Jean Speegle Howard
Jean Frances Speegle Howard (January 31, 1927 – September 2, 2000) 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), but she also had guest spots on such series as "Grace Under Fire" (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, the daughter of Louise (née Dewey) and William Allen Speegle. Career. In the 1986 Christmas film  A Smoky Mountain Christmas, Howard appears as Old Lady Jezebel alongside her husband, who plays Dr. Jennings. 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 her from their own bedroom window. She acted in the 1996 film "Matilda" as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps. Howard also starred in "Two of a Kind" alongside Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. One of her last on-camera speaking roles, Howard portrayed astronaut Jim 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." Personal life. She married actor Rance Howard, also from Duncan, Oklahoma, in 1949. Their sons are actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard. Among her grandchildren are actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard, Paige's twin Jocelyn Carlyle, and their brother Reed Cross. Death. On September 2, 2000, Howard died in Los Angeles, California 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", 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).