Anne Francis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Francis
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Studio publicity photo from the 1950s
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| Born | September 16, 1930 Ossining, New York, U.S.
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| Died | January 2, 2011 (aged 80) |
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| Years active | 1936–2006 |
| Known for | Forbidden Planet Bad Day at Black Rock Blackboard Jungle |
| Television | Honey West |
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| Children | 2 |
Anne Francis (born September 16, 1930 – died January 2, 2011) was an American actress. She was famous for her roles in the science-fiction movie Forbidden Planet (1956) and the TV show Honey West (1965–1966).
Forbidden Planet was one of the first big-budget, color science-fiction movies. Later, in Honey West, Anne Francis played a smart private investigator. She was known for her quick actions and witty lines. She even won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role.
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Early Life
Anne Francis was born in Ossining, New York, on September 16, 1930. She was the only child of Philip Ward Francis and Edith Francis.
She started working in show business when she was very young. At just 5 years old, she worked as a model. This helped her family during the Great Depression. She made her first appearance on Broadway when she was 11.
Career Highlights
Movies
Anne Francis first appeared in a movie called This Time for Keeps in 1947. She played supporting roles in several films, like So Young, So Bad (1950) and Bad Day at Black Rock (1955).
Her first main role was in Blackboard Jungle (1955). Her most famous movie role was Altaira in Forbidden Planet (1956). This science-fiction movie was nominated for an Oscar for its special effects.
Later, she also had a role as Georgia James in the movie Funny Girl (1968).
Television Shows
When there were fewer movie roles, Anne Francis started working more in television. She was very successful there.
She appeared as a guest star on many popular TV shows. These included two episodes of The Twilight Zone and two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She also appeared in Route 66 and The Virginian.
She was also in two episodes of Columbo and an episode of Rawhide. In 1964, she guest-starred in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Mission Impossible.
Honey West
Honey West was an exciting action-drama show. Anne Francis played the main character, Honey West. She was a clever private investigator who worked with her assistant, Sam Bolt.
At home, Honey West had a pet ocelot named Bruce. The show was very popular but only lasted one season. It was canceled because of money reasons.
Later Television Work
After Honey West, Anne Francis continued to appear in many TV shows. She was a guest star in The Fugitive and The Invaders.
In 1971, she played Terri Dowling in My Three Sons. She also appeared again on Columbo.
In the 1970s, she was in shows like Wonder Woman and Baa Baa Black Sheep.
In the 1980s, she had a repeating role as Arliss Cooper in Dallas. She also appeared in the first episodes of the detective show Riptide. She guest-starred in three episodes of Murder, She Wrote and appeared on The Golden Girls.
Her last TV acting role was in 2004, in an episode of Without a Trace.
Personal Life
Anne Francis was married twice. Her first marriage was to Bamlet Lawrence Price, Jr., from 1952 to 1955. Her second marriage was to Robert Abeloff, from 1960 to 1964. She did not marry again after divorcing Abeloff.
She had one daughter, Jane Elizabeth Abeloff, born in 1962. In 1970, Anne Francis adopted another daughter, Margaret "Maggie" West. This was one of the first adoptions allowed for an unmarried person in California.
In the late 1960s, Anne Francis learned to fly and earned her pilot's license.
In 1982, she wrote a book about her spiritual journey called Voices from Home: An Inner Journey.
Anne Francis died on January 2, 2011, from complications due to pancreatic cancer. She passed away at a retirement home in Santa Barbara, California.
Images for kids
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Leslie Nielsen and Anne Francis in Forbidden Planet, 1956
See Also
In Spanish: Anne Francis para niños
