Mariclare Costello stands with her thumbs in her pockets in a scene from the film ‘Let’s Scare Jessica to Death’, 1971. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Mariclare Costello, a prolific actress whose credits include The Waltons and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, has died.
Costello died on April 17 in Brooklyn, N.Y., her family wrote on Legacy. She was 90.
The actress was born Mariclare Catherine Costello on Feb. 3, 1936, in Peoria, Ill. According to her family, Costello moved to New York after graduate school to pursue a career in theater, where she became a lifelong member of The Actors’ Studio.
Costello’s screen debut came in a small supporting role in Arthur Hiller’s 1967 comedy The Tiger Makes Out, starring Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson.
Mariclare Costello stands on the staircase as she talks with Kevin O’Connor in a scene from the film ‘Let’s Scare Jessica To Death’, 1971. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)
Getty Images
In 1971, Costello landed the role of Emily, a mysterious drifter believed to be a vampire by a mentally fragile Jessica (Zohra Lampert) in the psychological horror film classic Let’s Scare Jessica to Death.
On television, Costello played the recurring role of schoolteacher Rosemary Hunter on The Waltons, appearing in 15 episodes over five seasons of the classic TV drama from 1972-1977.
In 1977, Costello married fellow actor Alan Arbus, whose roles included Army psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman on the TV classic M*A*S*H. Costello and Arbus remained married until his death in 2013.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 29: (L-R) Actor Allan Arbus and wife Mariclare Costello arrive at the opening night performance of “Twelve Angry Men” at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre, starring Richard Thomas and George Wendt, on March 29, 2007, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Mariclare Costello Appeared In More Than 50 Screen Roles
In addition to her recurring role on The Waltons and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, Mariclare Costello appeared in more than 50 roles throughout her screen career.
On TV, she starred as Antoinette Slovik, the wife the Martin Sheen’s title character in the 1974 TV biographical drama The Execution of Private Slovak. Costello’s other TV movie credits include Conspiracy of Terror (1975), A Sensitive, Passion Man (1977), All God’s Children (1980), Coward of the County (1981), Skeezer (1982) and Shadow of the Blair Witch (2000).
The actress also starred in the TV Western Sara, which ran for one season in 1976, as well as the TV drama The Fitzpatricks, which ran for one season from 1977 to 1978.
Costello also appeared in several TV series in a guest capacity, including Ironside, Kojak, Barnaby Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Little House on the Prairie, Fame, Hart to Hart, Lou Grant, Murder, She Wrote, Chicago Hope and Judging Amy. Her last TV series appearance was in an episode of the romantic drama Providence in 2002.
Costello also had roles in the feature films Raid on Entebbe, Ordinary People, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension and Indecent Proposal.
Costello is survived by her daughter, Arin and her partner, Ethan; her granddaughter, Bird; stepdaughters, Amy and Doon; and several nieces, a nephew and other family members.
Leave a comment