Classic TV Moms: Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (1964-66)

They didn’t bring you into this world, change your diapers or even ferry you to and from soccer practice. But to a lot of us, the moms on TV were the next best momthing to our own. Here our classic TV mom is Morticia Addams from cult 1960’s classic The Addams Family.

Morticia Addams (Carolyn Jones) along with Lily Munster (Yvonne De Carlo, from the other well-known ghoul-based comedy of that era) were paragons of Goth Glam way before it was cool.

Morticia knew all the right ways to brighten, um, we mean, darken, her happy home. Whether it was snipping the blooms off roses to make a lovely thorn arrangement or torturing/pleasuring hubby Gomez (John Astin) on the rack, Morticia had the key to a happy brood.

And sure, the kids–Pugsley (Ken Weatherwax) and Wednesday Friday (Lisa Loring)–were little monsters. But don’t try driving that stake through Morticia’s heart. Blame a gene pool that produced Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) and Cousin Itt (some guy named Feliz Silla in a big, hairy costume).

Like many of us sitting at home, they were freaks. But it seemed perfectly normal to them, and they went with it. Morticia was the glue that held it all together: the ultimate scary mom. And we mean that in a good way.