Della Reese - # 173

Della Reese, Music Legend and Touched By an Angel Star, Dead at 86

She was number 173 on the list.

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 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.

“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.”

 “We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Della Reese,” CBS tells PEOPLE in a statement. :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.”

Born Delloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931 in Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood, Reese began singing in public at just 6 years old at her local church, establishing her roots in gospel music. Her vocal talent flourished and by 13 she was tapped to perform with Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group, with whom she’d later tour.

She formed her own group, the Meditation Singers, in the late 1940s, but her exposure to jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan sparked a desire to broaden her musical scope. Now using her famous stage name, she signed a deal with Jubilee Records in 1953, releasing six albums largely composed of jazz standards.

National fame would come in 1957 with the release of “And That Reminds Me,” a Top 20 hit and her first global seller. She provided the voice in Disney's animated feature Dinosaur as well.

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1975      Psychic Killer      Mrs. Gibson       

1989      Harlem Nights   Vera Walker      

1996      A Thin Line Between Love and Hate          Ma Wright          

2000      Dinosaur              Eema (voice)     

2005      Beauty Shop       Mrs. Towner      

2007      If I Had Known I Was a Genius    Nana    

2010      Expecting Mary Doris Dorkus     

2012      Meant to Be       Mave    

2012      Me Again             Muriel  

2012      Christmas Angel                Elsa Way             

Television films

1999      Chasing Secrets                 Honey   Notes

1973      Voyage of the Yes            Opal Parker        

1973      Daddy's Girl        Diane   

1974      Twice in a Lifetime           Flo         

1975      Cop on the Beat                Claudine              

1976      Flo's Place           Flo         

1976      Nightmare in Badham County     Sarah    

1990      The Kid Who Loved Christmas     Alicia Slater        

1992      You Must Remember This             Ella DuChamps Voice

1997      A Match Made in Heaven             Katie Beale         

1997      Miracle in the Woods     Lilly Cooper        

1998      Emma's Wish     Mona Washburn             

1998      Mama Flora's Family       Nana Fleming    

1999      The Secret Path                 Honey  

1999      Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years             Martha Logan   

1999      Anya's Bell          Anya Herpick     

2000      The Moving of Sophia Myles        Sophia Myles    

2011      Hallelujah            Dulcie Prejean  

2012      Christmas Angel                Elsie Waybright                

2013      Dear Secret Santa            Linda    

2013      Miracle at Gate 213         Alma Peddington            

Television series

Year       Title       Role       Notes    Reference

1968      The Mod Squad                 Paula     Episode: "Find Tara Chapman!"

1970      The Bold Ones: The New Doctors               Grace Dayton     Episode: "Killer on the Loose"    

1974      Police Woman   Tina Thompson Episode: "Requiem for Bored Wives"      

1974–1976          McCloud              Police Sgt. Gladys Harris                2 episodes         

1975      Petrocelli             Angela Damon   Episode: "Once Upon a Victim"

1975      The Rookies        Landers                Episode: "Ladies Day"    

1975      Sanford and Son               Herself Episode: "Della, Della, Della"      

1975–1978          Chico and the Man          Della Rogers       27 episodes       

1976      Medical Center Capt. Sykes         Episode: "Major Annie, MD"       

1979      Welcome Back, Kotter    Mrs. Tremaine   Episodes: "Come Back, Little Arnold", "The Gang Show"

1980      Insight   Judge Roberta Lynn         Episode: "God in the Dock"         

1982      The Love Boat    Millie Washington            2 episodes         

1982–1983          It Takes Two       Judge Caroline Phillips    5 episodes         

1985      The A-Team        Mrs. Baracus      Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die"  

1985–1986          Crazy Like a Fox                 Nurse Flood        3 episodes         

1986      Charlie & Co.      Aunt Rachel        4 episodes         

1986      ABC Afterschool Special                 Aunt Faith           Episode: "The Gift of Amazing Grace"     

1987–1990          227        Grace / Rita Clark             2 episodes         

1989      Night Court         Aunt Ruth            Episode: "Auntie Maim"               

1990      The Young Riders             Stagecoach Sally               Episode: "Born to Hang"               

1990–1991          MacGyver           Mama Colton     2 episodes         

1991      Married People                 Annette               Episode: "Dance Ten, Friends Zero"         

1991–1992          The Royal Family              Victoria Royal    15 episodes       

1992      Dream On            Receptionist       Episode: "No Deposit, No Return"            

1993      Designing Women           Mrs. Toussant    Episode: "Wedding Redux"         

1993      L.A. Law                Lucille Lake         Episode: "Vindaloo in the Villows"           

1993      Picket Fences     Naomi Grand     Episode: "The Lullaby League"   

1994–2003          Touched by an Angel      Tess       211 episodes

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (1998–2002)

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1997–98)

Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (1997–98)                

1996–1998          Promised Land Tess       6 episodes         

1997      Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child      The Blues Fairy (voice)   Episode: "Pinocchio"      

2006      That's So Raven                 Miss Rhonnie Wilcox       Episode: "The Four Aces"             

2009      The Young and the Restless         Aunt Virginia      2 episodes         

2010      Detroit 1-8-7      Lorraine Henderson        Episode: "Shelter"           

2014      Signed, Sealed, Delivered             Cora Brandt        2 episodes