Betty McGuire, the Broadway actress who also appeared on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains, has died at 100. The news was confirmed this Sunday by her representative.
It was reported that McGuire passed away from natural causes on Thursday, October 8, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, located in Woodland Hills, California.
A long career on the Broadway stage
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Betty McGuire made her Broadway debut playing Rebecca in the 1955 musical Plain and Fancy. She subsequently joined the casts of Happy Hunting (1956) and Oh Captain! (1958), working alongside major figures of American musical theater such as Ethel Merman, Barbara Cook, Bea Arthur, and Tony Randall.
The actress also participated in touring productions of Auntie Mame, Gypsy, and Oliver!, cementing a stage career that spanned years before she made the leap to the screen.
The jump to television and film
McGuire's debut in front of the cameras came in 1973, in an episode of The Doris Day Show. From there, her television career spanned several decades, with appearances in series such as Columbo, Phyllis, Charlie's Angels, Hart to Hart, Little House on the Prairie, Moonlighting, Matlock, MacGyver, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Murphy Brown, CSI: Miami, ER, and 7th Heaven, among other productions.
However, the role for which she is best remembered is that of Grandma Kate Malone, a character she played as a recurring guest star on Growing Pains.
In film, McGuire participated in titles such as Up in Smoke (1978), starring Cheech & Chong, as well as Hometown USA (1980), The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), and Wishmaster (1997).
Social commitment beyond acting
Off-screen, Betty McGuire dedicated years of her life to volunteering at the legal clinic of the Coalition for Economic Survival in Los Angeles, where she provided support to low-income tenants facing eviction proceedings.
Additionally, McGuire was a presenter for GabFest, a segment of the news program NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt focused on giving visibility to other residents of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Home, the same institution where she spent her final years.
Frequently asked questions about Betty McGuire
When and how did Betty McGuire die?
Betty McGuire passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026, of natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Her death was publicly confirmed the following Sunday by her representative.
How old was Betty McGuire when she died?
The actress was 100 years old at the time of her passing.
What role is Betty McGuire primarily known for?
She is especially remembered for playing Grandma Kate Malone in recurring guest star appearances on the series Growing Pains.
What other Broadway productions did Betty McGuire participate in?
She debuted on Broadway with Plain and Fancy in 1955 and was also part of the casts of Happy Hunting and Oh Captain!, in addition to tours of Auntie Mame, Gypsy, and Oliver!.
Did Betty McGuire have activities outside of acting?
Yes. McGuire was a volunteer for years at the legal clinic of the Coalition for Economic Survival in Los Angeles, helping low-income tenants, and she presented the GabFest segment within NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.
