In March, her 42-year-old daughter, Deloreese Daniels Owens, died from complications stemming from pituitary disease. She was barely recognizable, noted one onlooker at the event. Reese also appeared as a panelist on several episodes of the popular TV game show Match Game, and was the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show in 1970. [10] She also performed in Las Vegas for nine years, and toured across the country. Two of the most significant were The Classic Della (1962) and Waltz with Me, Della (1963), which broadened her fan base internationally. She signed with Avco Embassy Records and released the soul-pop album Black is Beautiful in 1970, charting at number 44 on the R&B chart. In 1969 the AFRO sat down with her to talk about her new television talk show 'Della' and life after [] It wasnt a good time for me, but she was at a good place when she left., In memory of Deloreese Daniels Owens, March 16, 2002 - Education Inertia It seemed so strange and hard to explain. Reese went into shock upon hearing the news of her daughters death, a source said at the time. While Reese sometimes used a wheelchair, she avoided using one often, out of concern it would make her condition worse. Della Reese was married to concert producer, and writer, Franklin Thomas Lett Jr. in 1983. Mercer Kennedy Ellington [2] (March 11, 1919 - February 8, 1996) was an American musician, composer, and arranger. Reese and Lett got married on January 12, 1983, at the Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, in the suburb of Garden Grove. Her death was confirmed news by her manager, Lynda Bensky. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Singer, actress and ordained minister Della Reese died Sunday evening at the age of 86, surrounded by friends and family in her California residence, according to a report from People. The actor died from a heart attack Monday at his home in San Francisco. Is Sherrilyn Ifill Related To Gwen Ifill. In 2011, it was revealed that Reese was struggling with severe money problems. NewsOne Featured Video D ella Reese, who had a successful career as a jazz singer before gaining prominence as the star of the TV show Touched by an Angel, died Sunday night in her California. Della had received many awards for her outstanding acting in Touched by an Angel. She was 86. Her death was confirmed by her manager, Lynda Bensky. She leaves behind her third husband, to whom she got married in 1983, and their children. Sickly Della Reese Admits: 'My Life Is At Stake', "Della Reese, Touched by an Angel Star and Legendary Singer, Dead at 86", "Della Reese Is No Angel, But She's Real Reverend -- In Dual Roles Of Minister And Actress, She Has A Big Following | Seattle Times Newspaper", "Della Reese Reportedly in Bad Shape: 'I Don't Have Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Has Me', "Calling All Angels! [13] In 1970, Reese became the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. We love you., Were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Della Reese, CBS tells PEOPLE in a statement. Della Reeses Touched by An Angelrole as Tess, the sarcastic but caring angel, was portrayed so beautifully that shewas seemingly typecastin similar roles. She also starred inTV movies, some notableones being:Dear Secret Santa, Nightmare in Badham County, andThe Secret Path. I told them you dont get over it, you adjust to live with it. By: ETN Editorial Desk - Published: November 21, 2017 at 7:32 am, Photo: Jesse Grant / Stringer /Getty Images. She was previously married to American musician Mercer Ellington for less than a year before annulling her marriage the same year in 1961. DAILY. Motown singer Martha Reeves cites Reese as a major influence, and says she named her group the Vandellas after Van Dyke Street in Detroit and Della Reese. Singer and actress Della Reese, perhaps best known for playing Tess in the popular television series Touched by an Angel, has passed away. Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the '50s and '60s to a long career as a popular TV actress . This led to other roles in such series as: The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Getting Together, Police Woman, Petrocelli, Joe Forrester, Police Story, The Rookies, McCloud, Sanford and Son (with Redd Foxx), Vega$, and Insight. composer. In 1991, she starred opposite her old friend Redd Foxx in his final sitcom, The Royal Family, but his death halted production of the series for several months. Upon further inspection the property they discover Lilly (Della Reese) living there and she forms a bond with young Gina, the daughter of Sarah (Meredith Baxter). But shes best known for her leading role on the CBS program Touched by an Angel, which network executives cancelled after its 1994 debut season. At the age of 13, she was hired to sing with Mahalia Jackson's gospel group. Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the '50s and '60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on " Touched by an Angel " and other shows, died Sunday night at her. Reese's impressive career spanned six decadesincluding a hit 1959 single "Don't You Know?" :She was a multi-talented, award-winning performer who shined brightly on soundstages and in concert halls. She wanted to have a one-shot agreement between CBS and producer Martha Williamson, but the network ordered more episodes. [30][31], NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Made for TV Series, "A RETURN TO GOSPEL: DELLA REESE TO SING AT FULLERTON RESTAURANT", "Calling All Angels! It was after a Tonight Show appearance in 1979 that Reese suffered a brain aneurysm that nearly claimed her life. Reese was widely seen as a key component of the show's success. In March, her 42-year-old daughter, Deloreese Daniels Owens, died from complications stemming from pituitary disease. 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. 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. To enjoy this beautiful video please click on the link in my bio or go to LightWorkers.com God speed, dearest Della. Reese was discovered by the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and her big break came when she won a contest, which gave her a week to sing at Detroit's well-known Flame Show Bar. [citation needed], In the 1980s, Reese was ordained a minister through the Christian New Thought branch known as Unity after serving as the senior minister and founder of her own church, Understanding Principles for Better Living. Death. Guillaume guest-starred with Reese on an episode of Touched by an Angel (1994). Her death was confirmed news by her manager, Lynda Bensky. She praised Ken Baker for his 2001 book, Man Made: A Memoir of My Body, in which he told the story of his battle with a prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor. [12] She later earned another nomination for the album Live! Sources. By National ENQUIRER Staff Dec 8, 2017 @ 15:37PM View gallery 4 Getty Images Share Comments Katherine Jackson Facing Final Days It seemed so strange and hard to explain. Following two appearances on the television show Signed, Sealed, Delivered in 2014, she retired from acting. Reeses last project was the series, Signed, Sealed, and Delivered for two episodes alongside Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, and Crystal Lowe. While Tess and Monica developed a close, mother/daughter-like bond onscreen, Reese and Downey developed a loving friendship offscreen. Reese never got over the sudden and devastating death of her 41-year-old daughter Deloreese Daniels in March 2002. Della had several siblings who did not live long enough to see her, so she grew up as an only child. She had many chart-topping singles like And That Reminds Me and Don't You Know. . Reese's father, Richard Early, died ten years later. Della Reese, (born Delloreese Patricia Early; July 6, 1931) died on Sunday night at her home in Encino, Calif. She was 86. Shiloh Jolie-Pitts Best Dance Moments: Photos, Which Ready to Love Couples Are Still Together Today? Della Reese died at her home in Los Angeles, California, on November 19, 2017. 'Touched by an Angel' star Della Reese has died The singer and actress was 86 years old. "I remember filming this scene and Della taking me into the warmth of her embrace," the now 57-year-old actress wrote in the caption. Della Reese was also an accomplished gospel singer, having been discovered by Mahalia Jackson when she was just 13 years old, and went on to become an ordained minister in the 1980s. She was predeceased by daughter Deloreese. LOS ANGELES Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the 1950s and '60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on "Touched by an Angel" and other shows, died Sunday. [22] This marriage either ended in divorce[23] or was annulled on the basis that Gray's previous divorce was invalid. Before peaking as an actor, Reese had a fantastic career in singing with many songs on top of the charts. National fame would come in 1957 with the release of And That Reminds Me, a Top 20 hit and her first global seller. Della Reese's cause of death is still unknown however, she was diabetic and some are wondering if that was a factor. Performing in clubs, Early soon decided to shorten her name from "Delloreese Early" to "Della Reese". 5 Quotes Madiba Said That Still Ring True Today, How Ron McNair Overcame Racism To Become A Space Shuttle Challenger Astronaut, Barry Bonds Hall Of Fame Snub Ignores Baseball Legend Willie Mays Pleas To Vote Him In. 