Delloreese Patricia Early (Della Reese)
(July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017)
An American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. Her long career began as a singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single “Don’t You Know? . In the late 1960s she hosted her own talk show, Della, which ran for 197 episodes. From 1975 she also starred in films, playing opposite Redd Foxx in Harlem Nights (1989), Martin Lawrence in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Elliott Gould in Expecting Mary (2010). Reese achieved continued success in the religious television drama Touched by an Angel (1994–2003), in which she played the leading role of Tess.
The Della Reese Talk Show FOCUS
BEFORE OPRAH THERE WAS Della!. This was a talk show hosted by Della Reese. It aired for one season from 1969 to 1970. Reese and her sidekick, comedian Sandy Baron, welcomed many celebrities onto the hour-long show during its run. Della! is notable for being the first talk show to have an African-American woman as its host. It aired for one season from 1969 to 1970.
In the 1980s, Reese was ordained a minister through the Christian New Thought branch known as Unity after serving as the senior minister and founder of her own church, Understanding Principles for Better Living. The “Up Church” is under Universal Foundation for Better Living, a denomination of Christian New Thought founded by Rev. Johnnie Colemon, a close friend of Rev. Reese-Lett. In her ministerial work, she was known as the Rev. Dr. Della Reese Lett. Reese died on November 19, 2017, at her Los Angeles, California, home at the age of 86. No cause was given, although she had suffered from type 2 diabetes.
Awards
1994: Hollywood Walk of Fame: 7060 Hollywood Boulevard—Television
1996: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
1997: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
1998: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
1999: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
2000: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
2001: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
2002: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel.
2015 : Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.