Betty McGuire Dies at 100 as ‘Growing Pains’ Fans Share Tributes
Betty McGuire Dies at 100 as ‘Growing Pains’ Fans Share Tributes
Michelle SteinMon, October 19, 2026 at 1:21 PM UTC
0
BETTY MCGUIRE, Growing Pains - ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Betty McGuire, the actress best known for playing the grandma in Growing Pains, has died at 100.
On October 8, McGuire died of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Actor, friend, and Double G Films co-founder Keith Gerchak confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
McGuire played Kate Malone, Maggie Seaver’s (Joanna Kerns) mother, in 12 episodes of Growing Pains. Gordon Jump portrayed her husband, Ed Malone.
In the wake of her death, fans took to Reddit to share tributes, with one writing, “100 years is an incredible life. Growing Pains fans will always have a little piece of her to remember.”
Another shared, “100 not lotta people can hold that distinction.”
Someone else pointed out, “Playing a grandma on TV and then living another 40 years after that is pretty impressive!”
A different fan declared on Facebook, “Rest in peace, such a legend and an absolute icon.”
Advertisement
Meanwhile, yet another Facebook user agreed, writing, “A great actress.”
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Related
'Growing Pains': Alan Thicke & Kirk Cameron Saved Jeremy Miller From Homelessness
Aside from Growing Pains, McGuire was known for roles in TV shows like The Doris Day Show, Falcon Crest, Columbo, Hill Street Blues, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, ER, CSI: Miami, MacGyver, Moonlighting, and Charlie’s Angels. She also appeared in films such as Coma (1978), Up in Smoke (1978), and Wishmaster (1997).
McGuire made her Broadway debut in Plain and Fancy in 1955. Additionally, she appeared in Happy Hunting (1956) and Oh Captain! (1958). McGuire also starred in touring productions of Gypsy, Oliver!, and Auntie Mame.
Growing Pains aired for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992. In addition to McGuire and Kerns, the sitcom starred Alan Thicke as patriarch Jason Seaver, Kirk Cameron as Mike Seaver, Jeremy Miller as Ben Seaver, Tracey Gold as Carol Seaver, and Ashley Johnson as Chrissy Seaver, among others. Leonardo DiCaprio also joined in Season 7 as Luke Brower, a homeless teenager the Seaver family takes in.
Growing Pains, streaming on Tubi, The Roku Channel, Plex, and Pluto TV
Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
