Reese, of TV’s “Touched by an Angel,” dies at 86
LOS ANGELES» Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama “Touched by an Angel,” has died at age 86.
Reese’s co-star on the series, Roma Downey, said in a statement that the actress died peacefully Sunday evening in her home in the Los Angeles area. No further details were included.
Before “Touched by an Angel” debuted in 1994, Reese was mainly known as a singer, although she had appeared on “Chico and the Man,” ‘’Charlie and Compasor ny” and “The Royal Family” and had hosted her own talk show, “Della.”
“Touched by an Angel” was a gamble for CBS from the start. The story of an apprentice angel (Roma Downey) and her supervi- (Reese) being sent to Earth to solve people’s problems appeared to have little chance in a TV world dominated by sitcoms and police dramas.
The first season brought mediocre ratings, but slowly the show’s audience grew until it became one of television’s highest-rated dramas. It lasted until 2003.
“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,’ ” Downey said. “I know heaven has a brand new angel this day.”
Reese had been ordained on to tour with her for five summers. In later years she would remark that she would never forget what she learned from the legendary gospel singer, including “how to communicate with people through song.”
Her love of music drew her to singing at local clubs, where Deloreese Patricia Early adopted a new name.