LAMAMIMET

Mariclare Catherine Costello was born on February 3, 1936, in Peoria, Illinois. She pursued acting, becoming a lifetime member of The Actors Studio and an original player with the Lincoln Center Repertory, appearing on Broadway alongside notable performers such as Stacy Keach, Jimmy Stewart, and Helen Hayes. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Rosemary Hunter Fordwick on the beloved television drama The Waltons, which she portrayed from 1972 to 1977. Afterward, she starred as Maggie Fitzpatrick on the short‑lived series The Fitzpatricks and appeared in the cult horror film Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971), playing a hippie‑vampire. In later years, Costello turned to education, serving as an acting professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she mentored aspiring performers. She remained active in the acting community through stage work and occasional screen appearances. Mariclare Costello died in New York City on April 17, 2026, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of memorable television and film performances and a dedication to the craft of acting.