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Eileen Ryan dead – Legendary ‘Little House On The Prairie’ actress and mum of Hollywood star Sean Penn dies at 94
LEGENDARY actress Eileen Ryan, mum of Hollywood star Sean Penn, has died at the age of 94.
The Little House On The Prairie star passed away at her home in Malibu, California, on Sunday, her representative announced.
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The mum-of-three enjoyed a glittering career in film and TV, appearing in over 60 productions over the years.
She was mum to actor Sean, 62, musician Michael, 64, and actor Chris who passed away in 2006 at the age of 40.
Eileen's eldest son Michael poignantly tweeted a photo of his beloved mother alongside a broken heart emoji.
He wrote: "We lost mom yesterday."
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The veteran actress, who appeared in iconic films including Magnolia and I Am Sam, would have turned 95 on October 16.
The details of her cause of death have not yet been revealed.
Eileen had got hitched to actor and director Leo Penn in 1957 just two months after they met, before his death in 1998.
She was the matriarch of the gifted Penn family, who each took on a career in showbiz and followed in their parent's footsteps.
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The 94-year-old was often seen on the arm of her famous son Sean at red-carpet events and even made cameos in several of his films.
The pair worked together on The Indian Runner, All the King's Men, and I Am Sam, as well as several other productions.
The New Yorker bagged her first television role on drama series Goodyear Television Playhouse in 1955.
It was fresh off the back of her Broadway debut two years earlier, which saw her light up the stage in Sing Till Tomorrow.
She appeared in further TV shows - often directed by her husband - and gained gigs on Bonanza, Cannon, and Little House on the Prairie.
Other notable credits include The Twilight Zone in 1960 and guest roles in acclaimed '90s shows E.R., Ally McBeal and NYPD Blue.
Eileen enjoyed a brief interlude from acting after giving birth to her sons so she could become a full-time mum.
She came back to her career with a bang in 1986, starring alongside Sean and Chris in At Close Range as their grandmother.
Her last appearance was in 2016 in Warren Beatty's romantic comedy Rules Don't Apply.
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The respected actress was also the mother-in-law to some of the world's most high-profile women thanks to Sean.
Grammy award-winning singer Madonna, actress Robin Wright and model and actress Leila George each joined Eileen's brood over the years.
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