Barbara Billingsley, who played the kind-hearted mother on the classic TV show Leave It To Beaver has died. She was 94 years old.
Billingsley reportedly passed away at her home in Santa Monica, Calif. from polymyalgia, a rheumatoid ailment.
As June Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver, Billingsley not only created a mold for TV moms that other actresses would follow, she also conjured up an image of infinitely patient and pearl-necklace-wearing parenthood that real-life moms would try, often with frustration, to emulate.
Leave It To Beaver ran on television from 1957 to 1963, but found small-screen immortality through reruns. On the show, Billingsleys character was often in high heels and pearls, and always kept the house neat, her family content, and a hot meal ready. When family members acted up, she was wise, understanding, and calm.
Born Barbara Lillian Combes in Los Angeles, Calif. , in 1915, the aspiring actress found work as a fashion model early in her career. She appeared in such movies as Airplane! (1980) and various TV series, but nothing matched the fame and impact of her role on Leave It To Beaver.