Warner Bros TV & ‘Smallville’ Co-Creators … 
How Many Times Does Seth MacFarlane Have To Say No To The … 
UPFRONTS 2013: TV Spinoffs’ Almost Perfect Year 
OSCARS: Animated Feature Rule Change 
Cannes: Relativity Sets ‘Hunger Games’ Liam … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: Billboard Awards Surge From 2012, … 
Cannes: Park Chan-wook’s ‘Sympathy For Mr. … 
Cannes: Stanley Weiser To Script ‘Three Graves … 
Yahoo CEO Foresees Big Opportunities To Sell Ads On Tumblr 
Cannes: Keanu Reeves Presents Directorial Debut & … 
Disney, Lucasfilm Animation Prep ‘Star Wars … 
Cannes: Deadline Crashes Palais Forum With Costa Gavras, … 
Yahoo Announces $1.1B Tumblr Deal With Vow “Not To … 
Hammond On Cannes: Sun Comes Out As Parties, Deals And … 
Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio In Talks To Join ‘X … 
Cannes: Latest Theft Affects China Film Group VP 
UPDATE: Yahoo Board OKs $1.1B Deal To Acquire Tumblr … 
‘Epic’ Toon Begins $14.5M Overseas Rollout 
Cannes: Sony Classics Wins Stateside Rights To Asghar … 
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Breaks Records In … 
Specialty Box Office: ‘Frances Ha’ Triumphs As … 
Baby Boomers lost a little bit of their childhood today. June Cleaver has passed away at her home in Santa Monica after a long illness. She was 94. Through 5 decades of television she was always a familiar and reassuring presence, especially in the 1950s and early 1960s sitcom Leave It To Beaver. She even made fun of her “Mom” image in the 1980 spoof Airplane! by playing the passenger who could speak jive. Actor Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, spoke of Billingsley’s talent during a 2000 CNN appearance: ”She was a great actress. And in a lot of ways … we kind of stifled her, because her true talent didn’t really come out.”
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Wow. I loved her.
We have lost a wonderful lady and a major part of an era.
Thanks for all the love mom. R.I.P
God Bless Her. Thanks, “Mom.”
Just because of that, I have to go to her namesake restaurant and have a steak.
i had the great honor of working with her on an episode of Roseanne. she’s was a class act and a sweet person. my childhood is full of “beaver” memories.
We lost our mother today. I grew up watching Leave it to Beaver. I truly believe that she was genuine.
RIP, Ms. Billingsley.
Your talents created a TV character who will forever be iconic and well-regarded. For that, I thank you. Condolences to your family and friends.
Never seen an episode of Leave it to Beaver, but she’ll always have a place in my heart as the Jive Lady. RIP.
Same, Airplane! is awesome.
She was the greatest TV Mom ever! God rest her soul
Class!
What a wonderful person both on and off screen
RIP…Barbara Billingsley.
The jive interpreter! I’m not American and I’m too young to have seen Leave It To Beaver but the jive segment was always my absolute favorite scene in that movie. Just the calm, classy way she steps in and says “Excuse me, I speak jive…” I saw it again on TV recently and LMAO at that scene all over again. Why she wasn’t cast as the lead in a string of comedies afterwards is beyond me. Respect, and my thoughts go out to her loved ones.
Having “Beaver’s Mom” speaking jive will always be one of the funniest portrayals of all time.
sympathy to her family and friends for the loss of a true legend whose passing has made the world a sadder and darker place. rip Barbara no doubt you and God are having fun together.
Writing on the NewLeave It To Beaver was my first job. Six years and she always had a smile on her face. A complete joy to know and work with
Bye-Bye, Mrs. Cleaver…You are up in heaven with Ward now…Thanks for the company while I was growing up…
her bit on “Airplane” was classic and lord knows we ALL wanted to have a mother like her.
but I can’t ever think of “Leave it to Beaver” without thinking of the name of one of the teams which competed in the Trivia Bowl they used to have when I was in college. They were, ahem, quite playful and this one always cracked me up:
June pleads with Ward, go easy on the Beaver.
I’ll never forget her performance in “Airplane!” as the jive-language translator…
“Chump don’t want no hep, chump don’t git no hep.”
A brilliant piece of casting and a truly great actress. Rest in peace, Barbara.
When I learned of Barbara Billingsley’s (June Cleaver) death, I felt a very great sadness. I realize nobody lives forever but she truly represented the best of motherhood during a very pivotal time in my youth.
America’s loss is great but as long as others and myself are still alive with those special memories of a loving family, Barbara Billingsley’s real contributions to genuine and decent family entertainment will not be forgotten. When I reflect deeply about the valuable lessons learned while growing up in an earlier age, the Cleaver Family will always be held in the highest esteem and regard. They made me proud to be a boy growing up in America!
sasdthoh
As Mrs. Cleaver said, “My goodness Ward, you were really hard on the Beaver last night.”
Interesting side note: Her role as the Jive Lady in “Airplane” (she was a hoot!) led to a recurring role as John Houseman’s romantic interest in the early 1980′s sitcom “Silver Spoons,” and she was hilarious when she lampooned her mother role on that classic episode of “Roseanne” alongside Alley Mills, June Lockhart and those other TV sitcom moms.
Some idiot had to be the first to say it. Congratulations, now go back to your 7th grade homework.
I just heard the news. We have lost one of the greatest talents ever. She was a great actress and will be deeply missed. I LOVE YOU Barbara.
I’m sad…I loved Barbara Billingsley, she was my “mom” for a half an hour every time I watched Leave it to Beaver.
RIP Original MILF
She was a gem. Yes, “Airplane”, but I also remember her as the head judge, along with Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers, of the surfing ‘competition’ in “Back To The Beach”.
She didn’t take herself too seriously. Something today’s celebrities/actors would do well to learn.
She saw right through Eddie Haskell and Bumpy’s Dad, Mr. Rutherford. A true genius and wonderful Mom!!! Like all of ours!
His nickname was LUMPY, not Bumpy.