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 wasn't an angel! In case you were wondering about Franklin Lett's kids, he has two with his late wife. Like our content? The character of Tess was the angelic supervisor who sent the other angels out on missions to help people redeem their lives and show them God's love, while at the same time, she was sassy and had a no-nonsense attitude. After high school, she joined the Wayne State University but later dropped out to support her family after her mothers illness and ultimate death. We will forever cherish her warm embraces and generosity of spirit. Reese had an adoptive daughter whom she acquired from a . [9], In November 1960, Reese appeared in advertisements in Ebony magazine for the newly launched AMI Continental jukebox. Sickly Della Reese Admits: 'My Life Is At Stake', Hot Photos: Leonardo DiCaprio Dines On Seafood at Seaspice in Miami, Marshmello & Khalid Perform NYE at The Fontainebleau Miami- See What Your Fave Celebs Are Up To. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. She earned several million from the hit show, Touched by an Angel. Her short-lived variety series, Della, debuted in 1969, and the following year she became the first black woman to co-host The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. They were married for 45 years before Reeses death. Bright and talented, she has carried her love for music ever since she was six years old, when she began to sing in the local church. Della Reese completed her high school from Ca s s Technical High School in Detroit. Mayor' and More, Remembering Whitney Houston's Remarkable Life in Photos, The Most Shocking and Most Moving Grammys Moments of the 2000s, All of the Lucky Celebs Born on St. Patrick's Day, Naomi Judd Remembered by Fellow Country Stars Following Her Death at 76: 'Heartbreaking News'. All Rights Reserved. She died from complications stemming from pituitary disease. Della Reese, the iconic actress and music icon best known for her starring roles in movies like Harlem Nights and dozens of TV series such as Touched By An Angel, has died. Singer and actress Della Reese had a stellar career in both singing and acting. . Dellas career as a singer began after gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson discovered her. Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at 800-344-9598 any time, day or night. His stepchildren, Dr. James Barger and Deloreese Daniels (deceased) were at the . She was suffering from Type 2 diabetes. She was 41. Stephanie Duprey Leaving WHEC-TV: Where Is the Rochester Reporter Going? Click through RadarOnline.coms gallery to find out more about the troubles the star bravely battled. She featured in two episodes of The Love Boat, three episodes of Crazy Like a Fox, four episodes of Charlie & Co. (opposite Flip Wilson), 227 (with best friend Marla Gibbs), MacGyver, Night Court, Dream On, Designing Women, Picket Fences, Disney Channel's That's So Raven, and The Young and the Restless. Actress Della Reese has spent the last eight years starring on the hit TV series "Touched by an Angel." But earlier this year Reese, 71, was touched by tragedy. Is Greg Newsome Related to Ozzie Newsome? Della Reese, the vocal powerhouse who later starred as heaven-sent Tess on the television series Touched By an Angel, died Sunday evening at age 86. The songs were later included on the album And That Reminds Me (1959). Reese entered Detroit's Cass Technical High School (where she attended the same year as Edna Rae Gillooly, later known as Ellen Burstyn). While her official cause of death hasnt been revealed, the beloved singer and actress had reportedly battled diabetes for years, and her family said she passed away Sunday (Nov. 19) in her California home. After coping with the death of one of her best friends, Redd Foxx, in 1991, she was reluctant to play the older female lead in inspirational television drama Touched by an Angel, but went ahead and auditioned for the role of Tess. She also played the voice of the wise, elderly dinosaur Eema in Walt Disneys CGI film Dinosaur. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. The actress' estimated net worth was $3 million. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people, her costar Roma Downey confirmed to PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. [28] After her last appearance in Signed, Sealed, Delivered, she retired from acting. Her vocal talent flourished and by 13 she was tapped to perform with Mahalia Jacksons gospel group, with whom shed later tour. Who Is '90 Day Fiance' Tell-All Host Shaun Robinson? The actor and singer passed away on November 19, at the age of 86. "She thought God had sent an angel.". For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/della-reese