Jan Hooks, who worked alongside some of the biggest "Saturday Night Live" stars ... died Thursday ... TMZ has learned. She was 57.
We've learned she passed away this morning in New York City. Sources tell us Jan had been battling a serious illness.
Jan was part of the 'SNL' cast from 1986-91 ... the same time as Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey and Dennis Miller ... and was most famous for being half of the Sweeney Sisters ... and also for her impressions of Sinead O'Connor and Hillary Clinton.
She most recently played a part on "30 Rock."
Right after 'SNL', Jan joined the cast of "Designing Women." She also had a famous role in "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure."
Jan had dated fellow SNL star Kevin Nealon ... before they were both on the show. Nealon tells TMZ he and Jan had "amazing times as friends, then dating and then the incredible rush of being on SNL together."
He added, "I only wish she knew how well respected and admired she was. This is such a loss."
Jan was nominated for an Emmy in 1998 for a role on "3rd Rock from the Sun."
Has it been two years already? Where does the time go? This commercial makes me laugh till I cry every time.
EVEREE TIIME!!
"What's in the new chicken wraps!?"
My tears apparently.
The statement issued by Mary immediately after this commercial (offended people) and failed miserably..
“I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence,” Mary J. Blige told TMZ.com. “Unfortunately, that’s not what was happening in that clip.”
Blige found herself in hot grease when Burger King released a commercial that showed the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul singing the praises of crispy chicken wraps. The video was removed after critics called out Mary J’s performance for what was classified as stereotypical depictions of African-Americans.
“I understand my fans being upset by what they saw,” she said in the statement. “But, if you’re a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw go out.”
In the commercial, a Burger King manager asks Blige to explain to patrons what’s in the new chicken wraps. The place turns into a club atmosphere,and Blige can be seen in the ad standing atop Burger King tables, singing the praises of the new crispy chicken snack wraps. A group of kids start dancing as do the customers.
“Crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing wrapped up in a tasty, flour tortilla,” the nine-time Grammy winner croons.
As CBS Local previously reported, the ad was part of a new celebrity-driven Burger King campaign designed to revive the fast food brand, that has fallen to second behind Wendy’s, a recent report said. Mary J. Blige was not the only celebrity on hand to shill for BK. Jay Leno, David Beckham, Salma Hayek, Sofia Vergara and Steven Tyler also dropped commercials.
While Tyler also “gets things rocking for Crispy Chicken Strips,” according to the press release announcing the campaign, much of the criticism surrounding Mary’s performance has to do with stereotypes concerning black people and fried chicken.
In usual pile-on fashion, the Twitterverse reacted with scorn. The most notable critique came from Steve Stoute, founder of Translation, an advertising company that built a reputation for marrying hip-hop culture and Wall Street in an authentic way.
Miss Mary Mack. We all make mistakes. Let's just hope that when we do, they'll come out as funny as this.