Arrested Development and Archer alum Jessica Walter died on Wednesday, the actress’ daughter, Brooke Bowman, confirmed her passing in a statement on Thursday, March 25, saying: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. 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.” No cause of death was given, but reports say that Walter died in her sleep.
The Emmy Award-winning Walter was best known as Lucille Bluth on “Arrested Development.” She won a 1975 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for the NBC drama “Amy Prentiss,” was nominated for an Emmy for her “Arrested Development” role in 2005, as well as for parts in TV series including “Trapper John, M.D.” and “The Streets of San Francisco.” Walter voiced spy agency head Malory Archer in the FXX animated series “Archer,” and appeared in television series including “Good Girls,” “At Home With Amy Sedaris,” “90210,” “One Life to Live,” “Coach,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “The Love Boat” and more. Walter also appeared in numerous Broadway shows, most recently in the 2011 to 2012 production of “Anything Goes,” and is also remembered for many film including Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, “Play Misty for Me.”
Walter’s husband, Emmy-winning actor Ron Leibman, died in 2019 at age 82. She is survived by her daughter and grandson Micah Heymann.
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