Jan Hooks died from cancer which she hoped to beat - and looked 'great' just a week ago, friends have revealed. The Saturday Night Live veteran, who died aged 57 on Thursday, told neighbors she was battling the disease, but 'took a turn for the worse' in recent days. And today, her one-time SNL co-star Nora Dunn - who was the other half of the infamous Sweeney Sisters - said: ‘I knew she wasn't well, but we always think things will get better. ‘It takes a long time, a long history, to know that the best things, the best moments in life, are gone in what seems like a flash. ‘She and I had our best moments together on television’. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Devastated: Nora Dunn, the other half of the Sweeney Sisters alongside Jan Hooks - pictured on SNL in October 1986 - paid tribute to her friend, saying:  'I knew she wasn't well, but we always think things will get better' Jan Hooks appears on '30 Rock; as Jenna Maroney's trashy mother, Verna (right) Jan is believed to have died at a Manhattan hospital, and paying tribute to the actress, Larry Liberstein, head of her building's co-op board, recalled how he would often see her walking her two German Shepherds, saying : 'She was very bubbly. She had one of those grins that meant you couldn't help bringing a smile to your face. It was an infectious smile.' Mr Liberstein confirmed that Jan told him she was suffering from cancer, telling MailOnline:  'I last saw her a week ago and she said that she was ill. It didn't seem that dire. She must have taken a turn for the worse. I think she was at a point where she was talking about it. 'She wasn't hopeless. I don't think she expected it to happen this fast.' Jan featured on SNL between 1985 and 1991 - at the same time as some of its greatest comedians including Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Dennis Miller and Mike Myers. She was famous for playing half of the Sweeney Sisters, a talentless but overly enthusiastic lounge act, and for her impersonations of Sinead O’Connor. She was also the first SNL cast member to play Hillary Clinton. Paying an emotional tribute to her friend, Nora Dunn wrote on Facebook that Jan overcame her stage fright for each episode of SNL - and then 'carried the show’. Tribute: Kevin Nealon posted an emotional statement and picture about his former girlfriend Jan Hooks . She wrote also revealed that Jan came up with the idea for the Sweeney sisters ‘on the spot’ and just ran with it. Speaking to MailOnline today, Nora revealed she was set to embark on a new project with Jan this April, but due to her ill health it never happened. Meanwhile, Peter Guttman, an award-winning travel photographer and journalist, one of Jan's neighbours, told MailOnline that she would pepper everyday conversations in the laundry room with jokes and comic asides. He said: 'I was always impressed that somebody who had got to that level of fame seemed so down to earth. 'The last time I saw her was a couple of months ago and when she asked after my son I remember thinking what a good person she was. 'When I became aware she was my neighbour and I looked at her work I was impressed with the very wide diversity of her stage presence. 'When she died my son called me to ask if I had heard. I was surprised by the amount of interest as it seemed like she'd been forgotten'. Jan's former SNL co-star and boyfriend, Kevin Nealon today said that they had had ‘amazing times as friends, then dating and then the incredible rush of being on SNL together’. He then posted a picture of the couple together, writing: 'My girlfriend in the 80s and my friend forever, Janners. God you were talented. Too soon and too sad.' Jan Hooks as Hillary Clinton (left) during the 'Carville' skit in 1993 (left). On the right, she plays Judy Rifkin during the 'Comedy Killers' skit in 1991 . On the right, Jan Hooks portrays Mrs. Braithwaite (right) alongside Rosanna Arquette as Vonda Braithwaite during 'The People's Court' skit in 1986 . Among the celebrities paying tribute to Jan have been Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler. She wrote: 'I was 15 years old when I first saw Jan Hooks on SNL. All of her characters spoke to me. She was one of the greats. When I was at SNL, we would frequently talk about her genius'. While Jan's 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin wrote: 'I’m sad to learn that we lost Jan Hooks, a remarkably sweet and talented actress'. Jan was born in Decatur, Georgia, and grew up in Atlanta. Her family moved to Florida during her high school years, when she began acting in her