' s ▁C ounter ▁series ▁in ▁I th aca , ▁New ▁York ▁from ▁February ▁ 1 0 – 1 4 ▁in ▁a ▁sold - out ▁run . ▁The ▁play ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁Rach el ▁Lam pert . ▁Chamber lin ▁founded ▁a ▁non - pro fit ▁organization , ▁Lee ▁Chamber lin ' s ▁Play w right s ' ▁Inn ▁Project ▁Inc ., ▁establish ing ▁it ▁in ▁France ▁to ▁n urt ure ▁the ▁work ▁of ▁African ▁American ▁play w right s . ▁ ▁Chamber lin ▁was ▁a ▁regular ▁perform er ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁two ▁years ▁of ▁the ▁este emed ▁series ▁The ▁Electric ▁Company , ▁and ▁she ▁made ▁guest ▁appearances ▁in ▁the ▁television ▁series ▁What ' s ▁H app ening !! , ▁D iff ' rent ▁St ro kes , ▁and ▁NY PD ▁Blue . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁she ▁played ▁the ▁wife ▁of ▁James ▁Earl ▁Jones ' s ▁character ▁on ▁the ▁short - l ived ▁police ▁drama ▁Paris . ▁Most ▁not ably ▁she ▁played ▁Od ile ▁Harris ▁in ▁Ro ots : ▁The ▁Next ▁Gener ations ▁( 1 9 7 9 ). ▁Her ▁first ▁rec urr ing ▁role ▁in ▁a ▁major ▁television ▁sit com ▁was ▁as ▁Lucy ▁Daniel s ▁in ▁" All ' s ▁Fair " ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 6 - 7 7 . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁she ▁appeared ▁on ▁shows ▁such ▁as ▁Lou ▁Grant ▁and ▁James ▁at ▁ 1 6 . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁she ▁appeared ▁on