Janet MacLachlan (August 27, 1933 – October 11, 2010) was an American character actress who had roles in such television series as The Rockford Files, Alias and The Golden Girls. She is best remembered for her key supporting part in the film Sounder (1972). MacLachlan worked with numerous well known black actors and actresses and celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Jim Brown, James Earl Jones and Maya Angelou.