Obituary for Jan Hooks at Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home

Jan Hooks, the comedienne and actress who created myriad indelible characters on “Saturday Night Live” and beyond, died at her home in Woodstock, New York, and was laid to rest in the Northview Cemetery in Cedartown, GA during a private ceremony on Oct 17. She was 57.

Best known for channeling such fictional and real-life figures as Candy Sweeney, Hillary Clinton, Diane Sawyer, Bette Davis and Kathie Lee Gifford, Hooks joined “Saturday Night Live” in 1986 at a time when the show had experienced a dip in ratings and quality, and was in danger of being cancelled. Along with cast mates Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, and Nora Dunn – who played opposite Hooks in the wildly popular Sweeney Sisters skit – Hooks helped reinvigorate the show, introducing it to a new generation of fans and ensuring its survival into the ensuing decades.
Unlike many new “Saturday Night Live” recruits, Hooks was not a stand-up comedian but an actress with a gift for impressions, impeccable timing and a wide tonal range, from the darkest Southern gothic to the goofiest all-American. After appearing in an Atlanta nightclub act called The Wits End Players, Hooks steadily gained recognition throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in Bill Tush’s sketch show “Tush” on what was to be the TBS network, “Not Necessarily the News” on HBO and “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” in which she portrayed a supercilious, compulsively cheerful tour guide at the Alamo.
Hooks left “Saturday Night Live” and New York City in 1991, after being cast in “Designing Women” for its final two seasons, portraying Carlene Dobber in a role originated by Jean Smart. She also appeared in Tim Burton’s 1992 film “Batman Returns,” in which she played an image consultant for Danny DeVito’s Penguin when he runs for mayor of Gotham. A stint of recurring appearances on “3rd Rock from the Sun” followed; her portrayal of Vicki Dubcek, sometime girlfriend of French Stewart’s Harry, earned her an Emmy nomination in 1998.
After returning to New York, where she maintained residences in Manhattan and Woodstock, Hooks became a beloved recurring player on Martin Short’s “Primetime Glick,” on which she portrayed the title character’s high-strung wife Dixie; she later co-starred in the film adaptation of the show, “Jiminy Glick in Lalawood.” She also did voice work for animated series, including “The Simpsons” (as Apu’s wife Manjula) and “Futurama.” Her final television appearance was in 2010 on “30 Rock,” in which she played Jenna Maroney’s eccentric mother, Verna.

Janet Vivian Hooks was born on April 23, 1957, in Decatur, Georgia, where she lived until 1974, when the family moved to Ft. Myers, Florida. As a child, Jan enjoyed locking herself in her room and belting out show tunes at full volume – much to the dismay of her family. She excelled in high school and college theatre productions, and eventually joined Atlanta's burgeoning sketch comedy scene – a springboard to eventual success in Los Angeles and New York.

Hooks is survived by her brothers Tom, of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Mike, of Ft. Myers, Florida, a niece and nephew, and several cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following charities,
Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, City of Cedartown Big Spring Project 210 East Avenue. Cedartown Ga. 30125, Cedartown Humane Society P.O. Box 1339 Cedartown Ga. 30125, Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY. 12601.

The Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home of Cedartown had Charge of the arrangements for Jan Hooks. Condolences to the Hooks family may be done so by visiting our web site at liteseyfh.com and to sign the on line guest book.