http://m.tmz.com/#Article/2014/10/09...-dead-dies-snl

The last few times I saw her on TV (a few years ago) - she looked very rough. Almost like she used to have a major drug problem or something. Whatever the problem was then - I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with her death.

That's too bad. I always thought she was one of the funnier female comedians on SNL. It's been a while since I've seen her in anything. I think the last time I saw her was on a guest starring role in 3rd Rock From the Sun in the 90s.

Wow, many great memories of her on SNL and as the gum-chewing Alamo tour guide in Pee-wee's Big Adventure.



Phil Hartman's tribute ended with this short. One of the finer moments on SNL...

Jan Hooks

That's too bad. She was really funny and talented. Loved her cameos in PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE and BATMAN RETURNS.

Loved her on SNL - everything from her Sinead O'Conner to her Hillary Clinton.

A big fan of her work.

She really was an Otter fan

And in the hands of a lesser comedic actress, this would have been nowhere near as awesome:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cYfjq3ZYZbA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

She was brilliant on SNL at a time when the show was at its best.

Love is a Dream is even sadder now.

RIP

I thought she was possibly the best female cast member in SNL's history.

Sad..

The worst part about the article, aside from her death, are the terrible pictures.

I'd for sure have her in my top 3.

Jan

That's too young. And yes, she did some great stuff with SNL.

I'm trying to think of someone I liked more... I'd rank her right up there with Gilda, maybe, as the Top 2 of all time.

Tremendous talent, and very easy on the eyes to boot. RIP.

Major bummer. She was SO great on those Phil Hartman/Dana Carvey years. I really loved her work. What a talent.

I saw Kevin Nealon on with Tom Green last week and he mentioned having dated her back in the day. It got me wondering what she'd been up to lately so when I saw recent pictures of her it was shocking. Made me think she had health issues so this news didn't come as a surprise. She was very talented and contributed much to SNL during some of its best years. Very sad to see.

RIP

She was pretty when she was younger and I remember her appearance on 30 Rock and wondered if there was something wrong since she had been out of the spotlight for years.

Sad day. Her era was my favorite of SNL. Her, Nora Dunn, Nealon, Lovitz, Dennis Miller, etc.

never an SNL superstar, but one of the better female "glue" type performer. Like a female Phil Hartman. RIP.

Top 2 for me, but Top 5 of any gender.

Jan got started on TV on the Tush show on WTBS in 1980 (starring TBS factotum Bill Tush). This was very much an SNL wannabe; regardless, an extremely fun show to watch, very low budget but also very loose and relaxed and very Southern (produced at the CNN center in Atlanta). Bonnie and Terry Turner were the writers (and performed on the show) and they of course went on to massive success with SNL, 3rd Rock, That 70s Show, etc.

I doubt if the show had more than 20 episodes in its single season.

I checked a few years ago and there weren't any YouTube clips of the show, so I was pleasantly surprised to find some now.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Qy8MTBxP7no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

^ Jan starts at 2:35 (some overlap with other clips)

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7pTOgXh_JWw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

^ Jan starts at 3:12

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/y_wJap5ahKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VgbyxKu3Ed8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

^ Jan starts at 1:30

Because there were some well known names that would be at CNN doing interviews, promotions, etc. the would sometimes stop by the Tush show.

Muhammad Ali at 1:00

Jacqueline Bisset at 2:20

Burt Reynolds (who had a restaurant, Burt's Place, in the CNN Center), and Hall and Oates are in this one too.

There are some more, just search for TUSH -ZZ and they can be found.

Although the older Jan very much looked her age (and maybe more later on) I have to respect a woman who doesn't go the plastic surgery/lion face route.

RIP

Damn, loved her comedic acting.

I'm putting my money on lung cancer. She always struck me as a heavy smoker, even though that is pure speculation. Something about her appearance and the degradation of her voice over the years always said "Two packs a day" to me.

What's up with the thread title? I hope when I die I have something as "dignified" as "My Name. Job DEAD." Sheesh!

Agreed.

She struck me as humble, a real team / ensemble player. Couldn't tell you why she didn't get a tremendous lot of roles in her post-SNL days, though many from that era seem to have either really gone on to more roles or not so much. Every once in a while, I still find myself saying, out loud, one of her funniest lines on SNL: "I am a bar fly."

<iframe width="640" height="360" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://screen.yahoo.com/peoples-court-000000848.html?format=embed" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

Echo some of the sentiments here. She certainly was the most versatile female performer during the Phil Hartman years.

The last time I remember seeing her was playing Jenna's mom on 30 Rock. She did not look good then.