Jessica Walter, ‘Arrested Development’ star, dead at 80

Emmy Award-winning actress Jessica Walter, who captured our collective hearts with her role as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, has passed away aged 80.

Walter’s death was confirmed by her daughter, Brooke Bowman. No cause of death was revealed. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mum Jessica,” Bowman said. “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.”

Walter made her film debut in 1964, starring alongside Warren Beatty, Jean Seberg and Gene Hackman in Robert Rossen’s beloved neo-noir drama Lilith. 

Over the course of her illustrious career, Walter would go on to star in Sydney Lumet’s The Group and Bye Bye Braverman, Clint Eastwood’s 1971 thriller Play Misty For Me — for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, as well as voicing Malloary Archer in the Archer television show.

Though her defining role was inarguably her catty, and downright hilarious portrayal of Lucille Bluth — the catty matriarch in Arrested Development. 

Fellow Arrested Development cast member Tony Hale paid tribute to the actress on Twitter, writing “she was a force, and her talent and timing were unmatched. Rest in Peace Mama Bluth”.

RIP Jessica Walter. I don’t know if any actor ever conveyed more with a wink. Her Lucille Bluth was the best satire of the smug rich ever done. Her voice all transatlantic arrogance, vodka delusion, and charming ignorance. The Motherboy episode alone, my god. A true comic genius. pic.twitter.com/nwMPzfbD6i

— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) March 25, 2021

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