -- 97 ( Tony Award 1997 ) Jar the Floor Playhouse Disney Live on Stage ! / Bear in the Big Blue House Live on Stage as Luna the Moon Radio A Prairie Home Companion ( 1989 ) Film Godspell ( 1973 ) The Warriors ( 1979 ) ( She appears as the radio announcer, only her lips are seen. ) Tootsie ( 1982 ) Streets of Fire ( 1984 ) ( She appears as a subway train engineer, reading in her train ; brief dialogue with the main character. ) Sweet Liberty ( 1986 ) Lean on Me ( 1989 ) Article 99 ( 1992 ) Bob Roberts ( 1992 ) The Paper ( 1994 ) Blankman ( 1994 ) Just Cause ( 1995 ) Random Hearts ( 1999 ) The Insider ( 1999 ) Bicentennial Man ( 1999 ) Shaft ( 2000 ) Novocaine ( 2001 ) Anger Management ( 2003 ) -- posthumously released Television Hallmark Hall of Fame The Boys Next Door as Mrs. Tracy Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego ? as The Chief Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego ? as The Chief Sesame Street as Worm Air and Space Agency ( WASA ) Training Officer The District as Chief Jack Mannion 's Director of Administration, Ella Farmer All My Children as nurse Grace Keefer, aunt of Noah ( played by Keith Hamilton Cobb ) thirtysomething L.A. Law FM Law & Order as Judge Ida Boucher Bear in the Big Blue House as Luna Frank 's Place as the `` good '' voodoo woman who helps Frank evict a `` bad '' voodoo female tenant, played by Rosalind Cash King of the Hill as a judge who hears the case when Hank disputes a credit card charge over nonexistent movies he never ordered Roseanne as Dr. Brice The Cosby Show Homicide : Life on the Street as Regina Wilson Gimme A Break as Loretta Harper Software Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego ? as The Chief Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego ? as The Chief Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego ? as The Chief Bear in the Big Blue House : Bear 's Sense of Adventure as Luna the moon Voice America 's War on Poverty, PBS All God 's Children Need Traveling Shoes, by Maya Angelou Reading Rainbow The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, by Ernest J. Gaines Bear in the Big Blue House, as Luna The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison The House of Dies Drear, by Virginia Hamilton Jazz, by Toni Morrison One Better, by Rosalyn McMillan Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler Paradise, by Toni Morrison People of the Century, by Time magazine editors Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison Sula, by Toni Morrison Tar Baby, by Toni Morrison Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston The Trials of Nikki Hill, by Christopher Darden and Dick Lochte Zeely, by Virginia Hamilton The Women of Brewster Place, by Gloria Naylor 2000X : Tales of the Next Millennia, science fiction collection The Street, by Ann Petry Awards and honors Awards 1992 Obie Award -- Boesman and Lena 1997 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play -- An American Daughter 2000 Obie Award -- Jar the Floor Nominations 1987 Los Angeles Drama Critics Award -- Fences 1994, 1995, 1996 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children 's Series - Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego ? 1996 NAACP Image Awards for Informational Youth or Children 's Series / Special -- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego ? 1997 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series -- All My Children 1997, 1998 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children 's Series - Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego ? 2000 AudioFile Awards Golden Voices for the Year 2004 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children 's Series -- Bear in the Big Blue House ( Posthumously nominated ) Honors Lynne Thigpen Elementary School, Joliet, IL References Jump up ^ `` Actress Lynne Thigpen, 54, Dies In Los Angeles '', Jet, March 31, 2005, p. 53. Jump up ^ `` A Prairie Home Companion Timeline ''. Prairiehome.publicradio.org. July 6, 1974. Retrieved January 29, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Muppet Central Articles - Tributes : Lynne Thigpen ''. Muppetcentral.com. March 13, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2013. Jump up ^ The Associated Press ( March 14, 2003 ). `` Lynne Thigpen, Actress in CBS 's ' District, ' Dies at 54 ''. New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Lynne Thigpen School ''. Joliet86.org. Retrieved January 29, 2013. External links Biography portal Lynne Thigpen at the Internet Broadway Database Lynne Thigpen at Internet Off - Broadway Database Lynne Thigpen on IMDb Lynne Thigpen at the TCM Movie Database Lynne Thigpen Godspell Tributes Page Lynne Thigpen at Find a Grave Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play Patricia Neal ( 1947 ) Shirley Booth ( 1949 ) Maureen Stapleton ( 1951 ) Marian Winters ( 1952 ) Beatrice Straight ( 1953 ) Jo Van Fleet ( 1954 ) Patricia Jessel ( 1955 ) Una Merkel ( 1956 ) Peggy Cass ( 1957 ) Anne Bancroft ( 1958 ) Julie Newmar ( 1959 ) Anne Revere ( 1960 ) Colleen Dewhurst ( 1961 ) Elizabeth Ashley ( 1962 ) Sandy Dennis ( 1963 ) Barbara Loden ( 1964 ) Alice Ghostley ( 1965 ) Zoe Caldwell ( 1966 ) Marian Seldes ( 1967 ) Zena Walker ( 1968 ) Jane Alexander ( 1969 ) Blythe Danner ( 1970 ) Rae Allen ( 1971 ) Elizabeth Wilson ( 1972 ) Leora Dana ( 1973 ) Frances Sternhagen ( 1974 ) Rita Moreno ( 1975 ) Shirley Knight ( 1976 ) Trazana Beverley ( 1977 ) Ann Wedgeworth ( 1978 ) Joan Hickson ( 1979 ) Dinah Manoff ( 1980 ) Swoosie Kurtz ( 1981 ) Amanda Plummer ( 1982 ) Judith Ivey ( 1983 ) Christine Baranski ( 1984 ) Judith Ivey ( 1985 ) Swoosie Kurtz ( 1986 ) Mary Alice ( 1987 ) L. Scott Caldwell ( 1988 ) Christine Baranski ( 1989 ) Margaret Tyzack ( 1990 ) Irene Worth ( 1991 ) Bríd Brennan ( 1992 ) Debra Monk ( 1993 ) Jane Adams ( 1994 ) Frances Sternhagen ( 1995 ) Audra McDonald ( 1996 ) Lynne Thigpen ( 1997 ) Anna Manahan ( 1998 ) Elizabeth Franz ( 1999 ) Blair Brown ( 2000 ) Viola Davis ( 2001 ) Katie Finneran ( 2002 ) Michele Pawk ( 2003 ) Audra McDonald ( 2004 ) Adriane Lenox ( 2005 ) Frances de la Tour ( 2006 ) Jennifer Ehle ( 2007 ) Rondi Reed ( 2008 ) Angela Lansbury ( 2009 ) Scarlett Johansson ( 2010 ) Ellen Barkin ( 2011 ) Judith Light ( 2012 ) Judith Light ( 2013 ) Sophie Okonedo ( 2014 ) Annaleigh Ashford ( 2015 ) Jayne Houdyshell ( 2016 ) Cynthia Nixon ( 2017 ) Carmen Sandiego Games Broderbund World ( 1985 ) U.S.A. ( 1986 ) Europe Time North Dakota America 's Past Space Junior Detective World ( 1996 ) U.S.A. ( 1996 ) Great Chase Through Time Word Detective Math Detective The Learning Company ThinkQuick Challenge Treasures of Knowledge The Secret of the Stolen Drums New Carmen Adventure World ( 2011 ) Adventures in Math Returns Television shows World Time Earth episodes Carmen Sandiego ( 2019 ) Albums World Out of This World Other media World of Music Universe Days Related Carmen Sandiego ( character ) Lauren Elliott VIAF : 70978585 LCCN : no95057787 ISNI : 0000 0001 1769 3008 BNF : cb14232741p ( data ) IATH : w6nm6c2n Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lynne_Thigpen&oldid=812062697 '' Categories : 1948 births 2003 deaths African - American actresses American actresses African - American schoolteachers American schoolteachers American film actresses American soap opera actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Actresses from Illinois Obie Award recipients Actors from Joliet, Illinois University of Illinois at Urbana -- Champaign alumni Tony Award winners People from Marina del Rey, California Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from March 2013 All articles needing additional references Pages to import images to Wikidata Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010 Articles with IBDb links Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 25 November 2017, at 19 : 40. 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Question: who played the dj in the movie the warriors
Answer: Cherlynne Theresa "Lynne" Thigpen