Jean Frances Speegle Howard (January 31, 1927 – September 2, 2000) was an American actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard appeared in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as '' Married... with Children'' (1994–1996), but she also had guest spots on such series as ''

Grace Under Fire ''Grace Under Fire'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 29, 1993, to February 17, 1998. The show starred Brett Butler as a single mother learning how to cope with raising her three children alone after finally divorcing her ...

'' (1993) and '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1997) beginning from 1975 (mostly during the 1980s and 1990s) until her death.

Early life

Howard was born Jean Frances Speegle in

Duncan, Oklahoma Duncan is a city and county seat of Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States. Its population was 22,310 at the 2020 census. Its main claim to fame is as the birthplace of the Halliburton Corporation. Erle P. Halliburton established the New Meth ...

, the daughter of Louise ( née Dewey) and William Allen Speegle.

Career

Although she was an actress in film and television early on, her son

Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''. He ...

said she largely put her career aside to raise her sons, Ron, born in 1954, and

Clint Clint is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name: *Clint Alberta (1970–2002), Canadian filmmaker * Clint Albright (1926–1999), Canadian ice hockey player *Clint Alfino (born 1968), South African baseba ...

, born in 1959. She appeared in the 1956 film '' Frontier Woman'' alongside husband Rance Howard and young son Ron Howard. In 1975, the entire family would act in the television film

Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is a fictional character created by Mark Twain who first appeared in the book ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876) and is the protagonist and narrator of its sequel, ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884). He is 12 ...

. Howard appeared in a bit part in the 1985 film '' Cocoon''. In the 1986 Christmas film ''

A Smoky Mountain Christmas ''A Smoky Mountain Christmas'' is a 1986 American made-for-television musical fantasy film starring Dolly Parton and Lee Majors, directed by Henry Winkler. It was originally broadcast on ABC on December 14, 1986. Plot Country music superstar Lo ...

'', Howard played Old Lady Jezebel alongside her husband, who played Dr. Jennings. Howard worked regularly as a television guest star and in films in the 1990s appearing in popular series such as '' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'', ''

The Wonder Years ''The Wonder Years'' is an American coming-of-age comedy/drama television series created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black. It ran on ABC from January 31, 1988, until May 12, 1993. The series premiered immediately after ABC's coverage of Super ...

'', and '' Roseanne''. Howard also starred in '' Two of a Kind'' alongside

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986), also known as the Olsen twins as a duo, are American fashion designers and former actresses. The twins made their acting debut as infants playing Michelle Tanner on the television s ...

. She acted in the 1994 film '' The Paper'', and the 1996 film ''

Matilda Matilda or Mathilda may refer to: Animals * Matilda (chicken) (1990–2006), World's Oldest Living Chicken record holder * Matilda (horse) (1824–1846), British Thoroughbred racehorse * Matilda, a dog of the professional wrestling tag-team The ...

'' as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps. In one of her last on-camera speaking roles, Howard portrayed astronaut

Jim Lovell James Arthur Lovell Jr. (; born March 25, 1928) is an American retired astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot and mechanical engineer. In 1968, as command module pilot of Apollo 8, he became, with Frank Borman and William Anders, one of th ...

's mother in the 1995 motion picture '' Apollo 13''. When circumstances appear bleak for the crew, Howard's character says confidently, "If they could get a

washing machine A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and ...

to fly, my Jimmy could land it." Her son and director of the film Ron Howard said, "It was a great moment."

Personal life

She married actor

Rance Howard Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actr ...

, also from Duncan, Oklahoma, in 1949. Their sons are actor and filmmaker

and actor

Clint Howard Clinton Engle Howard (born April 20, 1959) is an American actor. He is the second son born to American actors Rance and Jean Howard, and younger brother of actor and director Ron Howard. His 200-plus acting credits include feature films such as ...

. Among her grandchildren are actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and

Paige Howard Paige Carlyle Howard (born February 5, 1985) is an American actress. She is a sister of actress Bryce Dallas Howard and daughter of director and actor Ron Howard. Education Howard attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Career ...

, Paige's twin Jocelyn Carlyle, and their brother Reed Cross.

Death

On September 2, 2000, Howard died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

of heart and respiratory illness. She was 73 years old. She is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. The 2000 film ''

How the Grinch Stole Christmas ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' is a Christmas children's story by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature who tries to cancel Christmas by st ...

'', directed by her son Ron, includes a dedication to her at the beginning of the end credits, saying that she "loved Christmas the most." The film includes performances by her son Clint (as Whobris), her husband Rance (as the Elderly Timekeeper) and her granddaughter Bryce (as the Surprised Who).

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Jean Speegle 1927 births 2000 deaths People from Duncan, Oklahoma Actresses from Oklahoma American film actresses American television actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Respiratory disease deaths in California Jean Frances 20th-century American actresses