Emmalyn Paulette Moody (born February 17, 1946), known professionally as Lynne Moody, is an American film and television actress. Beginning her career in the early 1970s, Moody is best known for her roles as Tracy Curtis–Taylor in the ABC television sitcom That's My Mama (1974–1975), Irene Harvey in Roots (1977), Roots: The Next Generations (1979),Jet, May 11, 1978 and Patricia Williams in Knots Landing (1988–1990).
Biography Early life and education Born in Detroit, Michigan, Moody was raised in Evanston, Illinois, a north suburb of Chicago, Illinois.Jet, Feb 1, 1988 Her mother was a social worker and her father was a physician at a Chicago-area hospital.Working Actors, The Craft of Television, Film, and Stage Performance, Page 57, By Richard A. Blum, Laurence Frank, 1989 She attended Evanston Township High School, graduating in 1963,Evanston Township High School (Evanston, Illinois) '1963 Yearbook and worked as a stewardess before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Career In 1970, Moody moved to Los Angeles where she was initially hired to work as a playboy bunny at a Playboy Club.Playboy Celebrates 50th Anniversary of the World-Famous Playboy Club and Iconic Playboy Bunny, Year-long Festivities to Include the Largest Playboy Party of All Time in the Form of 50 Playboy Club-Themed Events Around the World, All on the Same Night; Limited Edition Products; Retail Partners; an Art Exhibition; and More, NEWS PROVIDED BY Playboy Enterprises, Inc. Feb 26, 2010, 10:20 ETEBONY, March 1985 While working at the Playboy Club, Moody studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. (Moody later studied at Goodman Theatre and Hull House.) In 1973, Moody landed her first role as Denny in the American blaxploitation horror film Scream Blacula Scream. Moody was the original Jenny Willis when the character was introduced in an episode of All in the Family titled "Lionel's Engagement" which was first broadcast the 9 February 1974. By the time the pilot episode of The Jeffersons aired in January 1975, the role was recast with Berlinda Tolbert replacing her as Jenny Willis.
In the fall of 1974, Moody landed the role of Tracy Curtis-Taylor in the ABC television series That's My Mama with Clifton Davis and Theresa Merritt. Moody portrayed the character throughout the series first season, later being replaced by Joan Pringle at the beginning of the second season. According to a 1975 JET article, Moody's manager Michael Kogg described Moody's exit from the show as "she didn't like the part anymore". After her exit from That's My Mama, Moody received a starring role in women in prison exploitation television film Nightmare in Badham County, later released to theaters as Nightmare in 1976.
In 1977, Moody portrayed Irene Harvey in Alex Haley's ABC television mini-series Roots. Moody later reprised her role in Roots: The Next Generations which aired in February 1979. From 1979 until 1980, Moody portrayed Polly Dawson in the ABC program Soap. Moody had other television roles such as, Patricia Williams in Knots Landing, and Nurse Julie Williams in E/R. In 2000, Moody had a recurring role on the hit ABC daytime drama series, General Hospital as Florence Campbell. Other ventures In the 1990s, Moody participated in public service radio spots for Africare to help improve the livelihood of Africans, along with fellow Roots cast members Georg Stanford Brown and Louis Gossett Jr. Personal life Moody has a daughter, Lisa Wright.LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 21: Lynn Moody and daughter Lisa Wright attend the grand opening of The Alcott Center Mental Health Services at The Alcott Center on October 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) Wright found Moody by doing a 23andMe DNA test and with the aid of Moody's brother. Prior to being reunited with her daughter, Moody spent years searching for her daughter, even enlisting the help of Alex Haley.