Mariclare Costello, best known to The Waltons fans as the warm and memorable teacher Rosemary Hunter, has died at the age of 90.
“Her gift was rare,” her family wrote in an obituary.
“She knew how to get people out of their own heads, focused on a task rather than on themselves, and in doing so helped them access their own creative voices.”
According to the obituary, published in the Peoria Journal Star, she passed away on the morning of Friday, April 17, in Brooklyn, New York.
For many viewers, Costello will always be remembered as part of the heart of The Waltons — a series defined by its warmth, family values, and deeply human storytelling. She starred as Miss Hunter, the local schoolmarm.
Her presence on the show left a lasting impression during its early seasons, when her character became a quiet but meaningful part of the community on Walton’s Mountain.
In a 2011 interview, Costello looked back fondly on her time with the cast.
“I had the greatest time with Richard Thomas and John Ritter. We laughed from the beginning of the day until the end of the day. We spent a lot of time together. They were great,” she said.
A Midwesterner by birth and a vegetarian by choice, her career stretched far beyond Walton’s Mountain.
She was born in Peoria, Illinois, and grew up in a stable, middle-class family with a creative streak. Her father worked as a bridge designer for the state, while she was encouraged to explore the arts from an early age. That path eventually led her to study theater and education, where she earned a master’s degree in drama and began building the foundation for a long career on stage and screen.
She even performed for President John F. Kennedy in a production of The Merchant of Venice.
From New York stages to Broadway productions, she built a respected career in theater before moving into film and television in the late 1960s.
Her screen work included appearances in acclaimed projects such as Ordinary People and the cult horror favorite Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, along with guest roles on some of television’s most beloved series.
Off screen, she was remembered just as fondly.
“Her gift was rare,” her family wrote. “She was a wonderful cook, she loved rescuing stray animals, and she had a way of making every space she entered more beautiful.”
“She was also, in every dimension of her life, someone who paid attention,” they added. “She could talk to anyone, was interested in everything, and was a relentless asker of questions.”
She was married to actor Allan Arbus, known for MASH*, from 1977 until his death in 2013. Together they shared a life in Los Angeles filled with art, teaching, and creativity. Arbus died of congestive heart failure in 2013. He was 95.
Mariclare Costello is survived by her daughter Arin, granddaughter Bird, stepdaughters Amy and Doon, and extended family who remember her as deeply curious, endlessly warm, and full of life.
For The Waltons audience, she remains part of a television world built on heart — and a reminder of the quiet performers who helped make it unforgettable.
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