On Saturday, April 3rd, 2021, the beloved TV actress whom many folks grew up watching as the mother of Dennis the Menace, passed away at the age of 98.
She had just turned 98 on the 2nd of April and according to an Instagram post from her daughter, Erin, “she left on a countdown 4 3 2 1 @ 3:40 pm.”
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Gloria Henry was best known for her starring role as the mother of “Dennis the Menace” in the 1960s comedy show and appeared in more than 140 episodes over the course of four years.
Henry appeared in a bevy of other shows and movies between 1947 and 1992 including Dallas as Mrs. Ona Evander, Dragnet, Mr. & Mrs. North, The Files of Jeffrey Jones, and Doogie Howser, M.D.
Later on, she appeared in one episode of Parks and Recreation that aired in 2012. That would be her final project.
Just a year before that final project, she spoke candidly in an interview about her time on Dennis the Menace, saying:
“Many of the fans say, ‘Oh, I always wished you were my mom’ and ‘My mom was jealous of you, because I wanted you for a mom. Which is pretty funny, because I don’t think my own children felt that way.”
She had three children of her own with her first husband Craig Ellwood and her youngest, Erin, has shared many wonderful videos and photos of her mom over the years.
See some of these special moments below along with a short episode of Dennis the Menace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time.
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