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Tributes pour in after Eileen Ryan, veteran actress and Sean Penn's mother, dies aged 94

Eileen Ryan had a steady career with several notable roles, including a memorable guest appearance in 'Little House on the Prairie'

MALIBU, CALIFORNIA: Sean Penn's mother and legendary actress Eileen Ryan died aged 94 at her home in Malibu. Mother to actor Sean, 62, musician Michael Penn, 64, and late actor Chris Penn, 40, Ryan was a Hollywood legend and died a week short of her 95th birthday. The news of her death was announced by a spokesperson for the family. Ryan made her first TV appearance in 1955’s 'Goodyear Television Playhouse'.

The 94-year-old actress enjoyed a steady career with projects like 'The Twilight Zone', 'Bonanza', 'The Detectives', 'Ben Casey', 'Marcus Welby', 'MD', 'Little House on the Prairie', 'Arli$$', 'Ally McBeal', 'NYPD Blue', 'ER', 'CSI', 'Men of a Certain Age', and 'Grey’s Anatomy', among many others. Ryan was married to actor and director Leo Penn from 1957 until his death in 1998. The two fell in love while rehearsing for the play 'Iceman Cometh', and they married just months after they met. Sean Penn and Ryan were often seen on red carpets together but also shared a professional angle as they worked on projects like 'The Indian Runner', 'All the King’s Men', and 'I Am Sam', among others. 

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Earlier, Ryan put her thriving career on pause to be a full-time mother. On Broadway, she portrayed Evie in 'Sing Till Tomorrow' in 1953 and Lorraine in 'Comes a Day' in 1958. Ryan was last seen in Warren Beatty's romantic dramedy 'Rules Don't Apply' in 2016.

The critically acclaimed actress was born on October 16, 1927, in New York as the daughter of nurse Rose Isabel and dentist Amerigo Giuseppe Annucci. Michael Penn remembered his mother with an image that he shared on Twitter saying, "We lost mom yesterday." No further details were disclosed regarding Ryan's death. 

Ryan was also mother-in-law to pop icon Madonna during Sean Penn's shortlived first marriage. News of her death left social media in shock as one user wrote, "R.I.P. to actress Eileen Ryan Penn, an astounding actress and the mother of Sean Penn and Chris Penn." Another wrote, "Rest in peace Eileen Ryan .you were a wonderful woman and actor and gave birth to gifted artists . Bless you." Someone else said, "Believers pray for the family of Sean Penn that is morning the loss of his mother Eileen Ryan. Pray for the salvation of unsaved family members!" Another tweeted, "Sean Penn’s Mom Eileen Ryan Dead At 94: - I had the pleasure and privilege to work with extremely talented and gifted woman on the film 8 Legged Freaks. The world lost a giant. RIP Eileen."

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