Barbara Billingsley - RIP

[Benno123]

I just received a message on Facebook from Stu Shostak at Shokus Radio saying that Barbara Billingsley passed away around 2am last night. I looked on line and did not see anything about this yet, but below is the message he sent from the Skokus Radio Page on Facebook:

Just received word that America's favorite TV mom, Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver on "Leave it to Beaver") passed away peacefully last night around 2 a.m.

I had the pleasure of working with Barbara on an episode of "Silver Spoons" back in 1984, right before she and the rest of the Beaver cast were to start work on the new "Still the Beaver" series. She was a warm, delightful lady and will be sorely missed. Unfortunately her health over the past few years made it impossible for her to appear on any of our radio broadcasts with Tony Dow, Ken Osmond, Frank Bank, and Jerry Mathers, but we discussed her in each and every program...and we also have the wonderful Shout! Factory DVD box set of the series that I had the good fortune to work on this past year. It contains one of the last interviews Barbara did regarding the classic program.

I'm told the funeral will be this coming Wednesday. Barbara leaves behind her two sons and millions and millions of fans everywhere.

Stu .

[Stuck In The '70's]

They did have her death listed on wikipedia a few minutes ago but now it's gone. I noticed a lot of the twitter pages on google saying she died. I'm sure it'll be up soon if it's true.

[Zoneboy]

They did have her death listed on wikipedia a few minutes ago but now it's gone. I noticed a lot of the twitter pages on google saying she died. I'm sure it'll be up soon if it's true.

I checked Wikipedia also and saw nothing.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I checked Wikipedia also and saw nothing.
I don't know how reliable Twitter is but it does have a headline over there but that's it.

http://twitter.com/BreakingNews

[Zoneboy]

Link (http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/leave-it-to-beaver-barbara-billinglsey-died-18768/)


The actress who some believe to have personified the quintessential TV mom has died. Barbara Billingsley, star of Leave It to Beaver, passed away early this morning at the age of 94. The exact cause of death is not known but she had been in poor health for some time.

Born in Los Angeles to Robert Collyer Combes, a police chief, and Lillian A. Combes, she was the youngest of three children. Billingsley’s parents divorced while she was still a child and she fell in love with drama in school.

After spending a year at a Los Angeles junior college, Billingsley went to Broadway as part of the Straw Hat revue. It quickly closed but she stayed in New York and worked as a fashion model. In 1945, she landed a contract with MGM and appeared in a number of small roles in movies until the mid-1950s. Those led her to be cast in several TV programs of the day.

In 1957, Billingsley was signed to play June Cleaver, the mother on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom, and received top billing over Tony Dow, Hugh Beaumont, and Jerry Mathers. The show initially aired on CBS but, after one season, moved to ABC and ran for five more years. The series ended on its own terms and was one of the few of that era to have a series finale. In the last episode, June is cleaning and comes across a photo album. The Cleaver clan ends up recounting experiences they’ve had together via clips from earlier episodes.

Barbara BillinglseyAfter that, Billingsley was typecast as the perfect mother and found it difficult to land other roles for several years. She guest-starred on a number of shows over the years, sometimes in her Leave It to Beaver persona. Billingsley also voiced the “Nanny” caretaker of the Muppet Babies characters on that animated series for 107 episodes. Billingsley found new notariety by playing the “jive lady” in the first Airplane! movie.

In 1983, she joined most of the original Beaver cast for the Still the Beaver reunion movie on CBS. That led to a whole new Beaver sitcom called The New Leave It to Beaver. That lasted for 104 episodes and Billingsley’s character was now an active widowed grandmother who became a member of the Mayfield City Council.

One of Billingsely’s last on-screen roles was in a cameo as Aunt Martha in 1997′s Leave It to Beaver feature film. Other original TV castmembers, Ken Osmond and Frank Bank, had small roles as well.

Billingsley was married three times and her last husband died in 1981. She is survived by two sons, several grandchildren, and generations of grateful TV viewers.

[Brian Damage]

http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/leave-it-to-beaver-barbara-billinglsey-died-18768/

The actress who some believe to have personified the quintessential TV mom has died. Barbara Billingsley, star of Leave It to Beaver, passed away early this morning at the age of 94. The exact cause of death is not known but she had been in poor health for some time.

