Lillian Irene Hayman (July 17, 1922 – October 25, 1994) was an American actress and singer. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Hayman was known for her role as Sadie Gray in the ABC television soap opera One Life to Live (1968?1986). She was also a notable actress on Broadway, originating roles in several new musicals including Doctor Jazz , Hallelujah, Baby! , 70, Girls, 70 , and Kwamina .

Biography [ edit ]

Career [ edit ]

Born in Baltimore, Maryland , Hayman graduated from Wilberforce University with a BA before she began her career in the Broadway theatre . Hayman won the 1968 Tony Award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Musical", in which she portrayed the mother of Leslie Uggams 's character in the play Hallelujah, Baby! . ^[1]

Her performance attracted the casting agents for One Life to Live , who cast her as Sadie Gray . Hayman played Sadie Gray from 1968 until 1986. Hayman briefly left the cast of One Life to Live to appear in the primetime musical comedy series The Leslie Uggams Show . She also appeared in the 1971 Broadway production of the Kander and Ebb musical 70, Girls, 70 . Hayman's One Life to Live option was not renewed in 1986 by then-executive producer Paul Rauch . According to co-star Ellen Holly 's 1998 memoir, One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress , Hayman didn't even know that she had been fired until Rauch's assistant approached her in the parking garage as she was leaving the studio and walking to her Tercel: "Mr. Rauch wants you to know that you just worked your last day." ^[2] Hayman also portrayed Lucrezia Borgia in the 1975 film Mandingo , and made her final feature film appearance in that film's 1976 sequel, Drum .

Personal life and Death [ edit ]

Hayman never married and had no children. On October 25, 1994, Hayman died of a heart attack at her home in Hollis, Queens , New York . She was 72 years old. ^[3]

Filmography [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Lillian Hayman at the Internet Broadway Database
• Lillian Hayman at IMDb