Overview

Della Reese (born July 6, 1931) was an American singer, television actress and ordained Christian minister. Her professional life stretched from the 1950s into the 21st century, and she became widely familiar to television audiences for her long-running role as Tess in the CBS drama Touched by an Angel (1994–2003). She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where early exposure to church music helped shape her vocal style.

Career and musical background

Reese began as a singer with roots in gospel and transitioned into pop and jazz-inflected recordings. In the late 1950s she scored a popular hit that showcased her dramatic, expressive delivery and helped establish her as a crossover artist. Over subsequent decades she recorded, toured, and appeared on stage and in television variety programs. Her voice was noted for its clarity, emotional directness and ability to move between sacred and secular repertoires.

In addition to music, Reese pursued acting across multiple formats. She took supporting and guest roles on films and television series, later achieving mainstream recognition with her portrayal of Tess, a guardian angel who counsels people facing moral and personal crises. That series brought her to a larger audience and tied together her performance and faith identities.

Ministry, public life and influence

Later in life Reese was an ordained Christian minister and incorporated pastoral work, preaching and counseling into her public life. She founded and led ministries and often spoke about faith, perseverance and the intersection of spirituality and entertainment. Her dual identity as performer and minister made her a distinctive figure in American popular culture.

  • Notable television role: Touched by an Angel
  • Musical work: crossover recordings blending gospel, pop and jazz influences
  • Public ministry and pastoral counseling in later decades

Reese's career is remembered for its longevity and versatility: she moved between recording studios, concert halls, television sets and pulpit with a consistent combination of warm presence and direct communication. She helped open a path for performers who wished to maintain both secular careers and religious commitments.

Della Reese died on November 19, 2017, in Encino, California, at the age of 86 from complications related to diabetes. Her life and work continue to be cited in discussions of crossover singers, television performers who project spiritual authority, and entertainers who embrace formal ministry.

For more about her recordings, performances and later ministry, see representative biographies and archives about her music and television histories about her acting.