Born in Los Angeles to Robert Collyer Combes, a police chief, and Lillian A. Combes, she was the youngest of three children. Billingsley’s parents divorced while she was still a child and she fell in love with drama in school.

After spending a year at a Los Angeles junior college, Billingsley went to Broadway as part of the Straw Hat revue. It quickly closed but she stayed in New York and worked as a fashion model. In 1945, she landed a contract with MGM and appeared in a number of small roles in movies until the mid-1950s. Those led her to be cast in several TV programs of the day.

In 1957, Billingsley was signed to play June Cleaver, the mother on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom, and received top billing over Tony Dow, Hugh Beaumont, and Jerry Mathers. The show initially aired on CBS but, after one season, moved to ABC and ran for five more years. The series ended on its own terms and was one of the few of that era to have a series finale. In the last episode, June is cleaning and comes across a photo album. The Cleaver clan ends up recounting experiences they’ve had together via clips from earlier episodes.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Here's another one.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11898270


Barbara Billingsley, Beaver Cleaver's TV Mom, Dies
Barbara Billingsley, best known as the 'perfect mom' on TV's 'Leave it to Beaver,' dies at 94
The Associated Press

By BOB THOMAS Associated Press Writer
SANTA MONICA, Calif. October 16, 2010 (AP)

Barbara Billingsley, who gained the title supermom for her gentle portrayal of June Cleaver, the warm, supportive mother of a pair of precocious boys in "Leave it to Beaver," has died. She was 94.

Spokeswoman Judy Twersky says Billingsley died early Saturday at her home in Santa Monica. She had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.

She acted in a number of roles in movies from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, but it wasn't until "Leave it to Beaver" that she became a star.

When the show debuted in 1957, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, was 9, and Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally, was 12. Billingsley's character, the perfect stay-at-home 1950s mom, was always there to gently but firmly nurture both through the ups and downs of childhood.

[Stuck In The '70's]

So very sad. She was the perfect tv Mom. I started watching LITB reruns in the 1970's and it became one of my favorite shows at the time. :(

[markway895]

They just reported her passing on NBC News. RIP Mrs. Cleaver. :(

[catlover79]

:rip: Loved her as Mrs. Cleaver, Nanny in the Muppet Babies, and of course the Jive Lady in Airplane. God bless you, Barbara Billingsley - you will be deeply missed!!!

[Stuck In The '70's]

http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/16/barbara-billingsley-dies-jerry-mathers-leave-it-to-beaver/

The Beaver 'Saddened' by Death of Barbara Billingsley

10/16/2010 3:15 PM PDT by TMZ Staff

Jerry Mathers, who played The Beaver on "Leave It to Beaver" just gave this statement to TMZ on the passing of Barbara Billingsley:

1016_jerry_mathers_barbara_billingsley_getty_ex
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and lifetime mentor Barbara Billingsley. She will live in the hearts of her fans as a wonderful actress and be remembered by her friends as a gracious lady. Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher. She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others. She will be deeply missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me."

As for Jerry, he also tells TMZ he's "excited to be getting married in January at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach."

[Rezny@gmail.com]

And the last scene in 1983's CBS/Universal TV movie "Still the Beaver",where June (Billingsley)says she is going to sell the house(the house used in the 1959-1963 years of the series)to Beaver,(Mathers)and his kids,and the two of them embracing each other happily tells it all.RIP ,Miss B.

[Cincy Guy]

To paraphrase Eddie Haskell:

"Gosh, Mrs. Cleaver...you were certainly a great mom and friend in all of those episodes".

R.I.P.

[VirginiaCreeper]

This is the only celebrity death in recent times that made me want to cry.

[ABlairican Pie]

June Cleaver was always the mom we never had. She was the coolest.

[Zoneboy]

Link (http://www.current-movie-reviews.com/people/2010/10/16/barbara-billingsley-death-mourned-by-her-tv-sons-jerry-mathers-and-tony-dow/)

Her “good” son Wally, played by Tony Dow has also released a statement: “America’s favorite mother is now gone. I feel very fortunate to have been her ‘son.’ We were wonderful friends and I will miss her very much. My deepest sympathies to her sons, Glenn and Drew, and her entire family,” he said.

[clj2]

This was heartbreaking news. RIP, Barbara. :rip:

:crying:

[Ohio8]

:rip: :angel:

[Ohio8]

Remember when when Barbara was on Roseanne? I'll get screencaps up ASAP.

[comedyfreak]

RIP Ms Billingsley one of my favorite TV Moms of all time.:( 94 she had a long life.

[70s show watcher]

rip ms billingsley you sure will be missed

[James]

:rip: :crying:

So long, Barbara! Thanks for the memories!

[Ohio8]

Remember when when Barbara was on Roseanne? I'll get screencaps up ASAP.

[clj2]

Awesome pics, Ohio8. Makes me want to watch that Roseanne episode. Thanks for sharing.

[comedy]

Very sad news. Its been a bittersweet year for us beaver fans. On the one hand, we finally got the entire series on dvd. At least she lived a very long and complete life.

[Retro4Life]

RIP Mrs. Cleaver. :rip:

[ponytail]

I just found out about Barbara's passing. I knew she had been in ill health for awhile now but it was still a shock. I grew up watching LITB. I'm a bit bummed out right now. I still watch the show today on our local channel. She had a long good life and I will really miss her like I miss Hugh. RIP Barbara.

[markway895]

Just the other day I was watching an episode of The New Leave it to Beaver. Eddie Haskell walked it to the Cleaver kitchen as June was baking. "That's a lovely hot-mitt your wearing Mrs. Cleaver" he said! :lol:

[howilu]

A sad day for Leave it to Beaver fans when Barbara Billingsley passed away. One of the great TV moms of all-time is gone but June Cleaver will live on in countless reruns. I also remember seeing her in an episode of Empty Nest when she portrayed Harry's former nurse and tried to get Laverne's job back. May she rest in peace.

[retroTVfan4ever]

Sad news, but she lived a long and full life. RIP and god bless.

[catlover79]

The first thing I ever "saw" her in was the voice of Nanny on Muppet Babies. Of course, you never saw her face!!

[MrCleveland]

^EEE! Headless Nanny!

Anyhow...may you be remembered in Celebrity Heaven Mrs. Barbra Billingsley.

[lalauver]

Anyhow...may you be remembered in Celebrity Heaven Mrs. Barbra Billingsley.[/QUOTE]
I am sure the red carpet was rolled out for her!

[catlover79]

I am sure the red carpet was rolled out for her!

And rightfully so!! :D

[HuntingtonM15]

This is sad news, but I'm glad she was able to live such a long life.

:rip: Barbara

I was able to purchase an index card signed by her a few years ago. Now several people with her autograph (including fakes) have come out of the woodwork and are trying to make a profit on eBay.

[matt77b]

I remember her appearing on an episode of Happy Days along with Harriet Nelson and another great TV mother from the '50s--maybe Donna Reed? Anyway, RIP Mrs. Cleaver--you were one of the greats!

[Chocolate Moose]

So, she was 46 when she started the series. Hmm. She's younger than but looked better !!!

[Retro4Life]

Wouldn't she have been 41? i.e. 2010 - 1957 = 53 years, and 94-53 = 41?

[clj2]

These are some good interviews with Barbara from the Archive Of American Television that I love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO7VtZ-dhJk&feature=channel -Barbara Billingsley on the genesis of "Leave it to Beaver"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYS-lUmkx1o&feature=channel - Barbara Billingsley on "Leave it to Beaver" wholesome stories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4j1dGrdo4E&feature=channel - Barbara Billingsley on "June Cleaver's" wardrobe and pearls

I'm figuring she was 41 too, when the show started in 1957? :confused:

[Tweety]

Wiki lists her date of birth as Dec 22, 1915, so she would have been 41 when Leave it to Beaver began in the fall of 1957, and turned 42 during the first season.

I once read that she always felt that she got the part of June Cleaver because the producers felt sorry for her. I seriously doubt that.

What a beautiful lady.

