Alaina Reed

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''. Hall died in April 1991 of complications from AIDS-related pneumonia. Hall had contracted HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion during surgery for injuries he sustained in a car accident a year prior.

In 2008, Hall married Tamim Amini. They were married until her death.Alaina Reed Hall dies at 63; actress was Olivia Robinson on 'Sesame Street'
latimes.com

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. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean according to her husband, Tamim Amini. No funeral services were planned.

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reed Hall, Alaina
1946 births
2009 deaths
American musical theatre actresses
American television actresses
American voice actresses
Capitol Records artists
Deaths from breast cancer in California
Musicians from Greater Los Angeles
Actors from Greater Los Angeles
American film actresses
American stage actresses
20th-century African-American women singers
20th-century American singers
20th-century American women singers
20th-century African-American actresses
20th-century American actresses
21st-century African-American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Kent State University alumni
Actresses from Ohio
Singers from Ohio