“The Waltons” Actress Mariclare Costello Dies at 90: 'Her Gift Was Rare,' Says Family
“The Waltons” Actress Mariclare Costello Dies at 90: 'Her Gift Was Rare,' Says Family
Deirdre DurkanMon, April 27, 2026 at 6:25 PM UTC
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Credit: Paramount Pictures/Getty -
Mariclare Costello, the actress best known for The Waltons, died at age 90
Her family said “her gift was rare,” praising her impact as an actress and teacher
She also starred in Let’s Scare Jessica to Death and appeared on Broadway and in numerous TV series
Mariclare Costello, the actress best known for her role as teacher Rosemary Hunter on The Waltons and for her work in the cult horror film Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, has died at age 90.
“Her gift was rare,” her family wrote in an obituary. "She knew how to get people out of their own heads, focused on a task rather than on themselves, and in doing so helped them access their own creative voices."
According to the obituary, published in the Peoria Journal Star, Costello died on the morning of Friday, April 17, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
She was also remembered for her curiosity and warmth, someone who “was a wonderful cook” and found joy in everything from rescuing stray animals to making "every space she inhabited more beautiful."
“She was also, in every dimension of her life, someone who paid attention,” her family wrote. “She could talk to anyone, was interested in everything, and was a relentless asker of questions.”
Mariclare Costello and late husband Allan ArbusCredit: Ryan Miller/Getty
Costello appeared in multiple episodes of The Waltons during the show’s early seasons, when her character became a memorable part of the series.
In a 2011 interview with The Terror Trap, Costello, who was born in Peoria, Ill., looked back fondly on her time on the beloved series.
“I had the greatest time with Richard Thomas and John Ritter. We laughed from the beginning of the day until the end of the day. We spent a lot of time together. They were great,” she said.
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Costello was the youngest of three sisters and grew up in a home that valued creativity. She attended Clarke College in Iowa and later earned a master’s degree in theater and education from Catholic University, where she studied improvisation with renowned teacher Viola Spolin. During that time, she also performed for President John F. Kennedy in a production of The Merchant of Venice.
After graduate school, she moved to New York City to pursue theater, performing at the Sheridan Square Theater and The Public Theater and appearing on Broadway multiple times. She originated a role in Arthur Miller’s After the Fall opposite Jason Robards and later appeared in a revival of Harvey alongside Jimmy Stewart.
Costello transitioned to film and TV after relocating to Los Angeles in the late 1960s. She also starred in the Emmy-winning telefilm The Execution of Private Slovik (1974).
Her television work extended beyond The Waltons, including a leading role on The Fitzpatricks, as well as appearances on series such as Kojak, Lou Grant, Murder, She Wrote, Chicago Hope, Judging Amy and Providence. Her film credits also included Ordinary People (1980) and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984).
She was married to actor Allan Arbus, known for his role on M*A*S*H, from 1977 until his death in 2013. The couple met in an acting class taught by Mira Rostova and fell in love while rehearsing a Dorothy Parker play before eventually settling in Los Angeles.
Though her screen work was extensive, Costello’s impact as a teacher and director became one of her most enduring legacies. She led the drama program at St. Paul the Apostle Elementary School in Westwood and directed productions at Loyola High School and Loyola Marymount University, where she also taught acting for many years. She also directed productions for Interact Theater and led a theater group at Homeboy Industries.
She is survived by her daughter Arin and her partner, Ethan; granddaughter Bird; stepdaughters Amy and Doon; and several nieces and a nephew.
A funeral service will be held in New York City, with burial and remembrance planned in Peoria.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
