R.I.P. Jessica Walter

(Via: CNN) Jessica Walter, an award-winning actress beloved for her role in the television series "Arrested Development," died Wednesday in her sleep at her home in New York City, her daughter confirmed in a statement to CNN.

She was 80.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica," her daughter, Brooke Bowman, said in a statement. "A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. While her legacy will live on through her body of work, she will also be remembered by many for her wit, class and overall joie de vivre."

Born in New York City, Walter was a force on both stage and screen. Her roles encompassed everything from the films "Grand Prix" and the Clint Eastwood directorial debut "Play Misty for Me" to several Broadway productions, including "Photo Finish," which won her the Clarence Derwent Awards in 1963 for Outstanding Debut Broadway Performance.

Walter won an Emmy in 1975 for her starring role in the NBC series "Amy Prentiss," a drama about a young San Francisco police detective whose career catapults quickly. The show was a spinoff of the then very popular series, "Ironside."

​She appeared in numerous other television series over the years, including "Trapper John M..D." and "Streets of San Francisco," which earned her Emmy nominations. But it was her recent turn as Lucille Bluth on the cult classic series "Arrested Development" and as the voice of Malory Archer on the animated series "Archer" that expanded Walter's fan base and earned her more award nominations.
Tributes to Walter poured in Thursday on social media.

"This is so incredibly sad. I loved Jessica so much," director Paul Feig tweeted. "She was so funny and marched to the tune of her own drummer. A true original whom I had the honor of working with several times. So much love to you, Jessica. Rest In Peace."David Cross, who costarred with her on "Arrested Development," tweeted that Walter was "an absolutely brilliant actress and amazing talent."

"I consider myself privileged and very lucky to have been able to work with her," he wrote. "Lucille Bluth is one of TV's greatest characters."

Actress Jessica Walter passed away in her sleep yesterday at the age of 80. In a career that spanned over six decades, Jessica Walter had over 160 credits, but to me, she'll always be Lucille.

Internet life is full of hot takes and over-exaggerations, especially after someone dies, but if you asked me last week, last month or last year whose the funniest mother in television history I'm saying Lucille Bluth every single time. Lucille (1) was sharp as an arrow with a million one-liners and masterful physical comedy in the looks she'd give and the coldness she'd portray. You should hate her character, but she's too fucking funny not to love. In a cast full of hilarious people, Jessica Walter shined magnificently in her role as Lucille Bluth. She will be missed; luckily, her comedy will live on forever.

If there is a heaven, whenever Martin Mull (Gene Parmesan) dies, I hope he can sneak up on Jessica/Lucille and surprise her one more time.