We've got some sad news today as we've learned that Jan Hooks, former star of 'Saturday Night Live,' has passed away at the age of 57. Hooks, who was a member of the cast from 1986 to 1991, also starred on the hit sitcom 'Designing Women,' and more recently played Jenna's mom on episodes of '30 Rock.'

As reported by TMZ, Hooks was just 57 when she passed away earlier today after fighting a serious illness for some time. She was perhaps best known for her work on 'SNL,' where she spent time alongside greats like Chris Farley and Phil Hartman, and gave us the beloved recurring character Candy Sweeney of the Sweeney Sisters, part of a recurring sketch with Nora Dunn. She also did one heck of an impression, giving us memorable turns as Hillary Clinton, Sinead O'Connor, Diane Sawyer, and Kathie Lee Gifford, to name a few.

In addition to her time on 'SNL,' Hooks also appeared on the sitcom 'Designing Women' from 1991 to 1993, and had a recurring role on '3rd Rock from the Sun.' She also lent her voice to 'The Simpsons' as Apu's wife, Manjula, and more recently appeared on episodes of '30 Rock' in 2010 as Jenna Maroney's mother, Verna.

It's unclear what took Hooks from us so early in life, but she left an indelible mark in her short time as a strong female comedic presence, and someone who was always a joy to see.

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