A representative for the star’s well-known family said on Monday that Eileen Ryan passed away on Sunday at the age of 94 in her Malibu, California, home. On October 16, Ryan would have turned 95. Her cause of death was not given any further information.
The iconic actress was the mother of musician Michael Penn, 64, and actors Sean Penn, 62, and Chris Penn, 40, who passed away in 2006.
Over the span of her decades-long career, Ryan made appearances in over 60 television programs and motion pictures, including roles in genre fare like “Eight Legged Freaks” from 2002 and “Feast” from 2005. She also acted in the critically praised movies “I Am Sam” from 2001 and “Magnolia” from 1999.
She has been on “The Twilight Zone,” “E.R.,” “Ally McBeal,” and “NYPD Blue” on television, all of which debuted in 1960.
Leo Penn, an actor and ardent union member who was blacklisted from the late 1940s to the late 1950s, was married to her in 1957.
Until Leo passed away in 1998, the pair remained married for more than 40 years.
In 1955, the performer made his debut on television in the drama series Goodyear Television Playhouse.
Prior to that, she made her Broadway debut at age 25 in 1953’s Sing Till Tomorrow before going on to star in 1958’s Comes a Day.
Eileen frequently appeared in episodes of shows including Bonanza, Cannon, and Little House on the Prairie, while her husband frequently served as the show’s director.
