Jessica Walter, the veteran actress best known for her Emmy-nominated role in comedy series Arrested Development, and her performance opposite Clint Eastwood in the thriller Play Misty for Me, has died at the age of 80.

It is reported that Walter passed away in her sleep at her New York City home.

Announcing her passing, her daughter Brooke Bowman said: "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. 

"A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. 

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"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."

Walter's career began in her hometown of New York City, appearing in numerous Broadway productions before crossing over to the small screen.

In 1971's Eastwood-directed Play Misty for Me, she starred as an obsessed fan stalking the disc jockey played by Eastwood. She was Golden Globe-nominated for her performance in the film. 

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Walter received an Emmy award in 1975, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for the title role in Amy Prentiss. She was also Emmy-nominated for her work on Trapper John, M.D., The Streets of San Francisco and Arrested Development.

As Arrested Development's hard-living matriarch Lucille Bluth, she delivered savage one-liners across five seasons and over 80 episodes. 

She also voiced Malory Archer in over 100 episodes of the animated comedy series Archer.  

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Archer creator Adam Reed said: "The Archer family is heartbroken to lose Jessica Walter, our beloved colleague and friend.

"Jessica was a consummate professional, an actor's actor, and the exact opposite of Malory Archer - warm, caring, and kind, with an absolutely cracking sense of humor - and it was both a privilege and a true honour to work with her over these many years. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten."

Paying tribute, 20th Century Television, the studio behind Arrested Development, said: "Jessica Walter's spectacular turn as the devilish Lucille Bluth is one of the great comedic performances of television history, and we loved working with her as much as audiences loved her on Arrested Development.

"Our hearts go out to her family and friends, particularly her daughter, and our former colleague, Brooke. We know that heaven just got a whole lot funnier with Jessica now in residence."

Here are some more of the many tributes: