The Oscar-nominated director paid tribute to his younger sister Lydia Ruth Daniels-Rooks on Instagram Jan. 10 Lee Daniels is mourning the death of his younger sister Lydia Ruth Daniels-Rooks. "As the fires are burning,

Lee Daniels is mourning the loss of his sister Lydia, who inspired Taraji P. Henson’s Empire character Loretha “Cookie” Lyon. In a heartfelt post on social media, Daniels paid tribute to his late sister with some touching words and a photo of them together.

Lee Daniels has announced his younger sister Lydia Ruth Daniels-Rooks, who inspired the Empire character Cookie Lyon, has died. Deadline reports that Daniels posted about his sister’s death on his Instagram,