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Della Reese
ACTOR

Della Reese

Known for The A-Team · MacGyver · The Love Boat

Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Jul 6, 1931
Died
Nov 19, 2017
Birthplace
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades.

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Known For

TVThe A-Team
The A-TeamMrs. Baracus · 1983
★ 7.5
TVMacGyver
MacGyverMama Colton · 1985
★ 7.7
TVThe Love Boat
The Love BoatMillie Washington · 1977
★ 6.2
TVTouched by an Angel
Touched by an AngelTess · 1994
★ 7.2
TVNight Court
Night CourtAunt Ruth · 1984
★ 7.3
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf - Guest Hostess · 1962
★ 7.6
TVL.A. Law
L.A. LawLucille Lake · 1986
★ 7.0
TVMatch Game
Match GameSelf · 1973
★ 7.9

Filmography

Movies

LR
Let's Rock!Herself
1958
...& Beautiful
1969
DG
Daddy's GirlDiane
1973
Voyage of the YesOpal Parker
1973
Twice in a LifetimeFlo
1974
Cop on the BeatClaudine
1975
Psychic KillerMrs. Gibson
1975
Nightmare in Badham CountySarah
1976
The Gift of Amazing GraceAunt Faith
1986
Harlem NightsVera
1989
The Kid Who Loved ChristmasAlicia Slater
1990
HG
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'Self
1992
The Distinguished GentlemanElevator Operator (uncredited)
1992
You Must Remember ThisElla DuChamps (voice)
1992
A Thin Line Between Love and HateMa Wright
1996
A Match Made in HeavenKatie Beale
1997
Miracle in the WoodsLilly Cooper
1997
Emma's WishMona Washburn
1998
Touched by an Angel: A Christmas MiracleTess
1998
Anya's BellAnya Herpick
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsMartha Logan
1999
The Secret PathHoney
1999
DinosaurEema (voice)
2000
The Moving of Sophia MylesSophia Myles
2000
The Giants of Black MusicSelf
2003
DM
Donald McKayle: Heartbeats of a DanceMakerNarrator (voice)
2004
Beauty ShopMrs. Towner
2005
If I Had Known I Was a GeniusNana
2007
TO
Testimonies of Faith
2007
Expecting MaryDoris Dorkus
2010
Me AgainMuriel
2011
Christmas AngelElsie Waybright
2012
Meant to BeMave
2012
Dear Secret SantaLinda
2013
Miracle at Gate 213Alma Peddington
2013

Television

Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1944
The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 7 eps
1948
Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf · 2 eps
1957
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 10 eps
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Hostess · 20 eps
1961
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 4 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf - Guest Hostess · 11 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 83 eps
1962
Hollywood SquaresSelf · 10 eps
1966
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf · 2 eps
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1968
The Mod SquadPaula · 1 eps
1968
Medical CenterCapt. Sykes · 1 eps
1969
The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsGrace Dayton · 1 eps
1969
McCloudSgt. Gladys Harris · 1 eps
1970
The Pet SetSelf · 1 eps
1971
Match GameSelf · 5 eps
1973
Police StoryClaudine · 1 eps
1973
Chico and the ManDella Rogers · 88 eps
1974
PetrocelliAngela Damon · 1 eps
1974
Police WomanTina Thompson · 1 eps
1974
Welcome Back, KotterMrs. Jean Tremaine · 2 eps
1975
The Love BoatMillie Washington · 2 eps
1977
The A-TeamMrs. Baracus · 1 eps
1983
Crazy like a FoxMrs. Flood · 1 eps
1984
Crazy like a FoxNurse Flood · 2 eps
1984
Night CourtAunt Ruth · 1 eps
1984
Charlie & Co.18 eps
1985
MacGyverMama Colton · 2 eps
1985
Designing WomenMrs. Toussant · 1 eps
1986
L.A. LawLucille Lake · 1 eps
1986
A Pup Named Scooby-DooAdditional Voices (voice) · 12 eps
1988
A Pup Named Scooby-DooMrs. Johnson (voice) · 1 eps
1988
Dream OnReceptionist · 1 eps
1990
The Royal FamilyVictoria Royal · 15 eps
1991
Picket FencesNaomi Grand · 1 eps
1992
V
Vicki!Self · 1 eps
1992
Intimate PortraitSelf · 1 eps
1993
Touched by an AngelTess · 211 eps
1994
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildBlues Fairy (voice) · 1 eps
1995
Promised LandTess · 3 eps
1996
That's So RavenRhonnie Wilcox · 1 eps
2003
NN
Naomi's New MorningSelf · 1 eps
2005
TR
The Reichen ShowSelf · 1 eps
2005
Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf · 1 eps
2009
Signed, Sealed, DeliveredCora Brandt · 2 eps
2014

Photos

Della Reese photo
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