Sean Penn’s Mom Eileen Ryan Dead At 94: 5 Things To Know About ‘Little House On The Prairie’ Star

• Eileen Ryan was an accomplished histrion of some signifier and television.
• She was the parent of Oscar victor Sean Penn.
• Eileen passed distant connected Sunday, October 9, 2022, astatine the property of 94.

It’s the extremity of an epoch for Sean Penn, 62, aft his mother, histrion Eileen Ryan, died connected October 9 successful Malibu. The beauteous histrion was often seen connected reddish carpets with her lad implicit the years and was known to measurement retired with immoderate of the astir celebrated actors successful Hollywood. In fact, she erstwhile insisted that helium instrumentality her to the Academy Awards. “Before I was nominated, my parent called maine up and said, ‘Captain Kangaroo died today. He was 76. I’m 77. You’re taking maine to the Oscars shot this year.'” helium said successful a 2005 interrogation successful O magazine.  “I said, ‘Mom, I’m not adjacent nominated.’ She said, ‘Don’t beryllium silly!'”

But her celebrated lad was nominated for Mystic River successful 2004, and helium took location the grant that evening — portion his parent joyously cheered him on. Here’s everything you request to cognize astir Sean Penn’s accomplished and beloved mother.

She was an iconic and recognizable actress.

Eileen Ryan is seen successful a inactive from 2002 campy fearfulness movie ‘Eight Legged Freaks.’ (Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Eileen whitethorn beryllium known for supporting her celebrated son, but she had a singular vocation of her ain agelong earlier Sean entered the satellite successful 1960. Born successful New York successful 1927, she appeared connected the metallic surface alongside Steve Martin successful Parenthood, David Arquette successful Eight Legged Freaks, and Julianne Moore and Johnny Depp successful Benny & Joon. She notably appeared successful I Am Sam with her son, and worked into her precocious 80s — Eileen’s past movie was Rules Don’t Apply successful 2016.

Her database of tv credits is adjacent much extensive. She was seen connected episodes of The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, Little House connected the Prairie, Matlock, ER, NYPD Blue, Ally McBeal, Without a Trace, Grey’s Anatomy, and galore more. On Broadway, she made a sanction for herself arsenic a theatre actress. Eileen was known for playing Evie successful Sing Till Tomorrow and Lorraine successful Comes a Day, both successful the 1950s.

Eileen was a parent to 3 boys.

Sean wasn’t Eileen’s lone child. She had 3 boys, 2 of whom are actors. Sean was calved successful 1960, portion his member Chris Penn was calved successful 1965 and his oldest member Michael, a musician, was calved successful 1958. She was joined to their father, director Leo Penn, from 1957 until his decease successful 1998. Sadly, she besides mislaid her lad Chris to cardiomyopathy successful 2006. He was conscionable 40 years old.

She was Madonna’s mother-in-law.

Sean and Eileen astatine the 2004 Oscar nominees luncheon successful Los Angeles connected Feb 09, 2004. (Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock)

Eileen besides played the relation of mother-in-law to 2 precise celebrated women. When Sean joined Madonna successful August of 1985, Eileen was thrust into the relation of adjacent household subordinate to a large popular star. But the matrimony didn’t past long, and they’d already parted ways by January of 1989. She past became the mother-in-law of Robin Wright when she joined Sean successful 1996. That matrimony was much productive, arsenic the actors were joined for 11 years until 2007.

Eileen was a grandmother.

Eileen became a grandma erstwhile Robin gave commencement to Sean’s 2 children. Dylan (now 31) was calved successful 1991, earlier the mates married, and Hopper, (now 29) who they welcomed successful 1993. Dylan and Hopper followed successful their grandmother’s footsteps, arsenic Dylan is present an histrion and model, and Hopper is an histrion and producer.

She was nearing her 95th birthday.

Eileen lived a agelong beingness and was reportedly nearing her 95th birthday astatine the clip of her death, which would person been connected October 16 — 1 week aft her death. Her eldest son, Michael, published the quality to Twitter. “We mislaid ma yesterday,” helium captioned the heartbreaking post, alongside a stunning vintage illustration changeable of the legendary actress.