Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama “Touched by an Angel,” has died at age 86.

Her co-star, Roma Downey, confirmed the news on Instagram:

Heaven has a brand new angel, Della, today. On behalf of her husband, Franklin Lett, and all her friends and family, I share with you the news that our beloved Della Reese has passed away peacefully at her California home surrounded by love. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people. She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on ‘Touched by an Angel.’ I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you.

A family representative released a statement Monday that Reese died peacefully Sunday evening in California.

No cause of death or additional details were provided.

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“The world has lost a huge talent,” a rep for Reese wrote to Fox News. “A successful actor, singer, writer and more for decades, she was also a trailblazer. Della was the first black woman to host a talk show. A forerunner to Oprah. Her life was difficult at times with illness and loss; but her cup was never half empty … and it wasn’t half full … It was overflowing with goodness and love for everyone.

“She was the most consistently positive and optimistic person I have known,” the rep continued. “And she touched so many people with that beautiful energy. She always resonated at such a high frequency. That was the gift she gave you when you were in her company. She truly personified being ‘Touched by an Angel.'”

In her 1997 autobiography, she wrote that she had difficulty being typecast until she landed her “Touched by an Angel” role.

Before “Touched by an Angel” debuted in 1994, Reese was mainly known as a singer, although she had co-starred on “Chico and the Man,” ”Charlie and Company,” and “The Royal Family,” and hosted her own talk show, “Della.”

She appeared on numerous shows such as “Night Court,” ”L.A. Law,” and “Designing Women,” but wrote in her 1997 autobiography that she had difficulty being typecast until she landed her “Touched by an Angel” role.

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This Fox News article is used by permission; the Associated Press contributed.

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(photo credit, article image: Della Reese…, CC BY-SA 3.0, by Angela George)