Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama ‘Touched by an Angel,’ has died at age 86.<\/b>
\nDella Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama \u00ab\u00a0Touched by an Angel,\u00a0\u00bb has died at age 86.
Reese’s co-star on the series, Roma Downey, said in a statement that the actress died peacefully Sunday evening in her home in the Los Angeles area. No further details were included.
Before \u00ab\u00a0Touched by an Angel\u00a0\u00bb debuted in 1994, Reese was mainly known as a singer, although she had costarred on \u00ab\u00a0Chico and the Man,\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbCharlie and Company\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0The Royal Family\u00a0\u00bb and hosted her own talk show, \u00ab\u00a0Della.\u00a0\u00bb
\u00ab\u00a0Touched by an Angel\u00a0\u00bb was a gamble for CBS from the start. The story of an apprentice angel (Roma Downey) and her supervisor (Reese) being sent to Earth to solve people’s problems appeared to have little chance in a TV world dominated by sitcoms and police dramas.
The first season brought mediocre ratings, but slowly the show’s audience grew until it became one of television’s highest rated dramas. It lasted until 2003.
\u00ab\u00a0Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people. She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on ‘Touched By An Angel,'\u00a0\u00bb Downey wrote in a statement. \u00ab\u00a0I know heaven has a brand new angel this day.\u00a0\u00bb
Reese had been ordained by the Universal Foundation for Better Living and performed the ceremony when co-star Downey married.
Reese’s singing career began in church, when she joined the junior gospel choir at the Olivet Baptist Church in her hometown of Detroit. Soon she was singing at other churches, at civic events and on the radio.
When famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson came to Detroit, she needed a singer to replace a member of her troupe and turned to Reese, who was only 13.
Jackson was so impressed by the teenager’s voice that she enlisted her for a summer tour, and Reese went on to tour with her for five summers. In later years she would remark that she would never forget what she learned from the legendary gospel singer, including \u00ab\u00a0how to communicate with people through song.\u00a0\u00bb
Her love of music drew her to singing at local clubs, where Deloreese Patricia Early adopted a new name. New York agent Lee Magid recognized her talent and in 1953 booked her to sing with Erskine Hawkins’ orchestra.
A recording contract followed, and she quickly turned out two hits, \u00ab\u00a0And That Reminds Me\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0Don’t You Know?\u00a0\u00bb Soon she was singing in the country’s best night spots and appearing on TV variety shows.
In 1979 she was taping a segment of \u00ab\u00a0The Tonight Show\u00a0\u00bb when, as she recalled later, \u00ab\u00a0I hit a horrendous note\u2014 the flattest I’ve ever sung.\u00a0\u00bb
Her left knee buckled and she fell to the floor, having suffered a brain aneurysm. She underwent surgeries that allowed her to resume a busy career as a TV actress, although she later was diagnosed with diabetes.
Over the years, she appeared on shows including \u00ab\u00a0Night Court,\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbL.A. Law,\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbDesigning Women,\u00a0\u00bb Welcome Back, Kotter,\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbThe A Team,\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbMacGyver\u00a0\u00bb \u00a0\u00bbThe Love Boat\u00a0\u00bb and, more recently, \u00ab\u00a0That’s So Raven.\u00a0\u00bb She appeared in the 2005 movie \u00ab\u00a0Beauty Shop\u00a0\u00bb and had a prominent role in the 1989 film \u00ab\u00a0Harlem Nights.\u00a0\u00bb
Reese complained in her 1997 autobiography, \u00ab\u00a0Angels Along the Way,\u00a0\u00bb that until \u00ab\u00a0Touched by an Angel\u00a0\u00bb she had difficulty avoiding being typecast for TV.
\u00ab\u00a0There were usually only three types I was ever considered for \u2014 the singer, the aunt or the mother (or) neighbor,\u00a0\u00bb she said. \u00ab\u00a0God knows how I wanted to break out of those three categories and show what else I could do as an actress.\u00a0\u00bb
In 1997, Reese went public with a salary complaint, claiming CBS had reneged that season on an agreement to match her \u00ab\u00a0Touched by An Angel\u00a0\u00bb pay increases to those of Downey. CBS said at the time it was \u00ab\u00a0puzzled\u00a0\u00bb by her comments.
\u00ab\u00a0I’m trying not to believe it’s because I’m black, ’cause I was black when they hired me,\u00a0\u00bb Reese said at the time. \u00ab\u00a0They knew what age I was…. I don’t know what it is.\u00a0\u00bb
After previous marriages ended, Reese was wed to Franklin Lett, who became her manager and producer. She remained Della Reese as a performer and took the name Della Reese Lett for church matters.
Reese never won a major award but she did accomplish something in her career that was the envy of many performers \u2014 longevity.
\u00ab\u00a0I’ve had a hard climb, but I was meant to have longevity,\u00a0\u00bb she once said. \u00ab\u00a0People don’t have to stop and say, ‘Whatever happened to Della Reese?’ Here I am.\u00a0\u00bb
Reese is survived by her husband and three children.<\/p>\n

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