Betty McGuire, grandmother on 'Growing Pains,' dies at 100
Betty McGuire, who played grandmother Kate Malone on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains, has died at 100, according to Variety. She died of natural causes in Woodland Hills, California, a friend said. She also played a nun in Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke and appeared on Broadway.
Betty McGuire, the actress best known as grandmother Kate Malone on the ABC sitcom "Growing Pains," has died at 100, according to Variety.
McGuire died Oct. 8 of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Fund's campus in Woodland Hills, California, Variety reported. Her death was confirmed by Keith Gerchak, whom Variety described as holding her power of attorney. Forbes, citing The Hollywood Reporter, described him as a friend and fellow actor. She turned 100 in March, Forbes reported.
On "Growing Pains," McGuire played Kate Malone, the mother of Joanna Kerns' character, Maggie, Variety reported. She appeared in 12 episodes from 1986 to 1991, Forbes reported. The show starred Alan Thicke as her son-in-law and Kirk Cameron as one of the Seaver children.
She also played Sister Mary Quacker, one of "The Nuns," in the 1978 stoner comedy "Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke," Forbes reported. Her other films included Michael Crichton's "Coma" and the 1997 horror film "Wishmaster."
McGuire was born March 20, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Forbes reported. She made her screen debut in small roles on "The Doris Day Show" in 1973 and went on to guest roles over four decades. Her TV credits included "Charlie's Angels," "Hill Street Blues," "Moonlighting," "Falcon Crest," "MacGyver," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "ER" and "CSI: Miami." Her last credited screen role came in 2009.
Before television, she worked on Broadway in the 1950s with stars including Ethel Merman, Bea Arthur and Tony Randall, Variety reported. She headlined "Mame" at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and toured in shows including "Gypsy" and "Oliver!"
Later in life, McGuire volunteered as a receptionist and advocate at a Los Angeles legal clinic that helps low-income tenants facing eviction, Variety reported. At the retirement community where she lived, she hosted her own talk show, "GabFest," on the campus TV station.
She has no survivors, Variety reported.
What we know: McGuire died of natural causes at 100 in Woodland Hills.
What we don't: Whether a memorial service is planned. Only Variety has reported this independently so far; NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.
Where outlets agree This card rests on one outlet's report: Variety says McGuire died Oct. 8 of natural causes at 100, as confirmed by Keith Gerchak, who holds her power of attorney.
Where they differ Variety's account comes from Keith Gerchak, and no one cited here has disputed it, though Forbes, citing The Hollywood Reporter, calls him a friend rather than her power of attorney.