Eileen Ryan, a well-known actress, died on Sunday, October 9, at the age of 94. She was the mother of actors Sean Penn, Chris Penn and Michael Penn, as well as singer Michael Penn. Mara Buxbaum, Eileen’s agent, announced the news in a press statement on Oct. 10, albeit the cause of death was not disclosed. The announcement comes just days before her 95th birthday on October 16. Sean, Chris and Michael have not yet made any official comments.
Prairie’s Eileen Ryan’s character on the Little House
mrs. Kennedy was played by Eileen Ryan in the first season of the historical drama series Little House on the Prairie. Mrs. Kennedy lived in Walnut Grove and was the mother of Christy and Sandy Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy, played by Wayne Heffley, was her husband. Janice Carroll eventually took Eileen’s position in Season 2.
Sean Penn first appeared on the program as an uncredited extra in the 11th episode of Season 1. Sean was thirteen at the time. Created by Blanche Hanalis, Little House on the Prairie began on September 11, 1974 and ran for nine seasons and 204 episodes until May 10, 1982.
All about Eileen Ryan
Eileen Annucci was born on October 16, 1927 to nurse Rose Isabel and dentist Amerigo Giuseppe Annucci. Amerigo was Italian-American while Rose was Irish-American. Eileen married actor and active union member Leo Penn in 1957, who was blacklisted from 1940 to 1950. Eileen was known for her Broadway appearances in Sing Till Tomorrow from 1953 to 1954 and Comes a Day in 1958. A perfect actor on film and television.
She has been in the entertainment business since 1955 and has starred in a number of movies and television series. Ryan also played their grandmother in the 1986 crime thriller film At Close Range, with her sons Chris and Sean. Despite receiving good reviews, the film, directed by James Foley, flopped at the box office. Ryan has been recognized for her roles in films such as Winter People, Benny & Joon, Parenthood, Anywhere but Here, Magnolia, Eight Legged Freaks, All the King’s Men, Mother and Child, Collaborator, Rules Don’t Apply and many more.
She has also appeared in Deadline, The Twilight Zone, The Asphalt Jungle, Outlaws, Tales of Wells Fargo, NYPD Blue, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy, among others. Leo Penn, Ryan’s wife, died on September 5, 1998. Sean and Michael, her children, have joined her family. Chris, her second son, passed away on January 24, 2006. Sean is a well-known Hollywood actor, but Michael is known for his hits and albums.