school's theater productions. She continued to act when she began attending the University of West Florida, where she was active in local summer theater productions. Jan Hooks (middle) appears on 'SNL' alongside Christopher Walken and Nora Dunn in 1990 . Jan Hooks (right) pictured with the '30 Rock' cast, from left: Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, Tina Fey as Liz Lemon and Jane Krakowski as Jenna. Hooks played Jenna's unreliable mother, Verna . Hooks has also appeared on 'The Simpsons,' 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' 'She had a cameo in 1992's 'Batman Returns,' a recurring role as Vicki Dubcek on NBC's '3rd Rock from the Sun' and lent her voice to play Apu's wife Manjula in Fox's hit animated series 'The Simpsons.' The actress has also appeared on 'Futurama,'  'The Martin Short Show,' 'The Dana Carvey Show' and 'Glick.' She won a Georgia-area Emmy Award for her performance in 'Tush. In 1998, she was nominated for her role on '3rd Rock From the Sun.' Jan Hooks with the rest of the 'SNL' cast, pictured clockwise from the left: Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Hooks, Jon Lovitz, Victoria Jackson, Dennis Miller (center) and Nora Dunn . 'I was an Indian princess in an outdoor drama in Livingston, Texas,'; she told the Associated Press in 1991. 'I got $115 a week. I couldn't believe it.” Hooks' big break came in 1985, with a role in 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.' Hooks has also appeared on 'The Simpsons,' 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' She had a cameo in 1992's 'Batman Returns,' a recurring role as Vicki Dubcek on NBC's '3rd Rock from the Sun' and lent her voice to play Apu's wife Manjula in Fox's hit animated series 'The Simpsons.' The actress has also appeared on 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' 'The Dana Carvey Show' and 'Glick.' Jan's agent Lisa Lieberman did not return calls for comment.
Jan Hooks, 57, died in New York City on Thursday .
Neighbor revealed she told him she was ill a week ago - but said 'she wasn't hopeless'
Famous for her 'SNL' impressions of Hillary Clinton, Sinead O'Connor, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan .
Recently appeared on an episode of '30 Rock' as Jenna Maroney's mother .
Jan Hooks died from cancer which she hoped to beat - and looked 'great' just a week ago, friends have revealed. The Saturday Night Live veteran, who died aged 57 on Thursday, told neighbors she was battling the disease, but 'took a turn for the worse' in recent days. And today, her one-time SNL co-star Nora Dunn - who was the other half of the infamous Sweeney Sisters - said: ‘I knew she wasn't well, but we always think things will get better. ‘It takes a long time, a long history, to know that the best things, the best moments in life, are gone in what seems like a flash. ‘She and I had our best moments together on television’. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Devastated: Nora Dunn, the other half of the Sweeney Sisters alongside Jan Hooks - pictured on SNL in October 1986 - paid tribute to her friend, saying:  'I knew she wasn't well, but we always think things will get better' Jan Hooks appears on '30 Rock; as Jenna Maroney's trashy mother, Verna (right) Jan is believed to have died at a Manhattan hospital, and paying tribute to the actress, Larry Liberstein, head of her building's co-op board, recalled how he would often see her walking her two German Shepherds, saying : 'She was very bubbly. She had one of those grins that meant you couldn't help bringing a smile to your face. It was an infectious smile.' Mr Liberstein confirmed that Jan told him she was suffering from cancer, telling MailOnline:  'I last saw her a week ago and she said that she was ill. It didn't seem that dire. She must have taken a turn for the worse. I think she was at a point where she was talking about it. 'She wasn't hopeless. I don't think she expected it to happen this fast.' Jan featured on SNL between 1985 and 1991 - at the same time as some of its greatest comedians including Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Dennis Miller and Mike Myers. She was famous for playing half of the Sweeney Sisters, a talentless but overly enthusiastic lounge act, and for her impersonations of Sinead O’Connor. She was also the first SNL cast member to play Hillary Clinton. Paying an emotional tribute to her friend, Nora Dunn wrote on Facebook that Jan overcame her stage fright for each episode of SNL - and then 'carried the show’. Tribute: Kevin Nealon posted an emotional statement and picture about his former girlfriend Jan Hooks . She wrote also revealed that Jan came up with the idea for the Sweeney sisters ‘on the spot’ and just ran with it. Speaking to MailOnline today, Nora revealed she was set to embark on a new project with Jan this April, but due to her ill health it never happened. Meanwhile, Peter Guttman, an award-winning travel photographer and journalist, one of Jan's neighbours, told MailOnline that she would pepper everyday conversations in the laundry room with jokes and comic asides. He said: 'I was always impressed that somebody who had got to that level of fame seemed so down to earth. 'The last time I saw her was a couple of months ago and when she asked after my son I remember thinking what a good person she was. 'When I became aware she was my neighbour and I looked at her work I was impressed with the very wide diversity of her stage presence. 'When she died my son called me to ask if I had heard. I was surprised by the amount of interest as it seemed like she'd been forgotten'. Jan's former SNL co-star and boyfriend, Kevin Nealon today said that they had had ‘amazing times as friends, then dating and then the incredible rush of being on SNL together’. He then posted a picture of the couple together, writing: 'My girlfriend in the 80s and my friend forever, Janners. God you were talented. Too soon and too sad.' Jan Hooks as Hillary Clinton (left) during the 'Carville' skit in 1993 (left). On the right, she plays Judy Rifkin during the 'Comedy Killers' skit in 1991 . On the right, Jan Hooks portrays Mrs. Braithwaite (right) alongside Rosanna Arquette as Vonda Braithwaite during 'The People's Court' skit in 1986 . Among the celebrities paying tribute to Jan have been Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler. She wrote: 'I was 15 years old when I first saw Jan Hooks on SNL. All of her characters spoke to me. She was one of the greats. When I was at SNL, we would frequently talk about her genius'. While Jan's 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin wrote: 'I’m sad to learn that we lost Jan Hooks, a remarkably sweet and talented actress'. Jan was born in Decatur, Georgia, and grew up in Atlanta. Her family moved to Florida during her high school years, when she began acting in her school's theater productions. She continued to act when she began attending the University of West Florida, where she was active in local summer theater productions. Jan Hooks (middle) appears on 'SNL' alongside Christopher Walken and Nora Dunn in 1990 . Jan Hooks (right) pictured with the '30 Rock' cast, from left: Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, Tina Fey as Liz Lemon and Jane Krakowski as Jenna. Hooks played Jenna's unreliable mother, Verna . Hooks has also appeared on 'The Simpsons,' 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' 'She had a cameo in 1992's 'Batman Returns,' a recurring role as Vicki Dubcek on NBC's '3rd Rock from the Sun' and lent her voice to play Apu's wife Manjula in Fox's hit animated series 'The Simpsons.' The actress has also appeared on 'Futurama,'  'The Martin Short Show,' 'The Dana Carvey Show' and 'Glick.' She won a Georgia-area Emmy Award for her performance in 'Tush. In 1998, she was nominated for her role on '3rd Rock From the Sun.' Jan Hooks with the rest of the 'SNL' cast, pictured clockwise from the left: Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Hooks, Jon Lovitz, Victoria Jackson, Dennis Miller (center) and Nora Dunn . 'I was an Indian princess in an outdoor drama in Livingston, Texas,'; she told the Associated Press in 1991. 'I got $115 a week. I couldn't believe it.” Hooks' big break came in 1985, with a role in 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.' Hooks has also appeared on 'The Simpsons,' 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' She had a cameo in 1992's 'Batman Returns,' a recurring role as Vicki Dubcek on NBC's '3rd Rock from the Sun' and lent her voice to play Apu's wife Manjula in Fox's hit animated series 'The Simpsons.' The actress has also appeared on 'Futurama,' 'The Martin Short Show,' 'The Dana Carvey Show' and 'Glick.' Jan's agent Lisa Lieberman did not return calls for comment.
who died aged 57 on Thursday, told neighbors she appears on '30 Rock; as Jenna Maroney's trashy MailOnline:  'I last saw her a week ago and she said that she was ill. It didn't seem that dire. it. 'She wasn't hopeless. I don't think she impersonations of Sinead O’Connor. She was also overcame her stage fright for each episode of SNL Hillary Clinton (left) during the 'Carville' skit