Lee Chamberlin was a talented and versatile actress who appeared in many stage, film and television productions. She is best known for her roles in the comedy film Uptown Saturday Night, the educational series The Electric Company, and the soap opera All My Children. She passed away on May 25, 2014, at the age of 76, after a long struggle with cancer. Here is a brief overview of her life and career, as well as the details of her cause of death.
Early Life and Career
Lee Chamberlin was born as Alverta LaPallo on February 14, 1938, in New York City. She was the daughter of Ida Roberta (née Small) and Brazilian author Bernando LaPallo, who lived to be 114 years old. She began her career in 1968 in a stage production of Slave Ship, based on the work of LeRoi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka. She then appeared in several musicals and plays, including Do Your Own Thing, The Believers, and King Lear, opposite James Earl Jones.
Film and Television Roles
Chamberlin made her film debut in 1974 in Uptown Saturday Night, where she played Madame Zenobia, the hostess of an underground nightclub and casino. She also appeared in the sequel, Let’s Do It Again, in 1975. She was a regular performer on the first two seasons of The Electric Company, a children’s series that taught reading and grammar skills. She left the show in 1973 to pursue other projects. She also had guest appearances on various shows, such as What’s Happening!!, Diff’rent Strokes, NYPD Blue, and The Practice. In 1979, she played the wife of James Earl Jones’s character on the short-lived police drama Paris. She also portrayed Odile Harris in Roots: The Next Generations, a miniseries that followed the descendants of Kunta Kinte. From 1982 to 1990, she played Pat Baxter, the mother of Angela Baxter Hubbard, on All My Children.
Writing and Directing
Chamberlin was also a writer and a director. She won six AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Black Theater in 1988 for her musical play Struttin’, which she also directed. She wrote and acted in her one-woman play Objects in the Mirror are Closer than They Seem, which was performed in Miami and Ithaca. She also founded a non-profit organization, Lee Chamberlin’s Playwrights’ Inn Project Inc., which aimed to nurture the work of African American playwrights. She established the project in France, where she lived for many years.
Cause of Death
Chamberlin died of metastatic cancer on May 25, 2014, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, according to her son Matthew. She was visiting him at the time of her death. She was survived by her son, two grandchildren, and a brother. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her death was announced by her former co-star Rita Moreno, who paid tribute to her on Twitter. She wrote: “God bless dear, sweet Lee Chamberlin, my Electric Company colleague, who passed away this weekend. A lovely actress and wonderful human being.” Many fans and friends also expressed their condolences and admiration for her work.
Lee Chamberlin was a remarkable actress who left a lasting impression on many audiences. She was also a creative and passionate writer and director who contributed to the development of black theater. She fought bravely against cancer until the end. She will be remembered for her talent, her grace, and her spirit.
