Hollywood Matriarchs
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Moms have been such a powerful element to the story arcs throughout television and film history. We’ve hung out in their living rooms and kitchens, almost an extended part of the family—dysfunctional or not—just as we’ve followed their arduous journeys. They’ve made us laugh, cry, laugh-cry, remember and reflect.
Without them, our favorite shows and movies wouldn’t be the same. And to honor such monumental characters, we’ve gone back through the T.V. Guides of yesteryear and picked 25 of the most memorable moms (to us, anyway) from the big and small screen.
25. Lorraine McFly — "Back to the Future"
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“I’m your density…”
So, memorable doesn’t always mean “greatest on Earth.” And with that in mind, you’ve got to give Lorraine McFly credit for allowing true love to conquer what was indeed a nightmare situation crafted by Steven Speilberg.
24. Kitty Forman — "That 70s Show"
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Kitty Forman managed to pull off a back-to-the-future type fame, where fans of “That 70s Show”—which premiered in the late-90s—found her to be the perfect present-day mom.
23. Dorothy Boyd — "Jerry Maguire"
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She loved the enemy — and sports. And mission statements. Renee Zellweger’s character was one of the greatest of all time, a single mom navigating life while taking risks, much to the chagrin of her sister. Jerry got her at hello, and the audience got her from the beginning when she seemingly lost her son at a crowded airport.
22. Jeanine Stifler — "American Pie"
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Stifler’s mom!
21. Mrs. Lift — "Throw Momma from the Train"
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Anne Ramsey’s character made the film, a no-nonsense curmudgeon who disliked unsalted peanuts — and professor Larry Donner. While she was a handful, ultimately, Momma made her son Owen a better writer.
20. Edith Bunker — "All in the Family"
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Putting up with Archie and Meathead? Jean Stapleton’s character deserves her own wing in the TV Mom Hall of Fame.
19. Peg Bundy — "Married with Children"
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Keeping a dysfunctional family together by relying on dysfunctional-parenting tactics made Katey Sagal’s character an unexpected icon.
18. Elyse Keaton — "Family Ties"
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Meredith Baxter was the low-key hit on the 80s sitcom, a strong woman who could deal with Alex (a la Michael J. Fox) and the rest of the fam … while not being the typical housewife so often written for such shows. As an architect, Mrs. K was the top earner in the house.
17. Shirley Partridge — "The Partridge Family"
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Look, “I Think I Love You” is an all-time gem, a catchy tune that would make even the rowdiest member of a biker gang sway and smile in a happy hum. It’s a classic. And it’s now stuck in your head.
None of that artistic phenomena would be possible had it not been for the strong-willed widower herself, Shirley Partridge.
“Heyyyyyyy! I think I love you!”
16. Jenny Meyer — "Better Off Dead"
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And to drink: PERU!
15. Helen Parr (Elastagirl) — "The Incredibles"
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The first animated mom on the list, Helen Parr (aka Elastagirl) took the concept of flexible parenting and went Superhero with it. And like many characters that land near the top tier of cinematic history, it’s not easy to imagine a better voiceover than Holly Hunter’s.
14. Mrs. Brisby — "The Secret of NIMH"
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The second mom character from the animation realm lands at No. 14. Mrs. Brisby (voiced b the great Mary Hartman) had all the generosity, caring patience and courage of other red-caped heroes in film history. She went into the unknown and dealt with rats, cats, and Dom DeLuise. We all rooted for Bris’ and cheered when she saved her family.
13. Claire Dunphy — "Modern Family"
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She holds it together while completely losing it — the perfect mold for today’s literal modern family mom. Salute to you, Julie Bowen.
12. Joan Crawford — "Mommie Dearest"
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No wire hangers in the closet since 1981. Ever. Thanks, Joan.
11. Florida Evans — "Good Times"
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Stay-at-home mom by day. Superhero all the time. Esther Rolle’s character on “Good Times” was a perfect mix of caring and sass, with dash of comedy that seemed effortless.
10. Marie Barone — "Everybody Loves Raymond"
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Doris Roberts had her character of Ray’s mother down to a look — the type of stare-down moms just have to briefly shoot their sons. Marie Barone made the disapproving smirk an art form, at least three pages’ worth of dialogue captured in one simple yet resounding action.
9. Helen Griswold — Any of the "Vacation" films
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Helen handled the cross-country mess in the Family Truckster like a queen in “Vacation.” She didn’t let Clark’s shenanigans spoil the “Pig in a Poke” grand prize in “European Vacation.” She figured out it was the light switch in the garage in “Christmas Vacation.” And she had the strength and class to see through Wayne Newton to find her true center—those darn Griswolds—in “Vegas Vacation.”
Beverly D’Angelo: A standing ovation to you!
8. Olivia Walton — "The Waltons"
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Being able to handle that many people saying “goodnight” to each other is enough to land Olivia Walton on this list. But the real nod here goes to the number of character traits that Mrs. Walton personified, a load-up of kindness and strength mixed with values that championed non-violence and religion.
7. Marta Hanson (Mama) — "I Remember Mama"
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It’s impossible to create this type of list and not pay homage to Marta—one of the original movie moms who was played to perfection by Irene Dunne.
“I Remember Mama” followed a Norwegian immigrant family’s navigation of 1910 San Francisco, just a few years before the first World War. The family faced a daily flourish of obstacles mixed with defeat and success. But they made it work, thanks to Mama’s valiant effort to stay optimistic and humorous in the face of illness and financial struggles.
6. Mrs. Gump — "Forrest Gump"
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Without Mrs. Gump, a box of chocolates would simply be a box of chocolates — not a life lesson.
5. Clair Huxtable — "The Cosby Show"
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A lawyer who handled the Huxtable household of five children and her doctor husband like a true boss? Phylicia Rashad’s character had all the charm, wit and confidence that amounted to an influential figure in more than just her family.
4. Marge Simpson — "The Simpsons"
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It takes a mere nanosecond of the iconic sigh for fans to realize it’s Marge. Voiced by Julie Kavner, the purple-haired matriarch of the Simpson family has been a legendary character. Whether she’s dealing with Homer, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, or her sisters, Marge has handled the situation like a walk in the Springfield park.
3. Sophia Petrillo — "The Golden Girls"
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Moms never stop being moms, and few characters highlighted the fact better than Sophia Petrillo.
2. Sarah Connor — "The Terminator"
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All moms want a brighter future for their children. Unfortunately, few have needed to battle a cyborg Arnold Schwarzenegger or liquid-metal Robert Patrick to make the dream a reality.
1. Florence Henderson — "The Brady Bunch"
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Florence Henderson’s Mrs. Brady reigns supreme as the most memorable mom in TV or film lore. She might not have exuded the pinnacle of each trait from the characters listed below her —she might not have been your favorite tv or movie mom—but it’s hard to argue against the character’s status throughout history.
