Touched By An Angel star Della Reese passed away on November 19, 2017, at the age of 86. Reese’s Touched By An Angel costar Roma Downey confirmed Reese’s death in a statement, saying, “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.”
Delloreese Patricia Early, later shortened to Della Reese, was born on July 6, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan. Reese began singing in church when she was just six years old, before joining Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group at 13. Reese later formed her own group, the Meditation Singers, and got her first professional gig singing at the Detroit club Flame Show Bar. In 1959, after moving to New York, Reese had her first big success with Don’t You Know? – which reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 2 on the pop charts. The following year, Reese earned her first of four Grammy nominations for her album Della.
Reese made history in 1969 when she became the first black woman to host her own variety show, Della. She was also the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, Reese transitioned from music to TV with roles on Chico And The Man, Harlem Nights, and The Royal Family. In 1991, Reese landed her biggest breakout role as the loving but sarcastic Tess on Touched By An Angel. The show, which ran for nine seasons, earned Reese Golden Globes, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations and seven NAACP Image Awards wins.
After nearly dying from a brain aneurysm in 1979, she was inspired to become an ordained minister. Following the final season of Touched By An Angel, Reese retired from acting to focus on her ministerial work. Reese is survived by her husband, Franklin Lett, and her children, James, Franklin and Dominique Reese.
