Jan Hooks

Actress and comedian Jan Hooks was among the most gifted players of the "Saturday Night Live" (NBC 1974- ) renaissance in the late 1980s. She later enjoyed steady work as a guest actress on television, including two years co-starring on "Designing Women" (CBS, 1986-1993). Although she did not go on to the prolific film and television careers that many of her SNL alumni did, Hooks was fondly remembered by sketch comedy fans for her ability to perform both broad characters and straight roles, in much the same way that her castmate and close friend Phil Hartman did. When Hooks died at the age of 57 on October 9, 2014 after battling a lengthy illness, tributes poured in from all corners of the comedy world, including a tender on-air tribute on "Saturday Night Live" itself by former cast members Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig.