Register to update information, save favorites, post photos, news stories and comments
Jean Speegle Howard (January 31, 1927 Ц September 2, 2000) was an American actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard made appearances in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as Married... With Children (1994Ц1996), Grace Under Fire (1993), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) beginning from 1975 (mostly from during the 1980s and 1990s) until her death. She also starred in the 1996 film Matilda as the librarian, Mrs. Phelps. In a 1995 episode of Roseanne, Howard appeared as an elderly neighbor who prefers to be nude while in her own home, much to the chagrin of Dan and Roseanne, who often see from their own bedroom window. One of her last on-camera speaking roles, Howard portrayed astronaut James Lovell's mother in the 1995 motion picture Apollo 13. When circumstances appear bleak for the crew, Howard's character says confidently, "If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it."