Della Reese dies at 86
by Ryan Parker & Mike Barnes November 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter

Della Reese, the music legend and star of Touched by an Angel, has died, a rep for Reese's Touched by an Angel co-star Roma Downey confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. She was 86.

"On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home last evening surrounded by love," the statement reads. "She was an incredible Wife, Mother, Grandmother, friend and Pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through 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. I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you."

People was first to report Reese's death.

"People need something to help them with their lives," Reese said in a 2008 interview with the Archive of American Television. "In Touched by an Angel, we didn't tell you what to do. If you were distraught and at a place where you felt there was nothing else to do, we would make a suggestion: 'Did you ever think about it like this? It doesn't have to be that way. You can change your mind and change your life.' It gave people at home, in the privacy of their homes, a chance to know that they too, could change their minds and change their life."

In a statement, CBS, which aired Touched by an Angel, said: "We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Della Reese. She was a multi-talented, award-winning performer who shined brightly on soundstages and in concert halls. For nine years, we were privileged to have Della as part of the CBS family when she delivered encouragement and optimism to millions of viewers as Tess on Touched By An Angel. We will forever cherish her warm embraces and generosity of spirit. She will be greatly missed. Another angel has gotten her wings."

Touched by an Angel aired on CBS for nine seasons (1994–2003). It was a big family hit on Sunday nights. It also co-starred Roma Downey as the angel Monica, with Reese playing her tough supervisor, Tess. Reese was nominated for Emmy Awards in 1997 and 1998.

Delloreese Patricia Early was born on July 6, 1931, in Detroit.

Her father worked in a mill pouring steel, and her mother was a cook and housekeeper.

She had five sisters (one was 20 when she was born) and a brother.

"My mother says that when I was born and they slapped me, I didn't cough, I began to sing, and I never stopped," she said. "When she was 6, I sang continuously until people were nervous."

One day, one of Mahalia Jackson's backing singers, who was pregnant, fainted in church and was prohibited by a doctor to accompany the gospel legend on a tour on the South. Reese, 13 at the time, then took her place.

"I thought when I got away from my mother I would be able to get down and break it loose, but Mahalia was stricter than my mother was," she said.

Reese attended Wayne State for two years, moved to New York to pursue a singing career and worked with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.

Her first tour was with Nat King Cole, whom she adored. She appeared 17 times on The Ed Sullivan Show, the first time in 1957.

In 1969, Reese began a career transition into acting; her first onscreen appearance as an actor came on a 1968 episode of The Mod Squad. She followed with stints on such shows as The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Police Woman, The Rookies, McCloud and Chico and the Man. Reese played Della Rodgers on that NBC show, which ran from 1974-1978. She also starred opposite Redd Foxx on the CBS sitcom, The Royal Family.

Reese appeared in Eddie Murphy's 1989 film, Harlem Nights.

Reese hosted her own talk show-variety show, Della, in 1969-70, and once co-hosted The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In 1980, Reese was taping a song for that night's Tonight Show when she suffered a brain aneurysm that nearly killed her. Ten days after surgery, she said she was doing commercials for Campbell’s Soup. She became an ordained minister in the 1980s.

A true versatile talent. RIP Della

*

Withy Freddie Prinze

Archive Of American Television interview (June 13, 2008)

To be honest I though Ms. Reese passed a couple of years ago.

Show business is one of the most difficult jobs to maintain 50 plus career.... especially when you'er a female who happens to be an African-American., that takes smarts. To be honest Ms. Resse was at best a mediocre singer, but in-spite of that she was talened enought to cut out a niche in the industry. Respect.

RIP Ms. Dellla Reese.

RIP trailblazer

Jackée Harry: I am completely devastated by the loss of Della Reese. She was a great co-star, sparring partner, drinking buddy, and friend. She taught me the power of prayer and the importance of humility. I’ll be forever grateful to call her my friend.

The Oak Ridge Boys‏: A wonderful woman... RIP Della ...

Travis Tritt: Della Reese was such a warm, kind and generous person. I got to know her on the set of "Touched By An Angel" and enjoyed talking with her several times since. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as they mourn her passing.

Leslie Uggams: Dear, dear Della Reese. Not only was she a great actress and singer, but also a great person. She was so sweet to me and my husband. Truly "touched by an angel." She and the wonderful Earle Hyman have both passed onto Heaven.

Bill Bellamy: RIP to the amazing Della Reese!

Tyler Perry: Della Reese, you’ve left us all Touched By An Angel!!! Thank you for your life, thank you for your faith, and thank you for traveling this way!!

I'm glad Mighty Oprah picked Della to be apart of her Legends Weekend...We know she showered them with Diamonds and probably money (under the table)...We should always appreciate each other in Public & in Private...

I saw a Youtube clip/interview featuring Della talking about how AWFUL Redd Foxx was treated on/off the set of their 90's show The Royal Family...Eddie Murphy was the Show's Creator and I'm surprsied he let one of the Show's Producer's treat Mr. Foxx like crap...Check out the interview when you find the time...

The tv success she garnered in the later years of her life was a pretty neat reinvention of her herself for her career. Her Touched by an Angel seems to have been in syndication here in Gemany since foreve - interestingly enough, all my German friends know her as her TV character Tess, and not that she was a kind of Mid-Century,Hot Mama-Girl Singer. Rest In Peace, Ms. Reese, My daddy loved him some "Della" back in the day, he pretty much reacted to seeing her on tv the same way Fred did on "Sanford & Son"

Still remember her whipping Eddie Murphy's ass in 'Harlem Nights'.

RIP Della