In a year that's already seen way more than its fair share of Hollywood deaths, it is with a heavy heart that we must now add yet another member to this ever-growing list. Saturday Night Live veteran Jan Hooks passed away in New York City after battling a very serious illness. She became an iconic member of the SNL family throughout her 1986-1991 reign, but truth be told, her longstanding career expands far beyond the reaches of just her hilariously memorable late night improv skits. In fact, chances are you've seen more of Hooks work than you may have originally thought. Looking back on her roles just now, I know that I personally found myself pretty surprised by the number of things I'd actually seen her in.
From popular TV shows to blockbuster movies, Hooks managed to find her way into many different and equally beloved projects. But don't just take my word for it. As a way to honor and celebrate Hooks impressive career, I thought it would be nice to look back on her acting resume and recall all the other key times we saw her glide across our screens, whether we were aware of it or not. For instance, did you know…
She Was in Batman Returns
Remember Max Shreck's image consultants, Jen and Josh? Well, Hooks actually played the part of Jen, who had the rather terrible task of trying to make the Penguin look, well, not-so-Penguin like. (Research says that voters prefer fingers. Who knew?) Unfortunately, this lead to some pretty bloody consequences, at least where Josh was concerned. Though the guy kind of had it coming. Thankfully, Jen was not so unlucky.
You Can Find Her in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
That's right, folks — Hooks had a run-in with Pee-Wee down in the Alamo, where she plays Tina the tour guide and rocks a pretty amazing accent. Too bad her character clearly didn't understand the importance of Pee-Wee finding his bike.
She Was Part of Designing Women
Proving that there was still life in her career outside of SNL, Hooks became a key player in the television series Designing Women from 1991-1993, where she assumed the role of Carlene Frazier Dobber. You can find the actress's comedic talents in no less than 45 episodes.
She Can Be Traced to 3rd Rock from the Sun
Ever take a close look at Mrs. Dubcek daughter, Vicki? Harry certainly did and boy-oh-boy did he like what he saw.
She Was Jenna Maroney's Mom in 30 Rock
I saved the best for last. No woman could quite make Jenna feel so insecure than her mother, Verna. It was such a great guest-starring role for Hooks, and one that fans just couldn't get enough of.
