After the tragic passing of Jessica Walter – famously known as the matriarch of the Bluth and Archer families – celebrities and fans are posting tributes online, sharing their memories of her work and moments where she made them laugh so hard they probably peed a little.
Walter passed away in her sleep in New York City on Wednesday at the age of 80, and her daughter confirmed her death in a statement overnight.
“A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on-screen and off,” the statement read.
“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.”
Celebrities she worked with like Aisha Tyler, Henry Winkler, David Cross, Jason Bateman, H. Jon Benjamin, and more took to social media to remember Walter, and how she was a true comedy powerhouse.
OH NO …We worked together for years on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT ..It was an honor to watch her comedy explode from the very first row . https://t.co/edVRAPsKRk
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) March 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/aishatyler/status/1375173348309798923?s=20
R. I. P. Jessica Walter. What an incredible career, filled with amazing performances. I will forever remember my time with her, watching her bring Lucille Bluth to life. She was one of a kind. All my love and thoughts to her family.
— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) March 25, 2021
What a brilliant, funny, intelligent and strong woman. RIP Jessica Walter, and thank you for a lifetime of laughs and for sharing your incredible talent on our show and with the world. #jessicawalter
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) March 25, 2021
Tony Hale, who played her beloved bumbling son Buster Bluth in Arrested Development, also shared a touching post that has 100% made me piss tears already.
She was a force, and her talent and timing were unmatched. Rest In Peace Mama Bluth. pic.twitter.com/wJeOeJleR3
— Tony Hale (@MrTonyHale) March 25, 2021
Alia Shawkat, who played Maeby Fünke, posted one of Walter’s headshots on Instagram, with the simple message, “love you Gangie”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2nCKbsDd-/
Hell, even Will Arnett – who played the son she didn’t care for, Gob Bluth – shared his memories of Walter, who he had known since meeting on a show’s pilot in 1996.
Jessica Walter was a deeply talented person
We first met on a pilot in ‘96 and I was instantly blown away
I’m fortunate to have had a front row seat to her brilliance for 25 years
My thoughts are with her daughter Brooke and grandson Micah today
Farewell Jessica, you’ll be missed— Will Arnett™ (@arnettwill) March 25, 2021
Outside of her co-stars from her lengthy career, many film critics, writers, and people from across the film industry took a moment to express their deep grief over the sudden loss.
Many spent time remembering Walter for her sharp wit and dry humour, and how she delivered even the simplest lines with the perfect amount of sting to transform them into blisteringly funny moments.
Jessica Walter was the funniest part of the funniest show on television and she made it look easy. Her delivery of “Oh really – did nothing cancel?” and “She tried pesto!” and “Is Rosa alive? No? Ok this is not my day.” will make me laugh forever.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) March 25, 2021
On the page Lucille Bluth is already a funny character but without Jessica Walter’s performance, perfectly delivering every line with pure acid, it would never have been the cultural touchstone it is today. RIP to a legend.
— Julia Claire (@ohJuliatweets) March 25, 2021
every time I think of Jessica Walter’s “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready” line delivery I die laughing
— JP (@jpbrammer) March 25, 2021
thinking about how archer’s producers put out a call for a “jessica walter type” for the role of mallory and her agent was like “do you guys want jessica walter” and from then the selling point of the show became “we have jessica walter”
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— sloane (sîpihkopiyesîs) (@cottoncandaddy) March 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/macleanbrendan/status/1375180363580895236?s=20
no one lost her shit over Gene quite like Jessica Walter ❤️ pic.twitter.com/heTQ0euLSH
— Gene Park (@GenePark) March 25, 2021
Jessica Walter on Arrested Development was an example of that sitcom thing where the character was perfectly realized from episode one but you could tell the writers were so pleased with the performance that they just gave her better and better material
— ‘Weird Alex’ Pareene (@pareene) March 25, 2021
To this day she is the reason a vodka tonic is my go to drink order. #JessicaWalter pic.twitter.com/3cvWr1KXF6
— DrBean (@SinceUBeanGone) March 25, 2021
I mean it was one Jessica Walter, Michael, how much could it cost? Infinity dollars??!
— Kristin Chirico (@KristinChirico) March 25, 2021
Walter’s passing also reminded many people of her heartbreaking interview with The New York Times in 2018, where she addressed the verbal harassment she experienced on-set with Jeffrey Tambor, and directly telling him that nobody had ever yelled at her in her 60 years of acting the way that he did.
Will never forgive Jeffrey Tambor for making Jessica Walter cry, and will never forget how she publicly stood up for herself about it. pic.twitter.com/9D2vxFJnD1
— Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) March 25, 2021
The Jim Henson Company also paid tribute to Walter, who was the voice behind Fran Sinclair, the matriarch of Dinosaurs – a fact I only realised when I started rewatching the 90s cursed puppet show again recently.
Remembering the amazing career of Jessica Walter today, including her iconic voice performance as Fran Sinclair on Dinosaurs. pic.twitter.com/YrSlM24f3w
— The Jim Henson Company (@hensoncompany) March 25, 2021
I think this tweet sums it up pretty well, honestly.
I would pour one out for Jessica Walter but that’s how you get ants
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) March 25, 2021
May we all start our day with a hearty breakfast of a vodka tonic and a piece of toast, just how Lucille Bluth would have wanted.