Della Reese Biography

Early age and education

Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese, was born on July 6, 1931, in Black Bottom, Detroit, Michigan. Her mother, Nellie , was a cook for the Cherokee tribe while her father, Richard Thaddeus early , was an African-American steelworker.

Della had several siblings who didn’t live long enough to see her, so she grew up an only child.

Della Reese completed her high school from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. She was the first to graduate from her family’s high school and she did so at the age of 15 in 1947.

After high school, he joined Wayne State University but later dropped out to support his family after his mother’s illness and death.

Career, shows and television series

Della’s singing career began after she was discovered by gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson . In 1953, she signed a recording contract with Jubilee Records and recorded six albums. Her specialty was gospel singing, influenced by jazz.

In 1957, Reese released a song called And That Reminds Me , it topped many charts and became a million-selling record. Her fame increased after the popularity of the song, and she continued to release many songs that did very well on the charts.

After singing for almost two decades, Della focused on an acting career. Her first television debut was on her own talk show. Which was finally canceled after 197 episodes. In 1970, she hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johny Carson and she became the first black woman to do so.

Her acting debut was on the television show, The Mod Squad in 1968. Two years later, she starred in her first feature film, Psychic Killer . Her acting career skyrocketed after she reluctantly accepted the lead role in the drama. Touched by an angel .

Reese’s last project was the series, Signed, Sealed, and Delivered for two episodes alongside Eric Mabius , Kristin Booth, and Crystal Lowe .

Awards and nominations

Della had received many awards for her outstanding performance in Touched by an Angel . She was also nominated for a Grammy three times in 1960, 1961, and 1999.

In 1994, he received his own Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard.

Net worth, income and mansion

Singer and actress Della Reese had a stellar career in both singing and acting. At the time of her death, she had an estimated net worth of $3 million.

She made several million from the hit show, Touched by an Angel . Before he reached his peak as an actor, Reese had a fantastic singing career with many chart-topping songs.

In November 2014, he sold his Beverly Hills mansion for $7.5 million.

Personal life: husbands, divorce, children, death

Della Reese was married to a concert producer and writer, Franklin Thomas Lett Jr. in 1983. They were married for 45 years before Reese’s death. This was her fourth marriage.

She was previously married to an American musician. Mercer Ellington for less than a year before annulling her marriage the same year in 1961. Ella Reese was also married to an accountant Leroy Basil Gray from 1959 to 1961.

TITLE: Della Reese with her husband, Franklin Lett Jr. SOURCE: Zimbio

Della’s first husband was a laborer, Vermont Taliaferro . They were married for six years from 1952 to 1958.

Kids

Della had an adoptive daughter named Delorese Daniels Owen who died in 2002 due to complications from pituitary disease.

She has three children named Dominique Reese , Franklin Reese , and James Reese . All three of her children are with her fourth husband, Franklin Lett Jr.

Death

Della Reese died on November 19, 2017 at her residence in Los Angeles, California. Her cause of death was not released to the public. She had type 2 diabetes.

Age, height and other facts

• Della Reese died at the age of 86.
• He had a height of 1.73 m (5 feet 8 inches).
• She was friends with many stars including Shirley Jones , Betty White , Eddie Murphy , Oprah Winfrey, and Pat Robertson .
• She became an ordained minister to marry her Touched by an Angel costar, Roma Downey to Matt Burnett .