Alaina Reed-Amini | Sesame Street figure, 63

Alaina Reed-Amini, 63, the Broadway star and TV actress best known for her long-running roles on

Sesame Street

and

227,

died Thursday of breast cancer in Santa Monica, Calif.

Previously known as Alaina Reed Hall, she remarried in 2008. Her stage credits include Chicago and Hair. She appeared in several movies, including Cruel Intentions and Death Becomes Her, and in guest-starring roles on numerous TV shows such as ER, NYPD Blue, The Drew Carey Show and Ally McBeal.

Ms. 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 starred on NBC's 227 from 1985 to 1990, playing the landlady and best friend of the show's main character. On the show's final season, Ms. Reed-Amini married a character played by her real-life husband, Kevin Peter Hall, who died in 1991. - AP