Trivia

She met actor Kevin Peter Hall when he appeared on her show 227 (1985). Their characters married on the show and the couple later married in real life and had two children. Kevin became HIV-positive as a result of a blood transfusion and died of an AIDS-related cancer in 1991.

Has overcome many of life's obstacles: She came from a broken home; withstood emotional and physical abuse during her first marriage, which ended in divorce; and suffered the tragic loss of her second husband to AIDS. She has appeared in inspirational one-woman shows, including "Alaina at the Bijou.".

Best known for playing Olivia, Gordon's kid sister and neighbor of Gordon and Susan, on Sesame Street (1969). She left the show in 1988.

Once replaced Jennifer Holliday with a day's notice in the role of "Effie" in Michael Bennett's workshop production of "Dreamgirls".

Began her love for music as a young member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, in her native Springfield, Ohio. She was also a drummer in her school's marching band.

Attended Kent State University, then moved to Chicago where she landed her first stage role in the musical "Hair".

The former Sesame Street (1969) cast member combined her love for children and her musical talents to co-write and co-produce the Fox Children's home video "Learning Can be Fun.".

Best friend of Marla Gibbs.

When she moved to New York in the 1970s, she supported herself by working at Bloomingdale's during the day while trying to find singing parts in shows at night.

She appeared in such Broadway musicals as "Eubie!" "Chicago," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road" and the 1977 revival of "Hair." Off-Broadway she sang in William Finn's "In Trousers" and "A...My Name Is Alice.".