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Betty McGuire, 'Growing Pains' Star, Dies at 100
Confirmed
In Short: Broadway actress and 'Growing Pains' guest star Betty McGuire has died of natural causes at 100.
Betty McGuire, a Broadway actress and guest star on the ABC sitcom 'Growing Pains,' passed away on Thursday, October 8, at the age of 100.
McGuire was best known for her recurring role as Kate Malone, the grandmother of Maggie Seaver, on 'Growing Pains,' appearing in 12 episodes from 1986 to 1991.
Born on March 20, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, McGuire had a long and varied career in entertainment.
She performed on Broadway alongside notable actors such as Ethel Merman, Barbara Cook, Bea Arthur, and Tony Randall in productions like 'Plain and Fancy,' 'Happy Hunting,' and 'Oh, Captain!.'
In addition to her Broadway work, McGuire appeared in numerous television shows including 'Falcon Crest,' 'The Doris Day Show,' 'Columbo,' 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' 'Hill Street Blues,' 'ER,' 'CSI: Miami,' 'MacGyver,' 'Moonlighting,' and 'Charlie’s Angels.'
McGuire also starred in several films, including 'Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke,' 'The Incredible Shrinking Woman,' and 'Wishmaster.'
Outside of acting, McGuire was a dedicated volunteer for the Coalition for Economic Survival legal clinic in Los Angeles, where she provided support to low-income tenants facing eviction.
Since 2017, McGuire had been a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, where she appeared on NBC Nightly News in a 2019 segment profiling her retirement home.
McGuire was known for her positive outlook and enthusiasm for new opportunities, as evidenced by her quote, 'To have the chance to do new things and different things at 92, can you think of anything better? I can’t.'
She also hosted and produced her own talk show, 'GabFest,' on Channel 22, the on-campus TV station at the retirement community, where she highlighted the dreams and life stories of the staffers who worked there.
McGuire's co-stars included Tallulah Bankhead, Celeste Holm, Susan Hayward, Constance Bennett, Jane Russell, and Ron Moody.
McGuire died of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, according to close family friend Keith Gerchak, an actor and co-founder of Double G Films.
What this adds
McGuire's extensive career included roles in over 166 episodes of 'Growing Pains' and numerous other television shows and films.
Background
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom created by Neal Marlens that ran on ABC for seven seasons from September 24, 1985, to April 25, 1992. The series follows the misadventures of the Seaver family, including psychiatrist and father Jason, journalist and mother Maggie, and their children Mike, Carol, Ben, and Chrissy. 166 episodes were produced.
What's confirmed
- Outside of acting, McGuire spent years volunteering for the Coalition for Economic Survival legal clinic in Los Angeles, offering support to low-income tenants fighting eviction.
- The actress was best known for her recurring guest role as grandmother Kate Malone on Growing Pains.
- She hosted and produced her own talk show, GabFest, for Channel 22, the on-campus TV station, but instead of interviewing celebrity residents, she highlighted the dreams and life stories of the staffers who worked there.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.