As an actress, Della Reese has made appearances in films, television films and television series. She made her first television appearance in a 1968 episode of The Mod Squad. Her first television film was released in 1973 titled Voyage of the Yes. In 1975, she made her first film appearance as Mrs. Gibson in Psychic Killer. During the 1970s and 1980s, Reese acted in television series and television films. This includes 1976's Nightmare in Badham County, five episodes of It Takes Two and 27 episodes of Chico and the Man. In 1989, she appeared as Vera Walker in the film Harlem Nights.
Between 1991 and 1992, Reese appeared in the short-lived television series The Royal Family. In 1994, Reese portrayed Tess in the series Touched by an Angel. The show ran for the next ten years and Reese received nominations for her role from the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. She also won several accolades from the NAACP Image Awards for her role. In the late 1990s, Reese appeared in series of television films including Emma's Wish and Anya's Bell. During this period, she also made six appearances in the show Promised Land. Reese continued acting through the 2000s and the early part of the 2010s. Among her film appearances of this period was 2005's Beauty Shop and 2010's Expecting Mary. Her final filmography credit was in a 2014 episode of Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Film + List of film appearances by Della Reese, showing all relevant details Title Year Role Ref. Psychic Killer1975Mrs. Gibson Harlem Nights1989Vera Walker 1996Ma Wright Dinosaur2000Eema (voice) Beauty Shop2005Mrs. Towner If I Had Known I Was a Genius2007Nana Expecting Mary2010Doris Dorkus Meant to Be2012Mave Me Again2012Muriel
Television films + List of film appearances by Della Reese, showing all relevant details Title Year Role Ref. Voyage of the Yes1973Opal Parker Daddy's Girl1973Diane Twice in a Lifetime1974Flo Cop on the Beat1975Claudine Flo's Place 1976Flo Nightmare in Badham CountySarah 1990Alicia Slater You Must Remember This1992Ella DuChampsVoice 1997Katie Beale Miracle in the WoodsLilly Cooper Emma's Wish 1998Mona Washburn Mama Flora's FamilyNana Fleming (Chasing Secrets) 1999Honey Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 YearsMartha Logan Anya's BellAnya Herpick 2000Sophia Myles Hallelujah2011Dulcie Prejean Christmas Angel2012Elsie Waybright Dear Secret Santa2013Linda Miracle at Gate 2132013Alma Peddington
Television series + List of television series appearances by Della Reese, showing all relevant details Title Year Role Notes Ref. 1968PaulaEpisode: "Find Tara Chapman!" Della1969–1970Herself (host)197 episodes(Video). Della Reese interview with Tavis Smiley. June 12, 2009. Tavis Smiley Late Night. PBS. 1970Grace DaytonEpisode: "Killer on the Loose" Police Woman1974Tina ThompsonEpisode: "Requiem for Bored Wives" McCloud1974–1976Police Sgt. Gladys Harris2 episodes Petrocelli 1975Angela DamonEpisode: "Once Upon a Victim" LandersEpisode: "Ladies Day" Sanford and SonHerselfEpisode: "Della, Della, Della" Chico and the Man1975–1978Della Rogers27 episodes Medical Center1976Capt. SykesEpisode: "Major Annie, MD" Welcome Back, Kotter1979Mrs. TremaineEpisodes: "Come Back, Little Arnold", "The Gang Show" Insight1980Judge Roberta LynnEpisode: "God in the Dock" 1982Millie Washington2 episodes It Takes Two1982–1983Judge Caroline Phillips5 episodes 1985Mrs. BaracusEpisode: "Lease with an Option to Die" Crazy Like a Fox1985–1986Nurse Flood3 episodes Charlie & Co. 1986Aunt Rachel4 episodes ABC Afterschool SpecialAunt FaithEpisode: "The Gift of Amazing Grace" 2271987–1990Rita Clark / Grace2 episodes Night Court1989Aunt RuthEpisode: "Auntie Maim" 1990Stagecoach SallyEpisode: "Born to Hang" MacGyver1990–1991Mama Colton2 episodes Married People1991AnnetteEpisode: "Dance Ten, Friends Zero" 1991–1992Victoria Royal15 episodes Dream On1992ReceptionistEpisode: "No Deposit, No Return" Designing Women 1993Mrs. ToussantEpisode: "Wedding Redux" L.A. LawLucille LakeEpisode: "Vindaloo in the Villows" Picket FencesNaomi GrandEpisode: "The Lullaby League" Touched by an Angel1994–2003Tess211 episodesNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (1998–2002)Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1997–98)Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (1997–98) Promised Land1996–1998Tess6 episodes Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1997The Blues Fairy (voice)Episode: "Pinocchio" That's So Raven2006Miss Rhonnie WilcoxEpisode: "The Four Aces" 2009Aunt Virginia2 episodes Detroit 1-8-72010Lorraine HendersonEpisode: "Shelter" Signed, Sealed, Delivered2014Cora Brandt2 episodes
References
External links Della Reese