Andrea Mandell

USA TODAY

Comedian and actress Jan Hooks has died at 57, People magazine confirms. The former Saturday Night Live cast member passed away this morning in New York City.

Though her cause of death is unknown, TMZ says she was battling a "serious illness."

Hooks was on SNL from 1986 to 1991 with Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey and Dennis Miller. Fans followed her from the show to Designing Women, and Hooks was nominated for an Emmy in 1998 for her role on 3rd Rock from the Sun. In 2010 Hooks was featured on 30 Rock playing Jane Krakowski's mother, Verna.

In her time at SNL, Hooks famously took on impressions of Sinéad O'Connor, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hillary Clinton.

Watch this classic clip of Hooks and Carvey riffing on Regis and Kathie Lee.



