Jean Frances Howard ( Speegle; January 31, 1927 – September 2, 2000) was an American actress who acted primarily in film and on television. She 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 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer beginning from 1975 (mostly during the 1980s and 1990s) until her death. She was best known for her roles as Blanche Lovell, Jim Lovell's mother, in Apollo 13, Mrs. Phelps in Matilda and Mrs. Baker in Two of a Kind.
Early life Howard was born Jean Frances Speegle in Duncan, Oklahoma, 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 said she largely put her career aside to raise her sons, Ron, born in 1954, and Clint, born in 1959. She appeared in the 1956 film Frontier Woman alongside husband Rance Howard and their son Ron Howard, aged two years at the time. In 1975, the entire family would act in the television film Huckleberry Finn. Howard appeared in a bit part in the 1985 film Cocoon. In the 1986 Christmas film A Smoky Mountain Christmas, 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 Married... with Children, Grace Under Fire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Wonder Years, and Roseanne. She acted in the 1994 film The Paper, the 1996 film Matilda as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps, and the 1998 tv series Two of a Kind as the elderly next door neighbor, Mrs. Baker.
In 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." Her son and director of the film Ron Howard said, "It was a great moment."
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.
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 Hollywood Forever Cemetery, next to her husband who died in 2017.
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).
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1956 Frontier Woman Villager Woman (Uncredited) 1969 Old Paint (short) Mother 1975 Huckleberry Finn Widow Douglas 1985 Cocoon Woman 1986 Gung Ho Lady in Market 1988 Scrooged Mrs Claus 1992 I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore Elderly Woman 1994 The Paper Hospital Volunteer 1995 Apollo 13 Blanche Lovell 1996 Black Sheep Elderly Woman 1996 Where Truth Lies Mrs. Gloria Smith 1996 Matilda Mrs. Phelps 1996 My Fellow Americans Asthmatic Woman on Tour 1997 Traveller Bokky's Grandmother 1997 Los Locos Mother Superior 1997 Sparkle and Charm Patricia 1998 Spoiler Jillian / Jennifer 1998 Hundred Percent 1998 The Night Caller Olivia 2000 The Hiding Place Sally Filmed in 1998; final film role
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1993-1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Bertha Emory / Elderly spectator 2 episodes 1993 The Wonder Years Jane Gustafson Episode: "Reunion" 1995 Roseanne Elderly Nudist Neighbor Episode: "Rear Window" 1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Melanie Hannon Episode: "The Viewing" 1997 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Real Natalie French Episode: "Teacher's Pet" 1997-1998 Fired Up Mrs. Morton 3 episodes 1998-1999 Two of a Kind Mrs. Edna Baker 2 episodes
References
External links