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'Arrested Development' star Jessica Walter has passed away at 80 years old

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 3/25/21

Jessica Walter, beloved most recently for her role as alcoholic matriarch Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development, died in her sleep Wednesday in her native New York City, according to Deadline.

Walter had just turned 80 years old on Jan. 31.

Deadline shared a statement provided by Walter's daughter, Brooke Bowman: "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."

Bowman is carrying on her mother's legacy in Hollywood as the SVP of drama programming at Fox Entertainment.

Walter's roles date back to the 1960s. In 1971, she made an impression as Evelyn in Play Misty for Me. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood, who starred opposite Walter as a DJ who has an affair with Evelyn only to realize she is an obsessed fan. Walter was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture (drama).

Walter then won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited series after she starred as the titular character in Amy Prentiss (1974-75).

Her work as Lucille Bluth bookended a slew of roles through the 1980s and '90s, including The Love Boat and One Life to Live.

Arrested Development debuted in 2003. The series was created by Mitchell Hurwitz and paired Walter with other certified talents such as Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, and more. It was initially canceled by Fox in 2006 but received a Netflix revival in 2013. A fifth season was released in May 2018.

Walter also voiced Mallory Archer for 119 episodes of the animated comedy Archer. Her most recent work was a guest role on American Housewife in the "Getting Frank with the Ottos" episode that aired Feb. 24.

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