Alaina Reed-Amini

Alaina Reed-Amini, who died on 17 December aged 63, was the Broadway star and television actress best known for her long-running role on Sesame Street.

Reed-Amini's stage credits include Chicago and Hair, while she appeared in several films, including Death Becomes Her with Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep and Cruel Intentions, and she had guest­starring roles on numerous television shows such as ER, NYPD Blue and The Drew Carey Show.

Born Bernice Ruth Reed in Springfield, Ohio in November 1946, Reed-Amini joined the Sesame Street cast in 1976 and played Olivia, a photographer and sister of the character Gordon. She remained on the show until 1988. She also starred on NBC's 227 from 1985 to 1990. She was married three times.