Mariclare Costello

Mariclare Costello
Costello in 1977
Costello in 1977
Born(1936-02-03)February 3, 1936
DiedApril 17, 2026(2026-04-17) (aged 90)
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2002
Spouse
(m. 1977; died 2013)
Children1

Mariclare Catherine Costello (February 3, 1936 – April 17, 2026) was an American actress. She was a lifetime member of The Actors Studio.[1] Costello's most notable role was that of Rosemary Hunter Fordwick on the television series The Waltons, from 1972 to 1977. In 1977, after her role on The Waltons, she played matriarch Maggie Fitzpatrick on the short-lived drama show The Fitzpatricks.

Life and career

Costello was born in Peoria, Illinois, on February 3, 1936. She was married to actor Allan Arbus until his death in 2013. The couple had one child.[2]

She portrayed a hippie-vampire in the 1971 cult horror film Let's Scare Jessica to Death.[3]

After her acting career, she was an acting professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.[4]

Costello died in Brooklyn, New York on April 17, 2026, at the age of 90.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1967 The Tiger Makes Out Rosi
1969 N.Y.P.D. Eloise Hendrix S2.E16 - "The Attacker"
1970 Pound Honky Killer's Wife
1970 Storefront Lawyers Nancy Collins S1.E3 - "Murph Collins vs. Tomorrow"
1971 Let's Scare Jessica to Death Emily/Abigail
1972 Ironside Mary Ellen Wells S6.E2 - "The Savage Sentry"
1972–77 The Waltons Rosemary Hunter/Fordwick 15 episodes
1974 Kojak Diane Gordon S1.E13 - "Death Is Not a Passing Grade"
1974 After the Fall Louise TV film based on Arthur Miller's play by the same name
1974 The Execution of Private Slovik Private Slovik's wife Antoinette NBC TV film
1974 The Gun Beryl Strauss ABC Movie of the Week
1975 Barnaby Jones Ruth Granger S3.E21 - "The Deadlier Species"
1975 Harry O Emily Weston S1.E15 - "For the Love of Money"
1977 This Is the Life Ann Episode: "Stranger at the Door"
1977 Raid on Entebbe Gabrielle Krieger
1977–78 The Fitzpatricks Maggie Fitzpatrick 13 episodes - regular cast
1979 The Incredible Hulk Kay Wallace S2.E18 - "No Escape"
1979–81 Lou Grant Maxine Kintner/Louise Larsen 2 episodes
1980 Ordinary People Audrey Butler
1980 Little House on the Prairie (TV series) Helen Crane
1981 Ragtime Emma Goldman (workprint edit only)
1981 Coward of the County Emma Television Movie
1982 Hart to Hart Anita Boyer S3.E18 - "Deep in the Hart of Dixieland"
1982 Fame Mrs. Mendenhall S3.E9 - "Secrets"
1983 Nightmares Adele Cooney (segment "The Bishop of Battle")
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Senator Cunningham
1984 Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story Jane Bladow NBC TV film
1985 Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story Ellen Mancini CBS TV film
1986 Murder, She Wrote Cassie Latham Burns S2.E15 - "Powder Keg"
1990 In the Heat of the Night Darlene S3.E14 - "December Days"
1990 Santa Barbara Sister Lillian 2 episodes
1993 Indecent Proposal David's Mother
1997 High Tide S3.E21 - "Ghost Story"
1998 Chicago Hope Mother Mary Catherine S4.E13 - "Memento Mori"
1999 Judging Amy Dr. Singer S1.E7 - "An Impartial Bias"
2002 Providence Helen Norris S4.E21 - "Smoke and Mirrors"
2011 Assisted Loving (video short) Pearl

References

  1. ^ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
  2. ^ "Costello and Arbus attend opening of "12 Angry Men"". Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  3. ^ Greenspun, Roger (August 28, 1971). "Let s Scare Jessica to Death (1971) Screen: Hippie Vampire: 'Let's Scare Jessica to Death' Arrives". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Cfa.lmu.edu". Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  5. ^ "Mariclare Catherine Costello Arbus Obituary April 17, 2026". Legacy. Retrieved April 26, 2026.