Jean Speegle Howard
Encyclopedia
Jean Speegle Howard was an American
actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard made appearances in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as Married... With Children
(1994–1996), Grace Under Fire (1993), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) beginning from 1975 (mostly from during the 1980s and 1990s) until her death.
, the daughter of Louise (née Dewey) and William Allen Speegle. She married actor Rance Howard
, also from Duncan, Oklahoma
in 1949. Their children are actor/director Ron Howard
and actor/director Clint Howard
. She was also the grandmother of actress Bryce Dallas Howard
.
She starred in the 1996 film Matilda as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps. In a 1995 episode of Roseanne, Howard appeared as an elderly neighbor who prefers to be nude while in her own home, much to the chagrin of Dan and Roseanne, who often see from their own bedroom window. Howard also starred in the hit childrens programme 'Two of a kind' along side Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. One of her last on-camera speaking roles, Howard portrayed astronaut James Lovell'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 to fly, my Jimmy could land it."
In the 1986 Christmas film A Smoky Mountain Christmas
, Howard along with her husband appear in the film. She played Old Lady Jezebel and her husband played Dr. Jennings.
On September 2, 2000, Howard died in Los Angeles, California
of heart and respiratory illness. She was 73 years old. The How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000 film, directed by her son Ron, and featuring her son Clint and her husband Rance and her granddaughter Bryce, includes a dedication to her at the beginning of the end credits, saying that she was "who loved Christmas the most". She is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard made appearances in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as Married... With Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
(1994–1996), Grace Under Fire (1993), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) beginning from 1975 (mostly from during the 1980s and 1990s) until her death.
Life and career
Howard was born Jean F. Speegle in Duncan, OklahomaDuncan, Oklahoma
Duncan is a city in Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 23,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stephens County.The official birthdate of the town is considered to be when the first train arrived there on June 27, 1892...
, the daughter of Louise (née Dewey) and William Allen Speegle. She married actor Rance Howard
Rance Howard
Rance Howard is an American actor who has starred in film and on television.-Life and career:Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. He married Jean Speegle Howard...
, also from Duncan, Oklahoma
Duncan, Oklahoma
Duncan is a city in Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 23,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stephens County.The official birthdate of the town is considered to be when the first train arrived there on June 27, 1892...
in 1949. Their children are actor/director Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
and actor/director Clint Howard
Clint Howard
Clinton "Clint" Howard is an American film and television actor. He is a character actor with numerous brief appearances on television and films. He has played many bit parts in movies directed by his brother, actor-turned-director Ron Howard. He is also the uncle of actress Bryce Dallas Howard...
. She was also the grandmother of actress Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard is an American film actress and daughter of director Ron Howard. She made her acting debut in her father's 1989 movie Parenthood and went on to have small roles in films and make stage appearances for the next several years...
.
She starred in the 1996 film Matilda as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps. In a 1995 episode of Roseanne, Howard appeared as an elderly neighbor who prefers to be nude while in her own home, much to the chagrin of Dan and Roseanne, who often see from their own bedroom window. Howard also starred in the hit childrens programme 'Two of a kind' along side Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. One of her last on-camera speaking roles, Howard portrayed astronaut James Lovell's mother in the 1995 motion picture Apollo 13
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
. When circumstances appear bleak for the crew, Howard's character says confidently, "If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it."
In the 1986 Christmas film A Smoky Mountain Christmas
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
A Smoky Mountain Christmas is a 1986 fantasy television film directed by Henry Winkler . It stars Dolly Parton and Lee Majors.-Plot:...
, Howard along with her husband appear in the film. She played Old Lady Jezebel and her husband played Dr. Jennings.
On September 2, 2000, Howard died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
of heart and respiratory illness. She was 73 years old. The How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000 film, directed by her son Ron, and featuring her son Clint and her husband Rance and her granddaughter Bryce, includes a dedication to her at the beginning of the end credits, saying that she was "who loved Christmas the most". She is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries. It is at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, on the lower north slope at the far east end of the Santa Monica...
.