Barbara Billingsley, ‘Leave It to Beaver’ Mom, Dies at 94

Barbara Billingsley and Jerry Mathers pose during the TV Land Awards 2003 at the Hollywood Palladium on March 2, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Barbara Billingsley, who played June Cleaver in the 1950s sitcom Leave It to Beaver, died on Saturday, E! Online reported. She was 94.

A family spokesperson said that she died in her Santa Monica, California home. She had been suffering from poor health and rheumatoid disease.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and lifetime mentor Barbara Billingsley,” Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver on the sitcom, told E!

Her character, June, was the ideal middle-class stay-at-home mom during the show’s six seasons, which ran from 1957 to 1963.

“She will live in the hearts of her fans as a wonderful actress and be remembered by her friends as a gracious lady. Barbara was a patient advisor and teacher,” Mathers added. “She helped me along this challenging journey through life by showing me the importance of manners, and respect for others.

“She will be deeply missed by all of her family, friends, fans and most especially by me.”

Billingsley stopped acting after Leave It to Beaver ended, appearing later in the comedy Airplane! in 1980. She returned to play June Cleaver again in the 1983 TV movie Still the Beaver and the series, The New Leave It to Beaver.

Billingsley is survived by two sons, a stepson, and grandchildren.