Famous comedian and actor Jan Hooks' death on Thursday in New York City has sparked widespread concerns about the disappearance of female humorists from the big screen.
The 57 years old Jan Hooks' death reportedly followed a prolonged bout with an unidentified illness, which nonetheless has been described as 'serious.'
The comedienne, who is famous for her appearance on Saturday Night Live between 1986 and 1991, is widely regarded as one of the best rib-splitters of her time. She also appeared in several television series including Designing Women, 3rd Rock from the Sun and Primetime Glick.
Jan Hooks' death comes in the wake of the passing of another highly rated comedienne Joan Rivers last month. This has led some commentators to remark on the disappearance of the few female stars from the already male comedy industry. While there are many notable comediennes on the scene, their presence is greatly overshadowed by the male counterparts on many platforms.
Saturday Night Live, where Hooks earned her stripes, is one of the most criticized television programs for its failure to feature more female and African-American acts.
When the producer and writer of Saturday Night Live Lorne Michaels was asked about the lack of diversity in the show by Vulture earlier in the year, he said "We knew it going into last summer. Then we didn't find the right person. You look at an audition and go, "Is she as good as Kate? Is she as good as Nasim? Is she going to get a writer to write for her and be taken care of and given the chance of success?" Nothing would have made my life easier than somebody popping, but nobody popped. But also, this past year, having lost Fred, Jason Sudeikis, and Bill Hader and knowing I was losing Seth, we were focused on finding guys. Nobody wrote anything about the three girls we brought in the year before."
On her part, Hooks has been quoted saying "If you're talented, if you're good, you'll get work."
"It's a waste of energy to complain you're not getting this or that because you're a woman. On "SNL," I found that the more you complained, the more you pigeon-holed yourself,' she said.
Jan Hooks' death marks the continuation of a sad year for Hollywood as many renowned personalities reach the end of their lives. Some of the most memorable late personalities are Marian Seldes, Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Eliane Stritch and Ruby Lee. Many celebrities have taken to social media to express their condolences and shock at the news of Jan Hooks' death.
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