Jan Hooks has died at the age of 57, TMZ reports. The former Saturday Night Live star passed away on Thursday, Oct. 9, after battling a serious illness.
Hooks starred in the late-night NBC variety show from 1986 to 1994, where she famously impersonated Sinead O'Connor and was one half of the Sweeney Sisters act with Nora Dunn. Some of her cast members at the time included Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, and Chris Farley.
The Georgia native is also best known for playing Carlene Frazier Dobber in Designing Women in the early '90s and Vicki Dubcek in the comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun.
In addition, Hooks appeared on The Martin Short Show, The Dana Carvey Show, and played Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon in The Simpsons from 1997 to 2002. She last appeared on 30 Rock in 2010 as Verna Maroney.
Stars fled to Twitter to mourn Hooks' loss soon after the news broke. "RIP Jan Hooks. One of the all time greats," SNL alum Seth Meyers wrote. Colin Hanks added: "Jan Hooks always made me laugh. always."
"So so gifted. RIP Jan Hooks," Joel McHale commented. Comedian and actor Seth MacFarlane wrote: "Jan Hooks still stands out as one of the funniest cast members in SNL history. Very sorry to read about her passing." Katie Couric shared: "So sorry to hear about Jan Hooks. I loved her on SNL."
Parks and Recreation star and comedien Billy Eichner wrote: "Such sad news about the BRILLIANT Jan Hooks. Worshipped her on SNL. RIP." Hooks' former 30 Rock costar Cheyenne Jackson also sent his condolences. "RIP JanHooks," he tweeted. "Worked briefly with her on 30Rock and she was a twistedly brilliant comedic presence. #Adobe."
Patton Oswalt noted Hooks' "adobe" saying from her film Pee-wee's Big Adventure too. "Not now, but sometime this weekend I'll think of Jan Hooks saying 'adobe' and I'll get tear-eyed," he tweeted. "I know it. #RIPJanHooks."
