Jessica Walter, Emmy-winning Arrested Development and Archer star, dies at 80

Deadline

Walter died in her sleep at her home in New York City on Wednesday, her daughter Brooke Bowman announced. Walter earned Golden Globe nominations for her memorable roles in the 1966 film Grand Prix and the 1971 film Play Misty for Me. She won her only Emmy in 1975 for playing the title role in NBC's Amy Prentiss, a spinoff of Ironside, starring as the first female Chief of Detectives for the San Francisco Police Department. But Walter will best be remembered as Lucille Bluth, the alcoholic matriarch of Arrested Development, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination and the Internet's love as the show's most GIFable character. In fact, she could be considered Arrested's biggest star. "Always drinking, always exuding an air of entitlement, the sarcastic Lucille was at the center of an ever-evolving mess of a once-wealthy, now desperate family on the Fox/Netflix sitcom. Her razor-sharp work was a huge reason for the show's cult appeal, and her lines became catchphrases and her mannerisms memes," writes Chris Koseluk. In a 2013 Vanity Fair interview, Walter recalled Arrested creator Mitch Hurwitz telling her that Lucille and Gob were the hardest roles to cast. "I remember the day that I went to audition," she said. "They had seen my tape and the next day they flew me out to L.A. to meet the network. Will Arnett was there, along with about five other actors. I was the only one for Lucille that day. I got the offer right then and there. And I said, 'O.K., I’ll be back for the pilot!'" Walter also described how she channeled Lucille. "I knew some people in real life, and I also tried to use things inside myself," she said. "We all feel anger and rage. We all have the feelings that Lucille has, somewhere. Everybody wants to kill somebody at one time or another. Or keep up a lifestyle that they really shouldn’t. I tried to use those things inside myself to keep it close to the vest and not let it become a caricature." Walter also voiced Malory Archer on FXX’s animated series Archer since 2009. Walter's last TV appearance was just last month on American Housewife. Walter's death comes 15 months after the death of her husband and fellow Archer actor Ron Leibman. Walter's survivors include daughter Brooke Bowman, who is Fox Entertainment's senior vice president of drama programming. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica," 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.”

ALSO:

• Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz calls Jessica Walter "the best kind of comic actor": "I’m stunned and so very sad to hear this news," Hurwitz said in a statement to Variety about Walter. "Jessica was one of the sharpest, funniest people I’ve ever worked with — and I’ve been incredibly fortunate in working with some true greats. She was, to me, the best kind of comic actor — one who’s fearless in her willingness to draw upon the, shall we say, less desirable aspects of our character that, well … make us funny. She effortlessly sunk her teeth into depicting a type of mother that, given how people related to her, must be more common than is usually celebrated."
• Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, David Cross and Henry Winkler pay tribute to their Arrested Development co-star: "I just heard the sh*tty news about Jessica Walter an absolutely brilliant actress and amazing talent," tweeted Cross. "I consider myself privileged and very lucky to have been able to work with her. Lucille Bluth is one of TV's greatest characters." Hale added: "She was a force, and her talent and timing were unmatched. Rest In Peace Mama Bluth." Winkler tweeted "It was an honor to watch her comedy explode  from the very first row." Shawkat posted an image of Walter, captioned by a broken heart emoji and the words "love you Gangie." Arnett recalled first meeting Walter 25 years ago: "Jessica Walter was a deeply talented person," Arnett tweeted. "We first met on a pilot in ‘96 and I was instantly blown away. I’m fortunate to have had a front row seat to her brilliance for 25 years. My thoughts are with her daughter Brooke and grandson Micah today." Bateman tweeted: "R. I. P. Jessica Walter. What an incredible career, filled with amazing performances. I will forever remember my time with her, watching her bring Lucille Bluth to life. She was one of a kind. All my love and thoughts to her family."

  Farewell Jessica, you’ll be missed.

• Read more celebrity tributes to Jessica Walter
• In 2013, Jessica Walter weighed in on her most memorable Lucille Bluth GIFs
• "RIP Queen" trended on Twitter in honor of Walter
• Twitter users remember Lucille Bluth's most iconic moments
• Jessica Walter and George Segal, who also died this week, co-starred together in Sidney Lumet's 1968 film Bye Bye Braverman
• Archer creator Adam Reed and FX Networks pay tribute to Walter: “The Archer family is heartbroken to lose Jessica Walter, our beloved colleague and friend," said Reed. "Jessica was a consummate professional, an actor’s actor, and the exact opposite of Malory Archer – warm, caring, and kind, with an absolutely cracking sense of humor – and it was both a privilege and a true honor to work with her over these many years. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.”
• The Jim Henson Company remembers Walter for playing the matriarch of ABC's Dinosaurs