A veteran actress, Lynn, a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, made her film debut in Shadows (1959) directed by John Cassavetes. Lynn is perhaps best known for her role as "Donna Harris", a registered nurse and Fred's girl on Sanford and Son (1972), from 1972 to 1977. Hamilton also had a recurring role as "Verdie" on The Waltons (1971) and made numerous appearances on such television sitcoms, soap operas and miniseries such as _'227', "Dangerous Women" (1991)_, Generations (1989), Port Charles (1997), Roots: The Next Generations (1979) and The Golden Girls (1985).