Della Reese, best known for her role as Tess, in CBS' "Touched by an Angel" and "Promised Land" died Sunday after a lengthy illness. She was 86.
Reese's musical career began in Detroit, with her discovery by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. She signed a recording contract in 1953 with Jubilee Records, and released the songs "In the Still of the Night," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and "Time After Time."
Several years later, she began to make a transition into acting, which led to her greatest fame. After the end of her eponymous talk show "Della," she was the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson. She appeared in several miniseries and television shows, most notably appearing as the mother of B.A. Baracus in The A-Team, did voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera and in one of her most famous roles, did a fight scene with Eddie Murphy in the 1989 comedy "Harlem Nights."
In 1993, she was approached by CBS to play an older female lead in a then-unnamed drama, which eventually became known as "Touched by an Angel." Reluctantly, she auditioned for the role. Initially wanting a one-shot agreement between CBS and creator/producer Martha Williamson, Williamson ordered more episodes. Reese co-starred with Roma Downey for ten years, the show's final episode aired in 2003. The show was seen in reruns on PAX and the Hallmark Channel. Reese was a recurring character on the Touched by an Angel spinoff "Promised Land", starring Gerald McRaney and Wendy Phillips.
After Touched by an Angel wrapped production in 2003, she went on to guest star in movies and TV shows such as "Beauty Shop," "That's So Raven," and "The Young and the Restless."
There have been no announcements on funeral arrangements.
Reese's musical career began in Detroit, with her discovery by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. She signed a recording contract in 1953 with Jubilee Records, and released the songs "In the Still of the Night," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and "Time After Time."
Several years later, she began to make a transition into acting, which led to her greatest fame. After the end of her eponymous talk show "Della," she was the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson. She appeared in several miniseries and television shows, most notably appearing as the mother of B.A. Baracus in The A-Team, did voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera and in one of her most famous roles, did a fight scene with Eddie Murphy in the 1989 comedy "Harlem Nights."
In 1993, she was approached by CBS to play an older female lead in a then-unnamed drama, which eventually became known as "Touched by an Angel." Reluctantly, she auditioned for the role. Initially wanting a one-shot agreement between CBS and creator/producer Martha Williamson, Williamson ordered more episodes. Reese co-starred with Roma Downey for ten years, the show's final episode aired in 2003. The show was seen in reruns on PAX and the Hallmark Channel. Reese was a recurring character on the Touched by an Angel spinoff "Promised Land", starring Gerald McRaney and Wendy Phillips.
After Touched by an Angel wrapped production in 2003, she went on to guest star in movies and TV shows such as "Beauty Shop," "That's So Raven," and "The Young and the Restless."
There have been no announcements on funeral arrangements.
