The singer and actress was 86 years old. — -- Della Reese, best known recently for her role as Tess on the hit TV series "Touched by an Angel," died Sunday, her family confirmed for ABC News.

Della Reese, the actress and ... helping launch her appearances on TV variety shows and in movies such as "Let's Rock" (1958). Ms. Reese had been ordained by the Chicago-based Universal Foundation ...

Reese was mainly known as a singer, although she had costarred on "Chico and the Man," ''Charlie and Company" and "The Royal Family" and hosted her own talk show, "Della." "Touched by an Angel ...

Della Reese ... but the show grew to become one of television's highest-rated dramas. The show followed an apprentice angel (Roma Downey) and her supervisor (Reese) who were sent to Earth ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in ... appearing on TV variety shows.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/AP) — Della ... Angel" from 1994-2003, also released a statement honoring Reese as someone who "delivered encouragement and optimism to millions of viewers as Tess" on the ...

LOS ANGELES — Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the ’50s and ’60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on “Touched by an Angel” and other shows ...

Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the ‘50s and ‘60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on “Touched by an Angel” and other shows, died Sunday night at her ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the ... hosted her own talk show, “Della.” ...

"Reese already had been famous for decades as a gospel-influenced R&B performer, TV ... angel. "No one played the down to earth, worldly mother figure like Della Reese," Eric adds. The show ...

Her representative, Lynda Bensky, confirmed her death to USA TODAY, noting, "We lost a magnificent woman who was a trailblazer in many ways." ...