Fans are mourning the loss of Mariclare Costello, who passed away at the age of 90 on 17 April. The star shot to fame thanks to her roles in the likes of The Waltons and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death.
Confirming her passing, Mariclare’s family said in a statement: “Her gift was rare; 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. She was also, in every dimension of her life, someone who paid attention. She could talk to anyone, was interested in everything, and was a relentless asker of questions.
“She loved stray animals, rescued bugs, fed birds, and knew that few pleasures in life rivaled a good curbside furniture find. She was a wonderful cook and wrapped presents with the kind of care that made the unwrapping its own event. She refinished countless floors and collected objects, letters, photographs, even used coffee cups, much to her husband and daughter’s dismay.”
“She made every space she inhabited more beautiful. Warm, curious, generous and tough, she had the constitution of an ox, was never sick, and was always up for an adventure, especially if she could show up a few minutes late, as was her general inclination.”
Mariclare left behind her daughter, Arin Arbus, whom she shared with her famous husband, Allan Arbus, who sadly died in 2013. While both Mariclare and Allan were screen stars, Arin honed her talents on the stage.
Here’s all you need to know about Arin…
Mariclare’s daughter Arin
Arin burst onto the Broadway scene in 2019 when she directed the Tony Award-nominated Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. She has since worked on the likes of Waiting for Godot, Des Moines and Deep Blue Sound.
Before heading to Broadway, Arin served as the associate artistic director at Theatre for a New Audience, which sought to revitalise the works of William Shakespeare and other dramatic works. She worked on productions like Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth and King Lear.
© Jemal CountessHowever, despite her production of Othello, Arin previously confessed to disliking the works of the legendary playwright. “I had no interest in Shakespeare,” she said in an interview with American Theatre.
“I knew nothing about Shakespeare, I had never studied Shakespeare in high school. I thought Shakespeare was for scholars, highly educated people who specialise in Shakespeare. And I sort of thought Shakespeare onstage was boring.”
© Bruce Glikas/Getty ImagesArin has also worked for Rehabilitation Through the Arts, a charitable cause that worked in medium-security prisons in a bid to rehabilitate inmates by using theatre as a medium.
