Alaina Reed Hall

Alaina Reed Hall (born Bernice Ruth Reed; November 10, 1946 – December 17, 2009) was an American actress and singer who portrayed Olivia Robinson, Gordon's younger sister, on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street, and Rose Lee Holloway on the NBC sitcom 227.

Early years In the mid-1960s, Reed attended Kent State University where she was active in many stage productions at KSU's E. Turner Stump Theater. These included The Streets of New York; It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!; and The Tragedy of Tragedies — The Life and Death of Tom Thumb The Great.

Alaina sang in a group called Tiny and the Dunnaways, an all girl singing group in Kent. In the fall of 1966, Glenn Lucas, Bob Boettcher and Bruce Rusin with Alaina "Tiny" Reed and Marty Kralik formed "The Velours". In February 1967. They began playing continuously, at the Kove in Kent, Ohio 5 nights a week until December 1968.

Career Reed began her professional career in Philadelphia and off-Broadway productions. She was among the original cast members in the 1974 off-Broadway production of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road. Hall appeared in productions of Hair (Chicago in 1970 and the 1977 revival), Chicago, and Eubie!.

In 1976, she won the role of Olivia on the children's series Sesame Street. Her character was a photographer and the younger sister of Gordon. In 1985, she starred in the Sesame Street movie Follow That Bird, reprising her role as Olivia. That same year, Hall co-starred on the sitcom 227. For a time, she traveled between New York City (where Sesame Street is taped) and Los Angeles (where 227 was taped). She left Sesame Street in 1988.

After 227 ended in 1990, Hall appeared in guest roles on various TV shows, including Herman's Head and Blossom. She also provided the voice for animated characters on Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. In 1995, Hall co-starred on the short-lived WB sitcom Cleghorne!, starring Ellen Cleghorne. The following year, she appeared in the television film The Cherokee Kid. She also had recurring roles on Ally McBeal, Any Day Now, and ER.

In addition to stage and television work, Hall also appeared in roles in feature films including Death Becomes Her (1992), Cruel Intentions (1999), and the 2007 independent feature I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks).

Personal life She was married three times and had two children.

Her first marriage was to Richard Cook, with whom she had two children. The marriage ended in divorce.

In December 1988, Reed married actor Kevin Peter Hall. She met Hall when he was a guest performer on 227. Kevin Hall died in April 1991.

In 2008, Alaina Hall married Tamim Amini. They were married until her death.

Death Hall died of breast cancer at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California on December 17, 2009, at the age of 63.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird Olivia 1992 Death Becomes Her Martha 1993 Me and the Kid Sarah 1999 Cruel Intentions Nurse Olivia 2001 Chasing Sunsets Mrs. Stevens 2003 Scrambled Gert 2006 The Shift Mother 2007 I'm Through with White Girls... Jerri Moore 2007 A-Date Valerie Short film

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1976–1988 Sesame Street Olivia Robinson 59 episodes 1978 Cindy Venus Television film 1978 Baby, I'm Back Jackie Episode: "You Bet Your Wife" 1985–1990 227 Rose Lee Holloway 115 episodes 1991-1993 Harry and the Hendersons Lorraine Hall 7 episodes 1992 Herman's Head Margaret Bracken Episode: "Bracken Up Is Hard to Do" 1992 A Different World Claims Officer #5 Episode: "Occupational Hazards" 1993 Blossom Esther Smith Episode: "Big Doings: Part 2" 1995 Friends The Admissions Woman Episode: "The One with Two Parts: Part 2" 1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Nurse Doris Berkey Episode: "Target: Jimmy Olsen" 1995 Cleghorne! Lena Carlson 15 episodes 1995 The Drew Carey Show Lois Perry Episode: "Pilot" 1996 The Cherokee Kid Ma Holsopple Television movie 1997 The Steve Harvey Show Corinthia Grier Episode: "I Do, I Don't" 1997 Between Brothers Vera Ford Episode: "Family Affair" 1997 NYPD Blue Mrs. Angela Cheevers Episode: "It Takes a Village" 1997–1998 Ally McBeal Judge Elizabeth Witt 3 episodes 1998 Caroline in the City Stanchfield Episode: "Caroline and the Cabbie" 1999 NewsRadio Ms. Rose Dawson Episode: "Apartment" 1998–2000 Any Day Now Aunt Della Watt 2 episodes 2006 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Mrs. Minnie Mayweather Episode: "Loosely Ballroom" 2007 ER Betty Dixon 2 episodes