Jan Hooks 1957-2014 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-09-2014, 06:11 PM

Link

Jan Hooks, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live, died on Thursday in New York at the age of 57, her representative, Lisa Lieberman, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

No further details were immediately available.

In addition to the NBC variety show, Hooks TV credits include roles on Designing Women, 3rd Rock From the Sun and The Simpsons. In 1998, the actress was nominated for an Emmy award in the outstanding guest actress in a comedy series category for her 3rd Rock From the Sun role.

Her film credits include Batman Returns and Simon Birch.

A representative for SNL did not respond to a request for comment.

Vahan · 10-09-2014, 06:15 PM

"There's no basement in the Alamo!"

Rest in peace.

TMC · 10-09-2014, 06:22 PM

I hate to say this, but in a way, I'm not that surprised. Jan Hooks during her appearance on 30 Rock did not look well. It appeared that she had gained a lot of weight and just simply looked worn out (to put things kindly) and unrecognizable. And if I remember correctly, when Jan was interviewed on the Women of SNL special from several years back, she was actually bedridden.

tlc38tlc38 · 10-09-2014, 08:08 PM

She will be missed. I loved her in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and she always cracked me up on "Designing Women"...IMO she and Dixie were what help that show together the last 2 seasons.

McGillicuddy · 10-10-2014, 06:52 PM

This is the second cast member to die this year. Meshach Taylor passed away in June. R.I.P., Jan.

biffbronson · 10-11-2014, 02:44 AM

A really talented lady I remember well from DW and SNL. And now I'm compelled to watch her work on 3rd Rock. Sad passing.

Yesha · 10-11-2014, 03:52 AM

I first saw her as a waitress on an Atlanta station, WTCG, I think. She was always on top of her game. She will be missed and remembered fondly..,

Kasey · 10-11-2014, 09:41 AM

Season 6 is one my favorites in large part to her. I loved Carlene. RIP Jan.

jayman75 · 10-12-2014, 07:53 AM

Did we hear from Annie Potts or any other DW co-stars on Jan's passing? She only briefly worked with Jean, but it would be nice to hear from them.

Much like Meshach Taylor's passing... I don't recall ever hearing comments from his DW costars. Perhaps I missed them...

dguy24 · 06-17-2015, 10:40 PM

She was my favorite as Vicky on 3rd Rock from the Sun.
She's was a hysterical actress. Love, love, loved her.
Rest in peace Jan.
You are and will be missed.

TMC · 01-14-2016, 03:12 AM

http://grantland.com/features/jan-ho...big-adventure/

- She had an apartment in New York and a farmhouse upstate. Eventually she just moved to the farmhouse full-time.

- Her handyman (who became a good friend) said the isolation was intense, but she craved being alone with her pets.

- She was a heavy smoker and drinker for years and had no intention of quitting either (implication is her changed appearance was due to tons of booze).

- She turned down work (not just auditions, but offers) regularly and said she only wanted to work enough to keep her SAG insurance.

- At a tribute to Marc Shaiman at Carnegie Hall, he wanted to reunite the Sweeney Sisters. Nora Dunn was all aboard. Jan stalled him and finally said she just didn't want to do it.

TMC · 05-15-2017, 03:25 PM

Why did she choose to live as a recluse and turned to alcohol and cigarettes? Was she mentally ill? Or was that some kind of an agoraphobia?

Schmo · 12-23-2019, 08:09 PM

This article mentions Jan Hooks having a “tumbler of vodka” with her meal while watching her debut episode of “Designing Women”.
https://ew.com/article/1991/10/04/re...signing-women/

If she was drinking heavily then, it apparently didn’t affect her performance on DW.
In retrospect, Jan seemed a talented but troubled woman who never sought the help she needed.

TMC · 12-25-2019, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

This article mentions Jan Hooks having a “tumbler of vodka” with her meal while watching her debut episode of “Designing Women”.
https://ew.com/article/1991/10/04/re...signing-women/

If she was drinking heavily then, it apparently didn’t affect her performance on DW.
In retrospect, Jan seemed a talented but troubled woman who never sought the help she needed.

One has to suspect that Jan took the news of Phil Hartman's death really badly (while they may or may not have been a "couple" during their SNL days, there was a definite attraction/kismet there), which could explain why she pulled back from showbiz and became a recluse. Regardless, Jan was apparently a loner who had lots of personal issues to begin with. She didn't want to be in a relationship, from what's been said about her.