Those of you who weren't around when "Airplane" came out probably can't appreciate just how funny it was to see her in that movie. I can still hear the whole audience gasping and laughing when we figured out who she was (took all of about 2 seconds once she started talking, her voice was unmistakable).

In those pre-internet days, many of us literally hadn't seen her since her LITB days. And to see her pop up in that movie, in THAT role, was just hysterical.

Nuthin' but class.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, I think that June and Ward were the #1 TV "married" couple ever. I love Rob and Laura from the Dick Van Dyke show, but the Cleavers are still my favorite couple, I guess because LITB also displayed their parenting skills, whereas Rob and Laura were more like a great couple who just happened to have a son that got into the plot every now and then.

Our internet was down from Thursday until tonight (Sunday) when we finally got a tech over here to fix it...we had only momentary connections for the past 3-4 days. I was flipping through channels on Saturday and CNN was announcing her death, and the anchor was actually interviewing Tony Dow by telephone. (when I first saw the pic of Dow and the word "death" in the headline, the TV sound was off, and I thought maybe that he had died... I think the headline was something like "Death of a Cleaver").

[baronzzz]

Here's a bio and obit of Barbara -- TV's super-mom!!!! Also vote for your favorite 50s/60s TV mom at this site!! I voted for Barbara.
http://boomerhead.com

[Tweety]

These are some good interviews with Barbara from the Archive Of American Television that I love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO7VtZ-dhJk&feature=channel -Barbara Billingsley on the genesis of "Leave it to Beaver"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYS-lUmkx1o&feature=channel - Barbara Billingsley on "Leave it to Beaver" wholesome stories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4j1dGrdo4E&feature=channel - Barbara Billingsley on "June Cleaver's" wardrobe and pearls...

Thanks for posting those links! The clips are short (2 min or so) but pretty informative.

In her "wardrobe" interview, for example, she explains why she wore high heels while doing housework. I never thought of this, but she explained that she wore flats when the show started, but as the boys grew up, she has to switch to heels, so that she'd still be taller than the boys. Makes perfect sense, but I never thought of that.

Comedians used to make fun of June Cleaver all the time because she did housework in heels. But now we know why.

[DYNAMIC D]

We all lost an all-American mom, but June and Ward Cleaver are together again! Last time I saw Barbara Billingsley on TV was on some awards show in 1999 where she and two other wonderful TV moms, Marion Ross and June Lockhart, sang about mothers (what else?)

Godspeed, Barbara. Say hi to Harriet and Donna for me.
DYNAMIC D!

[Hughsgirl]

My deepest condolences and prayers go out to Barbara's friends and family. Though she lived a long life I'm sure it doesn't really ease the pain of losing her. This wonderful lady really left her impression here with all of us and though I didn't personally know her, I deeply loved her and will miss her every bit as much as I miss Hugh. God Bless you Barbara and rest in peace.

[Torgo]

Thanks for being our mom.


:rip:

[Pavan]

SitcomsOnline's Tribute to Barbara:

http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2010/10/gmc-acquires-227-remembering-barbara.html

We will let you know if there are ANY on-air tributes. Stay tuned.

[OH Nuts!]

Just got the chance to post and heard the news about Barbara earlier today. Even though I know she lived a long full life, her passing leaves me very sad. All of you said it so well: gracious, kind, wonderful entertainer...class act all the way. What wonderful memories she leaves us.

One of the things I especially liked about Barbara was how grateful she was to the show, its memory and her fans. A very special lady has left us. May this lovely woman rest in peace.

[Hughsgirl]

I have been watching several episodes of my LITB DVD set and I tell you watching the show now knowing she's gone is very strange and sad.

[catlover79]

Such warm, beautiful, classy tributes to a warm, beautiful, classy lady!! "Oh, stewardess, I speak jive!" :D

[Sal]

Barbara Billingsley was simply the greatest mom in TV history. She was like a second mother to all of her fans and became the model for all sitcom mothers that followed, few of which could match her brilliance on screen and classy, graceful nature in real-life. This is a huge loss for all of us who grew up with TV where "Beaver" reruns became an important part of our everyday lives. When CKVR-TV in Barrie, Ont. stopped showing "Leave It To Beaver" in 2005 after almost 30 years in the 12:00 pm time slot, I was so upset that I simply refused to watch that channel again no matter what programs were on it. I did manage to get over it because I figured other channels would pick up the slack. Even better is the fact that the entire series is available on DVD and you can also watch it online on YouTube at any time of the day. But even though the show still lives on, Ward and June are now gone forever except somewhere in heaven where they can look down at their boys and all of their fans and worry about them in their gentle and loving manner with big smiles and bigger hearts. God bless you Barbara Billingsley! I love you and I will miss you always.

