Hot News: 'SNL' comedian and actress Jan Hooks dead at 57

Jan Hooks at the 40th Emmy Awards, August 1988. (Photo by Alan Light)

CTVNews.ca Staff

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Jan Hooks died in New York at the age of 57, her agent announced on Thursday.

Hooks was on 'SNL' from 1986 to 1991, and was best known for her portrayals of celebrities and politicians including Hillary Clinton, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan.

She also created memorable characters such as Candy Sweeney, one half of the lounge-singing Sweeney Sisters with cast member Nora Dunn.

Details of her death were not provided on Thursday evening.

After five years at 'SNL', Hooks went on to join the cast of the sitcom 'Designing Women' and later had recurring roles on other comedies such as '30 Rock' and '3rd Rock from the Sun.'

Twitter tributes poured in for Hooks after news broke of her death.

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[ View the story 'Actress Jan Hooks remembered for keeping the 'female voice of SNL relevant and hilarious'' on Storify] Twitter tributes poured in for Jan Hooks after news broke on Thursday evening that the former Saturday Night Live cast member died at the age of 57 in New York, according to her agent.

Storified by CTVNews.ca · Thu, Oct 09 2014 23:43:02

We're sad to report that @nbcsnl veteran Jan Hooks has died. She was 57 years old. http://t.co/MsfAWNddwX http://t.co/RSiR7jqGGCIMDb TV

Canadian actress and comedienne Nia Vardalos said simply:

RIP Jan Hooks. Dammit.Nia Vardalos

Others remembered the various characters she played on Saturday Night live, including her popular, tearful portrayals of Tammy Faye Bakker.

RIP Jan Hooks... one of my favorite SNL players. You'll be missed! #SayHi http://t.co/Q34PhaGungRick Ulrich

Another of her more popular sketches on SNL involved fellow cast mate Nora Dunn. The two played the Sweeney Sisters -- hotel lounge singers who performed painfully awful but hilarious medleys.

Nooooooo not #JanHooks! OMG I was a huge fan! The Sweeney Sisters changed my life! RIP Jan Hooks ... so sad. http://t.co/qyZeRx5wEUFagsy Malone

Hooks was also known for her impressions of newsmakers and celebrities such as Hillary Clinton, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Sinead O'Connor.

Jan Hooks and Phil Hartman were my TV mom and dad. They were funny with poise, class, and authority. http://t.co/UxEEUszqJMMike Lawrence

Jan Hooks as Sinead O'Connor was definitely one of my favorite characters she played. http://t.co/OAZH0NTMHWKem

Others reflected on the sad year for comedy, with the losses of some comedic giants.

Tough year for comedians just got tougher. Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Jan Hooks... #RIPEllis Mitchell

Awful year for comedy. RIP Jan Hooks http://t.co/VnJrSJveOHMichael Young

'Joe Dunn' remembered Hooks as an important female voice on a male-dominated SNL with this tribute:

In an era of SNL when men dominated w/ characters Jan Hooks kept the female voice of SNL relevant and hilarious. RIP. http://t.co/qM75GytwvIJoe Dunn

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