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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 21 November 2017
Della Reese, of TV’s ‘Touched by an Angel,’ has died at 86

By LYNN ELBER “Through her life and work song.”
AP Television Writer she touched and inspired Her love of music drew her
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Del- the lives of millions of peo- to singing at local clubs,
la Reese, the actress and ple. She was a mother to where Deloreese Patri-
gospel-influenced singer me and I had the privilege cia Early adopted a new
who in middle age found of working with her side by name. New York agent Lee
her greatest fame as Tess, side for so many years on Magid recognized her tal-
the wise angel in the long- ‘Touched By An Angel,’” ent and in 1953 booked her
running television drama Downey wrote in a state- to sing with Erskine Hawkins’
“Touched by an Angel,” ment. “I know heaven has orchestra.
has died at age 86. a brand new angel this A recording contract fol-
Reese’s co-star on the se- day.” lowed, and she quickly
ries, Roma Downey, said in Reese had been ordained turned out two hits, “And
a statement that the ac- by the Universal Founda- That Reminds Me” and
tress died peacefully Sun- tion for Better Living and “Don’t You Know?” Soon
day evening in her home performed the ceremony she was singing in the
in the Los Angeles area. No when co-star Downey mar- country’s best night spots
further details were includ- ried. and appearing on TV vari-
ed. Reese’s singing career be- ety shows. In this March 8, 1998 file photo, actress Della Reese, nominated
Before “Touched by an gan in church, when she In 1979 she was taping a for best dramatic actress for her role in the television series
Angel” debuted in 1994, joined the junior gospel segment of “The Tonight “Touched by an Angel”, arrives for the Screen Actors Guild
Reese was mainly known choir at the Olivet Baptist Show” when, as she re- Awards in Los Angeles.
as a singer, although she Church in her hometown called later, “I hit a horren- Associated Press
had costarred on “Chico of Detroit. Soon she was dous note— the flattest I’ve 1989 film “Harlem Nights.” knows how I wanted to
and the Man,” ‘’Charlie singing at other churches, ever sung.” In one memorable “Harlem break out of those three
and Company” and “The at civic events and on the Her left knee buckled and Nights” scene, Reese and categories and show what
Royal Family” and hosted radio. she fell to the floor, having Eddie Murphy face off in a else I could do as an ac-
her own talk show, “Della.” When famed gospel singer suffered a brain aneurysm. bare-knuckled brawl after tress.”
“Touched by an Angel” Mahalia Jackson came to She underwent surgeries Murphy’s character accus- In 1997, Reese went pub-
was a gamble for CBS from Detroit, she needed a sing- that allowed her to resume es Reese’s Vera of stealing. lic with a salary complaint,
the start. The story of an er to replace a member of a busy career as a TV ac- “C’mon sucka, let’s get it claiming CBS had re-
apprentice angel (Roma her troupe and turned to tress, although she later on,” Vera snarls, then decks neged that season on an
Downey) and her super- Reese, who was only 13. was diagnosed with diabe- him. agreement to match her
visor (Reese) being sent Jackson was so impressed tes. Reese complained in her “Touched by An Angel”
to Earth to solve people’s by the teenager’s voice Over the years, she ap- 1997 autobiography, “An- pay increases to those of
problems appeared to that she enlisted her for a peared on shows including gels Along the Way,” that Downey. CBS said at the
have little chance in a TV summer tour, and Reese “Night Court,” ‘’L.A. Law,” until “Touched by an An- time it was “puzzled” by her
world dominated by sit- went on to tour with her for ‘’Designing Women,” Wel- gel” she had difficulty comments.
coms and police dramas. five summers. In later years come Back, Kotter,” ‘’The avoiding being typecast “I’m trying not to believe
The first season brought she would remark that she A Team,” ‘’MacGyver” for TV. it’s because I’m black,
mediocre ratings, but slow- would never forget what ‘’The Love Boat” and, more “There were usually only ‘cause I was black when
ly the show’s audience she learned from the leg- recently, “That’s So Raven.” three types I was ever con- they hired me,” Reese said
grew until it became one endary gospel singer, in- She appeared in the 2005 sidered for — the singer, at the time. “They knew
of television’s highest rated cluding “how to communi- movie “Beauty Shop” and the aunt or the mother (or) what age I was. ... I don’t
dramas. It lasted until 2003. cate with people through had a prominent role in the neighbor,” she said. “God know what it is.” q

CBS suspends Rose, PBS halts his show following allegations

By DAVID BAUDER his behavior. describe his fantasies of
AP Media Writer “PBS was shocked to learn her swimming naked at
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie today of these deeply dis- the pool at his Long Island
Rose is the latest public fig- turbing allegations,” the home while he watched
ure to be felled by sexual public broadcasting ser- from his bedroom.
misconduct allegations, vice said in a statement. Rose’s interview show is
with PBS halting distribution “We are immediately sus- seen in 94 percent of the
of his interview show and pending distribution of country on PBS stations. It
CBS News suspending him ‘Charlie Rose.’” is rebroadcast on Bloom-
Monday following a Wash- Three women went on the berg’s cable network,
ington Post report with the record in the Post’s deeply- which also announced
accusations of eight wom- reported story. Reah Bravo, Monday it was suspending
en. The women, who all a former associate produc- the show.
worked for Rose or tried to er for Rose’s PBS show who He also hosts “CBS This
work for him, accused the began working for him in Morning” with Gayle King
veteran newsman of grop- 2007, told the newspaper: and Norah O’Donnell, a
ing them, walking naked “He was a sexual predator, In this April 13, 2017 file photo, Charlie Rose attends The critically-acclaimed morn-
in front of them and tell- and I was his victim.” Hollywood Reporter’s 35 Most Powerful People in Media party ing news programs which
ing one that he dreamed Bravo said Rose groped in New York. has been gaining the past
about her swimming nude. her on multiple occasions Associated Press few years on its better-
Rose, 75, told the Post that and once, during a busi- he emerged from a shower of Rose’s former assistants, known rivals. Rose also
he was “deeply embar- ness trip to Indiana, called naked. was 21 when she said Rose conducts interviews for “60
rassed” and apologized for her to his hotel room where Kyle Godfrey-Ryan, one repeatedly called her to Minutes.”q