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1973Scream Blacula ScreamDenny1973LindaEpisode: "The Confession"1974All in the FamilyJenny WillisEpisode: "Lionel's Engagement"1974–1975That's My MamaTracy Curtis Taylor22 episodes1975Las Vegas LadyCarol1976S.W.A.T.Ellen JeffersEpisode: "Any Second Now"1976Nightmare in Badham CountyDiane EmeryTelevision film1977RootsIrene HarveyTV miniseries1977Quincy, M.E.Laura StokesEpisode: "A Blow to the Head... A Blow to the Heart"1978The EvilFelicia Allen1979CharlestonMinervaTelevision film1979Roots: The Next GenerationsIrene HarveyTV miniseries1979–1980SoapPolly Dawson10 episodes1980Tenspeed and Brown ShoeLola MarshallEpisode: "The Sixteen Byte Data Chip and the Brown-eyed Fox"1980Willow B: Women in PrisonLynnTelevision film1981HarleyTelevision film1981ArvelleTelevision film1981Goldie and the Boxer Go to HollywoodMelanie FosterTelevision film1981Luann MackeyEpisode: "Burnout"1981Fly Away HomeTelevision film1981Strike ForceAnnie / JossyEpisode: "The Victims"1981Lou GrantSharon McNeilEpisode: "Rape"Episode: "Risk"1981Trapper John, M.D.KarenEpisode: "'Tis the Season"1982Some Kind of HeroLisa Keller1982Ellen PozelleEpisode: "Pal-I-Mony-O-Mine"1982MaggieEpisode: "A Small Victory"1982White DogMolly1982Magnum, P.I.Bebe KiamonniEpisode: "Black on White"1982T. J. HookerSusan McNeilEpisode: "The Protectors"1982–1984Hill Street BluesMarty Nichols7 episodes1983Wait till Your Mother Gets Home!MarionTelevision film1983BensonJenniferEpisode: "Love in a Funny Phase"1983Victoria JacksonTelevision film1983Just Our LuckAlanaEpisode: "Wedding Bell Shablues"1984LeslieTelevision film1984T. J. HookerDr. Pamela CarterEpisode: "Death on the Line"1984–1985E/RNurse Julie Williams22 episodes1985The Atlanta Child MurdersSelena CobbTV miniseries1985T. J. HookerNadineEpisode: "The Chicago Connection"1985Lost in LondonJanet WilliamsTelevision film1986Rachel AdamsEpisode: "Pilot"1986Alice MartinTelevision film1986Foofur(voice)3 episodes1986AmenJill CrawfordEpisode: "Reuben's Romance"1987Houston KnightsJanice HalsteadEpisode: "Scarecrow"1987OutlawsEpisode: "Orleans"1987Murder, She WrotePam CollinsEpisode: "Death Takes a Dive"198721 Jump StreetRhonda PattersonEpisode: "Two for the Road"1988(voice)TV series1988–1990Knots LandingPatricia Williams46 episodes1990MacGyverDr. Marion SkinnerEpisode: "Lesson in Evil"1991AmenAmy CassidyEpisode: "Three's a Crowd"1992Civil WarsEpisode: "His Honor's Offer"1993Last LightHope WhitmoreTelevision film1994Ray Alexander: A Taste for JusticeElizabeth ButlerTelevision film1994Chicago HopeYvette WhiteEpisode: "Over the Rainbow"1995Chicago HopeYvette WhiteEpisode: "Every Day a Little Death"1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderElizabeth ButlerTelevision film1995Escape to Witch MountainLindsay BrownTelevision film1996Walker, Texas RangerShelly PrestonEpisode: "Patriot"1997Trials of LifePennyTelevision film1997KathrynTelevision film1997Beverly Hills, 90210Vanessa MarkleyEpisode: "Aloha Beverly Hills1997CluelessTess DavenportEpisode: "The Intruder"1997Ellen FosterMrs. DouglasTelevision film1999Chicago HopeDr. Rachel KleemaEpisode: "And Baby Makes 10"2000Arli$$Vera MooreEpisode: "Comings and Goings"2000General HospitalFlorence Campbell1 episode2002General HospitalFlorence Campbell1 episode2005AliasRosemaryEpisode: "The Index"2005HelenTelevision film2007Crossing JordanHelene ColemanEpisode: "Faith"2009Mrs. Washington Goes to SmithDr. TwinemanTelevision film
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