Alaina Reed Hall of 'Sesame Street' and '227' Dies at 63

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 21st 2009 12:17PM

Alaina Reed Hall, the kind-faced actress best known as Olivia on 'Sesame Street' who later starred on '227,' died Dec. 17 in Los Angeles after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, the Springfield News-Sun reported. She was 63.

Beginning in 1976 and running up until the late 1980s, Hall was known to millions of children as photographer Olivia on the PBS show. She told the News-Sun in 2004 it was "the best job I ever had."

In 1985, she was cast in the urban sitcom '227' as Rose, the go-to friend in the neighborhood. The cast also included the always-sassy Jackée Harry and ran for five seasons.

After '227' left the airwaves in 1990, Hall made several guest appearances in shows such as 'Blossom' before scoring a lead role on the short-lived sitcom 'Cleghorne!' in 1995.

Her film credits include 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Cruel Intentions.'

Hall was also a talented singer, having began her career on Broadway ('Hair,' 'Chicago') and released a single, 'Bad for My Head,' in 1972.

'Sesame Street'

'227'

Tags: alaina reed hall, AlainaReedHall

Comments

(76)

Monday 21 December

By george staples

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She was a very nice lady and actress on 227! She was married to the gentleman that did play the Character in Harry and the Hendersons, as well as the Predator character (1 and 2). Peter David Hall!! May she rest in Peace!!

By Nawty

I loved and admired her so very much and wished I could sing like her. She will be greatly missed. By the way, Her husband's name was Kevin Peter Hall.

By persiancatstoo

SO many talented people from SS are gone now. Olivia, David, Mr Hooper. My kids are in their late 20's & watched SS in English, French and Spanish.

By Iris

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Alaina Reed Hall was immnensely talented. She brought so much joy to a lot of people's lives. And gave me some of my best childhood memories from tv. She will be greatly missed.

By Linda

Awww...who could forget her on Sesame Street?! Never! I watched her with my children as they grew up. She left this world at such a young age still, and that is a pity. She shall be missed. God bless her.

By LisaK

How sad!! Her battle is over, may she rest in peace.

By outlawsgun

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ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE REMEMBER WHEN THE OLD GROCERY STORE OWNER DIED. ONE OF THE FEW EPISODES I WATCHED. ONLY BECAUSE MY SISTER HAD CONTROL OF THE TV THAT HOUR.

By Babs Klein

I remember Alaina fondly singing at the Grand Finale and Reno Sweeney in New York City in the mid-seventies. She had this huge voice and one of the best shows in town...always a sell out. One of my favorites she sang was "grandma's hands" ...she always sang from her gut...a great performer who will be missed.

By Bruce

Ah, so sad to hear of her passing. I remember her and her beaded braids on 'Sesame Street' and she truly parlayed her TV career into something special. It can't have been easy losing her husband and soldiering on, which she did. Rest in peace Ms. Hall!

By onewithspirit2

Her husband was not gay! You really should be careful when writing about someone and/or their family. Alicia met Kevin Peter Hall when he appeared on her show "227" in 1985, their characters married on the show and they as a couple married later in real life. They had two children. Kevin became HIV-positive as a result of a blood transfusion and died of an AIDS-related cancer in 1991.

May they both rest in peace. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family.

By rumpdog1

Thank you for the work that you performed with all those kids through the years Rose we love you and we are going to miss you.

By KRIS

WOW, LOOK AT HOW MANY LIVES SHE TOUCHED. I REMEMBER HER FROM MY CHILDHOOD SHE BROUGHT JOY INTO OUR LIVES REST IN PEACE DEAR ONE.

By Chris

Oh I'm sad to hear this!! She was a wonderful actress on 227 and Sesame Street. I practically grew up with her.

By joey the gent

class knows no bounds rest in peace dear one

By leolux10

A 100% POSITIVE board!!! A true testament to her Alaina Reed Hall's integrity, and wholesomeness. R.I.P., Alaina. You are a great loss. Thanks for everything.

By keisha2doll

I'm so choked up right now because I grew up watching Alaina Reed from Seasame Street to 227 on television for years. She is apart of my memories and a very,very, talented singer,dancer, actor and all around performer. I will truly miss her and she will be in my prayers.

By Joshua Seavey

My condolences to her family. Sesame Street was my show when I was little. I learned alot from every character on the show. God bless her soul.

By phil

that sucks. she was such a nice lady

By Ellen

I am sitting here weeping. So sad. Such a loss. Rest in peace Alaina. You will be missed.

By Margo

Miss Reid was a very talent woman. She will be sadely missed

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