Della Reese was an actress, singer and ordained minister, but she was also a beloved mother figure to costar and friend Roma Downey.
Reese, who starred with Downey on the television series Touched by an Angel as the heaven-sent Tess, died Nov. 19 at age 86 surrounded by her loved ones in California.
Downey, 57, forged a “deep, lasting” bond with Reese after she lost her mother one week before she turned 11 years old, she recalls exclusively to People.
“During the run of Touched by an Angel, Della’s only daughter passed away,” says the star, who is honoring her late friend on her website.
Reese, who starred with Downey on the television series Touched by an Angel as the heaven-sent Tess, died Nov. 19 at age 86 surrounded by her loved ones in California.
Downey, 57, forged a “deep, lasting” bond with Reese after she lost her mother one week before she turned 11 years old, she recalls exclusively to People.
“During the run of Touched by an Angel, Della’s only daughter passed away,” says the star, who is honoring her late friend on her website.
- 11/25/2017
- by Mia McNiece and Melody Chiu
- PEOPLE.com
Della Reese, who is best known for playing Tess on Touched by an Angel, has passed away at age 86. Della Reese Dies At Age 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 […]
Source: uInterview
The post Della Reese, ‘Touched By An Angel’ Star, Dead At 86 appeared first on uInterview.
Source: uInterview
The post Della Reese, ‘Touched By An Angel’ Star, Dead At 86 appeared first on uInterview.
- 11/21/2017
- by Hillary Luehring-Jones
- Uinterview
The lights have dimmed a little... Music legend and actress Della Reese passed away at the age of 86 in her home in Encino, Calif., on Sunday night. Many knew that Reese had been gravely ill due to social media sharing of her longtime friend, Roma Downey, who co-starred on the heavenly show Touched By an Angel from 1994 to 2003. On Monday, the Northern Irish actress shared an Instagram post with her followers, breaking the sad news to them that the woman she thought of as her "mother" had passed. "Heaven has a brand new angel Della today. 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...
- 11/21/2017
- E! Online
Della Reese, a noted jazz, gospel and pop singer, as well as the star of ’90s TV show “Touched By an Angel”, has died at the age of 86. Reese’s Angel co-star, Roma Downey, released a statement on Monday about her passing on Sunday evening. “On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her […]...
- 11/20/2017
- by Chris Jancelewicz
- ET Canada
Musician and Touched by an Angel star Della Reese died on Sunday, at the age of 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,” actress Roma Downey confirmed in a statement released to Et. “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,” the statement continued. “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.”
News: Country Music Legend...
“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,” actress Roma Downey confirmed in a statement released to Et. “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,” the statement continued. “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.”
News: Country Music Legend...
- 11/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Beloved singer and actress Della Reese, best known for starring in "Touched By an Angel," died Sunday night ... according to her family. Della had battled diabetes for years. Her family says she passed away in her California home. She co-starred with Roma Downey on 'Angel' ... playing Tess. She had big movie roles too, like "Harlem Nights" and "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" -- and was the first black woman to guest host "The Tonight Show.
- 11/20/2017
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Updated with CBS statement: Della Reese, the iconic jazz, gospel and pop singer who later moved into television and film, and starred as Tess on Touched By An Angel, has died. She was 86. Her former Touched By An Angel co-star Roma Downey released a statement on her passing. “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…...
- 11/20/2017
- Deadline TV
Della Reese did it all: She sang, she acted, she traded barbs with Redd Foxx and she showed Roma Downey the way as her angelic mentor. The multi-faceted veteran star, who charmed with her wise ways on Touched by An Angel, has died. 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. 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," Downey told E! News Monday. "She was a...
- 11/20/2017
- E! Online
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.
She leaves behind children James, Franklin, and Dominique, as well as husband Franklin Lett. She was predeceased by daughter Deloreese.
“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. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through...
She leaves behind children James, Franklin, and Dominique, as well as husband Franklin Lett. She was predeceased by daughter Deloreese.
“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. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through...
- 11/20/2017
- by Jordan Runtagh
- PEOPLE.com
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