James Devaney/WireImageJan Hooks has passed away at the age of 57.
The Saturday Night Live alum died Thursday from unknown causes, NBC News confirmed.
Hooks grew up in Decatur, Atlanta before getting her comedy start in the L.A.-based comedy group The Groundlings. Hooks later starred as a regular cast member on SNL alongside celebs like Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey and Dennis Miller from 1986 to 1991. She appeared on the legendary sketch show several other times in the years after her departure.
Following Saturday Night Live, Hooks played Carlene Frazier Dobber on Designing Women in the early 1990s. Hooks was also known for her brief yet hilarious appearance in the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure (she played a Texas Alamo tour guide who informed Pee-wee that there's no basement in the Alamo). Most recently, Hooks played the crazy mother of Jane Krakowski's character Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock.
According to TMZ, who broke the news of her death, Hooks had been battling some type of serious illness prior to her passing.
In the wake of the news of Hooks' passing, various Hollywood comedians and celebs took to Twitter to remember the late comic. "Not now, but sometime this weekend I'll think of Jan Hooks saying ‘adobe' and I'll get tear-eyed. I know it," Patton Oswalt wrote in reference to another one of Hooks' hysterical Pee-wee lines.
"so sorry to hear about Jan Hooks. I loved her on SNL," Katie Couric wrote on Twitter.
"Jan Hooks always made me laugh. Always," Colin Hanks tweeted.
"So so gifted. RIP Jan Hooks," Veep's Tony Hale wrote.
SNL vet Colin Quinn tweeted, "Sad to hear about Jan Hooks. Very funny and very underrated."
Billy Eichner shared, "Such sad news about the BRILLIANT Jan Hooks. Worshipped her on SNL. RIP."
"No one understood the importance of wrist and finger articulation in comedy more than Jan Hooks," comedian Guy Branum added.
Chelsea Lately's Fortune Feimster posted, "Noooooo!!! Not Jan Hooks!! I always wanted to be one of the Sweeney Sisters. Ugh, we can't lose any more funny people this year."
"Incredibly sad about Jan Hooks. She was truly one of my favorite SNL cast members. So funny. A sad day for comedy. #RIPJanHooks," Bridesmaids director Paul Feig shared.