Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early; July 6, 1931 - November 19, 2017) was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister best known for Touched by an Angel (1994-2003), Dinosaur (2000), and A Thin Line Between Love And Hate (1996).
She was married to Vermont Taliaferro, Leroy Basil Gray, Mercer Ellington, and Franklin Lett Jr, and had four children.
Reese died in 2017 at the age of 86 from undisclosed causes.
Filmography
Film Roles
- 1958: Lets Rock as Della Reese
- 1971: A City Of The King as Innkeeper's Wife
- 1973: Voyage Of The Yes as Opal Parker
- 1974: Twice In A Lifetime as Flo
- 1975: Cop On The Beat as Claudine
- 1975: Psychic Killer as Mrs. Gibson
- 1976: Nightmare In Badham County as Sarah
- 1989: Harlem Nights as Vera
- 1990: The Kid Who Loved Christmas as Alicia Slater
- 1992: The Distinguished Gentleman as Elevator Operator (Uncredited Role)
- 1992: You Must Remember This as Ella DuChamps (voice)
- 1996: A Thin Line Between Love And Hate as Ma Wright
- 1997: A Match Made In Heaven as Katie Beale
- 1997: Miracle In The Woods as Lilly Cooper
- 1998: Emmas Wish as Mona Washburn
- 1999: The Secret Path as Honey
- 1999: Having Our Say The Delany Sisters First 100 Years as Martha Logan
- 1999: Anyas Bell as Anya Herpick
- 2000: Dinosaur as Eema
- 2000: The Moving Of Sophia Myles as Sophia Myles
- 2005: Beauty Shop as Mrs. Towner
- 2007: If I Had Known I Was A Genius as Nana
- 2010: Expecting Mary as Doris Dorkus
- 2011: Hallelujah as Dulcie Prejean
- 2012: Christmas Angel as Elsie Waybright
- 2012: Meant To Be as Mave
- 2012: Me Again as Muriel
- 2013: Dear Secret Santa as Linda
- 2013: Miracle At Gate 213 as Alma Peddington
Television Roles
- 1968: The Mod Squad as Paula
- 1970: The Bold Ones: The New Doctors as Grace Dayton
- 1972: Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In as Guest Performer
- 1974: Police Woman as Tina Thompson
- 1974-1976: McCloud as Sgt. Gladys Harris (2 episodes)
- 1975: Petrocelli as Angela Damon
- 1975: Police Story as Claudine
- 1975: Joe Forrester as Claudine
- 1975: Columbo as Johnny Carson's Guest
- 1975: The Rookies as Landers
- 1975: Sanford and Son as Della Reese
- 1975-1978: Chico and the Man as Della Rogers/The Judge (27 episodes)
- 1976: Medical Center as Capt. Sykes
- 1976: Welcome Back, Kotter as Mrs. Jean Tremaine
- 1980: Insight as Judge
- 1982: The Love Boat as Millie Washington
- 1982-1983: It Takes Two as judge Caroline Phillips (6 episodes)
- 1985: The A-Team as Mrs. Baracus
- 1985-1986: Crazy Like a Fox as Nurse Flood (3 episodes)
- 1986: Charlie And Co as Aunt Rachel
- 1986: ABC Afterschool Specials as Aunt Faith
- 1987-1990: 227 as Grace/Rita Clark (2 episodes)
- 1988: A Pup Named Scooby-Doo as Various
- 1989: Night Court as Aunt Ruth
- 1990: The Young Riders as Stagecoach Sally
- 1990-1991: MacGyver as Mama Colton (2 episodes)
- 1991: Married People as Annette
- 1991-1992: The Royal Family as Victoria Royal
- 1992: Dream On as Receptionist
- 1993: Designing Women as Mrs. Toussant
- 1993: L.A. Law as Lucille Lake
- 1993: Picket Fences as Naomi Grand
- 1994-2003: Touched by an Angel as Tess
- 1996-1998: Promised Land as Tess (6 episodes)
- 1997: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as The Blues Fairy
- 1998: Mama Floras Family as Nana Fleming
- 2006: That's So Raven as Miss Rhonnie Wilcox
- 2009: The Young and the Restless as Aunt Virginia
- 2010: Detroit 1-8-7 as Lorraine Henderson
- 2014: Signed, Sealed, Delivered as Cora Brandt
Video Game Roles
- 2000: Dinosaur as Eema
Shorts
- 1973: Daddys Girl as Diane
- 1976: Flos Place as Flo
Writer
- 2000: Touched by an Angel