TMC · 09-08-2020, 05:39 PM

Do you think that Jan Hooks deep down inside, regretted joining Designing Women? It was probably decent money but after doing acclaimed work on SNL, it must have hurt to be associated with a show that was in decline. Plus, she was essentially playing a "replacement Scrappy" for Jean Smart.

10-09-2014, 06:11 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Jan Hooks 1957-2014 Link Jan Hooks, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live, died on Thursday in New York at the age of 57, her representative, Lisa Lieberman, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. No further details were immediately available. In addition to the NBC variety show, Hooks TV credits include roles on Designing Women, 3rd Rock From the Sun and The Simpsons. In 1998, the actress was nominated for an Emmy award in the outstanding guest actress in a comedy series category for her 3rd Rock From the Sun role. Her film credits include Batman Returns and Simon Birch. A representative for SNL did not respond to a request for comment.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-09-2014, 08:08 PM	#4
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	She will be missed. I loved her in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and she always cracked me up on "Designing Women"...IMO she and Dixie were what help that show together the last 2 seasons.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

10-11-2014, 03:52 AM	#7
Yesha Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2014 Location: USA Posts: 43	I first saw her as a waitress on an Atlanta station, WTCG, I think. She was always on top of her game. She will be missed and remembered fondly..,
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10-12-2014, 07:53 AM	#9
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Did we hear from Annie Potts or any other DW co-stars on Jan's passing? She only briefly worked with Jean, but it would be nice to hear from them. Much like Meshach Taylor's passing... I don't recall ever hearing comments from his DW costars. Perhaps I missed them...
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

01-14-2016, 03:12 AM	#11
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	In-depth profile of Jan Hooks' last years http://grantland.com/features/jan-ho...big-adventure/ - She had an apartment in New York and a farmhouse upstate. Eventually she just moved to the farmhouse full-time. - Her handyman (who became a good friend) said the isolation was intense, but she craved being alone with her pets. - She was a heavy smoker and drinker for years and had no intention of quitting either (implication is her changed appearance was due to tons of booze). - She turned down work (not just auditions, but offers) regularly and said she only wanted to work enough to keep her SAG insurance. - At a tribute to Marc Shaiman at Carnegie Hall, he wanted to reunite the Sweeney Sisters. Nora Dunn was all aboard. Jan stalled him and finally said she just didn't want to do it.

10-09-2014, 06:15 PM	#2
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	"There's no basement in the Alamo!" Rest in peace.

10-09-2014, 06:22 PM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	I hate to say this, but in a way, I'm not that surprised. Jan Hooks during her appearance on 30 Rock did not look well. It appeared that she had gained a lot of weight and just simply looked worn out (to put things kindly) and unrecognizable. And if I remember correctly, when Jan was interviewed on the Women of SNL special from several years back, she was actually bedridden.

10-10-2014, 06:52 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	This is the second cast member to die this year. Meshach Taylor passed away in June. R.I.P., Jan.

10-11-2014, 02:44 AM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,269	A really talented lady I remember well from DW and SNL. And now I'm compelled to watch her work on 3rd Rock. Sad passing.

10-11-2014, 09:41 AM	#8
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	Season 6 is one my favorites in large part to her. I loved Carlene. RIP Jan.

06-17-2015, 10:40 PM	#10
dguy24 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 41	She was my favorite as Vicky on 3rd Rock from the Sun. She's was a hysterical actress. Love, love, loved her. Rest in peace Jan. You are and will be missed.

05-15-2017, 03:25 PM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	JAN HOOKS - was she mentally ill? Why did she choose to live as a recluse and turned to alcohol and cigarettes? Was she mentally ill? Or was that some kind of an agoraphobia?

12-23-2019, 08:09 PM	#13
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	This article mentions Jan Hooks having a “tumbler of vodka” with her meal while watching her debut episode of “Designing Women”. https://ew.com/article/1991/10/04/re...signing-women/ If she was drinking heavily then, it apparently didn’t affect her performance on DW. In retrospect, Jan seemed a talented but troubled woman who never sought the help she needed.

09-08-2020, 05:39 PM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	Do you think that Jan Hooks deep down inside, regretted joining Designing Women? It was probably decent money but after doing acclaimed work on SNL, it must have hurt to be associated with a show that was in decline. Plus, she was essentially playing a "replacement Scrappy" for Jean Smart.