----------------------------------------------------------------------


If you'd like to see her in a role that's a little different than June Cleaver, check her out in this scene from "Mork and Mindy" and note Mork's reaction when he sees her in jail with Mindy!

Mork and Mindy clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLfHyG8u5lE)

[catlover79]

^ What a beautiful tribute!! :cool: :D

[Retro4Life]

She never looked any different, even after 50 plus years! :)

[Pavan]

Attention Chicago:

Me-TV Chicago is paying tribute to Barbara Billingsley, best known as June Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver, and Tom Bosley, who played Richie's dad Howard Cunningham on Happy Days, with special marathons this weekend.

Tune in this Saturday from 1-7 PM CT for "A Tribute to Barbara Billingsley" with select episodes of Leave it to Beaver. On Sunday, Me-TV will air "A Tribute to Tom Bosley" with a Happy Days marathon.

Go to WCIU.com for a full listing of episode titles and more information about Me-TV's schedule.

Barbara Billingsley died on Saturday, October 16; Tom Bosley died yesterday (Tuesday, October 19).

Me-TV is on Comcast 223, RCN 14, WOW 17 (city), WOW 19 (suburbs), AT&T U-verse 23, DIRECTV 23 and Dish Network 23.

[MickeyMac]

Not a good week and a half


Solomon Burke
General Norman Johnson
Barbara Billingsley
Tom Bosley


:(

[catlover79]

^ Not to mention Simon MacCorkindale (Falcon Crest, Manimal).

[catlover79]

Attention Chicago:

Me-TV Chicago is paying tribute to Barbara Billingsley, best known as June Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver, and Tom Bosley, who played Richie's dad Howard Cunningham on Happy Days, with special marathons this weekend.

Tune in this Saturday from 1-7 PM CT for "A Tribute to Barbara Billingsley" with select episodes of Leave it to Beaver. On Sunday, Me-TV will air "A Tribute to Tom Bosley" with a Happy Days marathon.

What an awesome idea!! How cool to honor one of TV's most beloved moms and one of TV's most beloved dads in the same weekend? Also a great way to showcase their work and show WHY they are/were so beloved.

[big bertha]

My sympathy to Barbara's family and friends. She seemed like such a sweetheart. I know this is a coincidence but my special order dvd set of LITB just came in the day she passed. I have been watching LITB dvds this week and paying a little tribute. I will really miss her. Rest in Peace June Cleaver.

[catlover79]

^ Great idea!! Not only did she seem like a doll, but she had the ability to poke fun at herself and her image (as the Jive Lady in Airplane!). Happy viewing!!

[80sTrivia]

I've been in Costa Rica and just returned home to hear of Barbara's passing... She will always be America's Mom.... :(

[catlover79]

I've been in Costa Rica and just returned home to hear of Barbara's passing... She will always be America's Mom.... :(

Welcome back...sorry you had to return to such sad news!!

[Yooch]

A Great TV mom and actor; she will be missed.

[Jack1000]

RIP Barbara,

You brought so much joy, love, and compassion as June Cleaver to Leave it to Beaver fans around the world. You taught us of love, respect, tenderness, and kindness, that will be cherished forever! You were the perfect Mother of sensitivity and humanity to all. A great understanding of beauty, charm, and wit that made you "The World's Perfect Mother."

May you never be forgotten and your gentleness and guidance last forever in Eternal Life. Thank you.

Jack

[mjensen55]

Barbara Billinglsey was one of TV's greatest Moms. She will be greatly missed.

[Marvo301]

:rip: Barbara Billingsley

[Lucyeth's]

Goodbye, Barbara Billingsley. You will be truly missed.