Jessica Walter, 'Arrested Development' and 'Archer' star, dies at 80

 

Jessica Walter, 'Arrested Development' and 'Archer' star, dies at 80

Jessica Walter, an award-winning actress beloved for her role within the television series "Arrested Development," died Wednesday in her sleep at her range in ny City, her daughter confirmed in a statement to CNN.

She was 80.

"It is with an important heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica," her daughter, Brooke Bowman, said during a statement. "A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. While her legacy will survive through her body of labor , she goes to even be remembered by many for her wit, class and overall joie de vivre."

Born in ny City, Walter was a force on both stage and screen.

Her roles encompassed everything from the films "Grand Prix" and therefore the Clint Eastwood directorial debut "Play Misty for Me" to many Broadway productions, including "Photo Finish," which won her the Clarence Derwent Awards in 1963 for Outstanding Debut Broadway Performance .

Walter won an Emmy in 1975 for her starring role within the NBC series "Amy Prentiss," a drama a few young San Francisco detective whose career catapults quickly. The show was a by-product of the then very fashionable series, "Ironside."

She appeared in numerous other television series over the years, including "Trapper John M..D." and "Streets of San Francisco ," which earned her Emmy nominations.

But it had been her recent turn as Lucille Bluth on the cult classic series "Arrested Development" and because the voice of Malory Archer on the animated series "Archer" that expanded Walter's fan base and earned her more award nominations.

Tributes to Walter poured in Thursday on social media.

"This is so incredibly sad. I loved Jessica such a lot ," director Paul Feig tweeted. "She was so funny and marched to the tune of her own drummer. A true original whom I had the respect of working with several times. So much love to you, Jessica. Rest In Peace."

David Cross, who costarred together with her on "Arrested Development," tweeted that Walter was "an absolutely brilliant actress and amazing talent."

"I consider myself privileged and really lucky to possess been able to work along side her ," he wrote. "Lucille Bluth is one of TV's greatest characters."

FX provided CNN with a press release from Adam Reed, creator and executive producer of "Archer."

"The Archer family is heartbroken to lose Jessica Walter, our beloved colleague and friend," the statement read. "Jessica was a consummate professional, an actor's actor, and therefore the exact opposite of Malory Archer -- warm, caring, and kind, with an absolutely cracking sense of humor -- and it was both a privilege and a real honor to figure together with her over these a few years . She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten."