Fran Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fran Bennett
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| Born | August 14, 1937 Malvern, Arkansas, U.S.
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| Died | September 11, 2021 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | University of Wisconsin at Madison, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–2021 |
| Employer |
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Notable work
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Lead in "King Lear", Center for New Theater, Los Angeles, 2002 |
| Television |
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| Honours |
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Fran Bennett (born August 14, 1937 – died September 11, 2021) was an American actress. She was well-known for her many roles in both theater and on television. One of her memorable roles was playing Mother Olivia Jefferson in a special re-creation of The Jeffersons pilot episode. This happened during the show Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons.
Contents
Fran Bennett's Life and Acting Career
Fran Bennett was born in Malvern, Arkansas. She started her acting journey in live theater. Later, she made her first TV appearance on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light.
Early TV Roles and Guest Appearances
After her debut, Fran Bennett appeared in many popular TV shows. She had guest roles in series like Roots: The Next Generations, Lou Grant, Dallas, and Dynasty. She also played the coroner in an episode of Remington Steele.
Main and Recurring TV Roles
In 1989, Fran Bennett had a regular role in the medical drama Nightingales. She also appeared often in soap operas such as General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Sunset Beach. In prime-time TV, she had recurring roles in shows like Quantum Leap, In the Heat of the Night, and Scandal. She also appeared in episodes of Boston Legal, ER, and Becker.
Fran Bennett's Film Work
Fran Bennett also acted in several movies. Some of her film roles include Promises in the Dark (1979), How I Got into College (1989), and New Nightmare (1994). She also appeared in The Next Best Thing (2000) and Jessabelle (2014).
Teaching and Later Career
From 1996 to 2003, Fran Bennett was a leader in the performance program at the California Institute of the Arts. This shows she also helped teach new actors. In 2019, she returned to play Mother Olivia Jefferson in the special Live in Front of a Studio Audience episode. She acted alongside famous stars like Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington.
Fran Bennett passed away in Los Angeles on September 11, 2021, at the age of 84.
Fran Bennett's Filmography
Here are some of the films and TV shows Fran Bennett appeared in.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Promises in the Dark | ER Nurse | |
| 1985 | The Dancing Bulrushes | Narrator | Short film |
| 1989 | How I Got into College | Mrs. Cook | |
| 1994 | Wes Craven's New Nightmare | Dr. Christine Heffner | |
| 1996 | Foxfire | Judge Holifield | |
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Dr. Beawoot | |
| 1999 | Unbowed | Miss Bennett | |
| 2000 | The Next Best Thing | Judge Tracey Bennett | |
| 2001 | Maple | Grandmother | Short film |
| 2001 | The Sky Is Falling | Mrs. Quinn | |
| 2002 | Crazy as Hell | Mrs. Ada Barnett | |
| 2009 | Star Trek | Vulcan Midwife | Scenes were cut from the final movie |
| 2014 | Jessabelle | Mrs. Davis | |
| 2016 | Growing Up | Lenora | Short film |
| 2021 | The Manor | Ruth |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965–1966 | Guiding Light | Mrs. Matson | |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes | Mrs. Thompson | Episode: "The Social Worker" |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Trixie | Episode: "1.6" |
| Friendships, Secrets and Lies | Clarissa | TV movie | |
| 1980 | Here's Boomer | Dr. Joyce Clarke | Episode: "Molly" |
| 1980 | The Righteous Apples | Evelyn | Episode: "Convictions" |
| 1980 | Knots Landing | Bev Tolner | Episode: "Let Me Count the Ways" |
| 1981 | The Violation of Sarah McDavid | Ms. Merriam | TV movie |
| 1981 | Lou Grant | Sarah / Chaney | Episodes: "Boomerang", "Wedding" |
| 1982 | Knots Landing | Kimya Haman | Episode: "Abby's Choice" |
| 1983 | Matt Houston | Lucille | Episode: "The Ghost of Carter Gault" |
| 1983 | General Hospital | Flora Johnston | Appeared in 3 episodes |
| 1984 | Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter | Miss Deal | TV movie |
| 1984 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Sookey | TV movie |
| 1984 | Trapper John, M.D. | Mrs. Ramsey | Episode: "School Nurse" |
| 1985 | Falcon Crest | Nurse | Episodes: "Cold Comfort", "Confessions" |
| 1985 | Shadow Chasers | Dr. Frolov | Episode: "Spirit of St. Louis" |
| 1986 | St. Elsewhere | Nurse Julie Attucks | Episode: "To Tell the Truth" |
| 1986 | Simon & Simon | Wanda Tale | Episode: "The Blue Chip Stomp" |
| 1986 | Benson | Sen. Williams | Episode: "Secret Love" |
| 1986 | Foley Square | Dr. Charney | Episode: "Nobody's Perfect" |
| 1986 | Cagney & Lacey | Judge Hansen | Episode: "Family Connections" |
| 1987 | A Year in the Life | Mrs. Caldwell | Episode: "Don't I Know You from Somewhere?" |
| 1987 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Judge Madeline Collins | Recurring role (appeared many times) |
| 1987–1988 | L.A. Law | Judge Hillary Miller Johnson | Episodes: "The Douglas Fur Ball", "Hand Roll Express" |
| 1988 | Highway to Heaven | Flora | Episode: "Back to Oakland" |
| 1988 | Dynasty | Gloria Wilby | Episodes: "The Trial", "The Proposal" |
| 1988 | Nightingales | Lenore Ritt, RN | TV movie |
| 1988 | Roots: The Gift | Mammy May | TV movie |
| 1989 | Nightingales | Head Nurse Lenore Ritt | Main role |
| 1989 | ALF | Mrs. Watson | Episode: "Happy Together" |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | Mrs. Johnson | Episode: "Green Christmas" |
| 1990 | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Anna | Episode: "Conspiracy" |
| 1990 | Amen | Judge Wilde | Episode: "Deacon's Dilemma" |
| 1990 | The Knife and Gun Club | Nurse Mary Falk | TV movie |
| 1990 | Matlock | Betty Harding | Episode: "The Personal Trainer" |
| 1990–1991 | WIOU | Leonara Gates | Episodes: "The Inquisition", "Labored Relations" |
| 1990–1992 | In the Heat of the Night | Ruda Gibson | Episodes: "Family Matters", "Ruda's Awakening", "Last Rights" |
| 1991 | Plymouth | Debra | TV movie |
| 1991 | Crazy from the Heart | Judge Sandra Farrell | TV movie |
| 1991 | Quantum Leap | Ada Simpson | Episode: "Justice" |
| 1991 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Fleet Adm. Shanthi | Episode: "Redemption II" |
| 1992 | Jake and the Fatman | Thornton | Episode: "Last Dance" |
| 1992 | Breaking the Silence | Judge Richards | TV movie |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Marie Billings | Episodes: "Trilogy: Parts 1, 2 & 3" |
| 1992 | Melrose Place | Dr. Miller | Episode: "Jake vs. Jake" |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Det. MacKenzie | Episode: "Proof in the Pudding" |
| 1994 | Once in a Lifetime | Dr. Liz Wells | TV movie |
| 1994 | A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor | Judge Donna Andrews | TV movie |
| 1996 | Arliss | Amelia Halimon | Episode: "Negotiating: It's Never Personal" |
| 1996 | ER | Phyllis | Episode: "Union Station" |
| 1996 | What Love Sees | Bessie Hays | TV movie |
| 1997 | Crisis Center | Tess's Mother | Recurring role |
| 1997 | Sunset Beach | Chief Harris | Recurring role |
| 1997 | Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Grandma Williams | Episode: "4 Points" |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Andrea Porter | Episode: "Second Chances" |
| 1998 | Team Night Rider | Miss Barrett | Episode: "Angels in Chains" |
| 1998 | Tempting Fate | Nurse Lorenzo | TV movie |
| 1999 | Early Edition | Judge A. Harding Joseph | Episode: "Pinch Hitters" |
| 2000 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Odelia Wilkes | Episode: "Letting Go" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Hattie Brewster | Episodes: "Prototype", "Weenis Between Us" |
| 2000 | Becker | Enid Connelly | Episode: "Sight Unseen" |
| 2001 | The Jennie Project | Judge | TV movie |
| 2002 | Any Day Now | Mrs. Raymond | Episode: "Just the Beginning: Part 1" |
| 2002 | Days of Our Lives | Judge Ross | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Boomtown | Beatrice Rahming | Episode: "The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang" |
| 2006 | The Book of Daniel | Rainy | Regular role |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Judge Diane Avent | Episode: "Shock and Owww!" |
| 2008 | ER | Michelle | Episode: "Owner of a Broken Heart" |
| 2008 | Grave Misconduct | Mrs. Crutch | TV movie |
| 2009 | Numbers | Estelle Brown | Episode: "Shadow Markets" |
| 2010 | Community | Nana Barnes | Episode: "Basic Genealogy" |
| 2015 | Scandal | Lois | Episode: "Run" |
| 2015 | The Fosters | Iris | Episodes: "Going South", "Idyllwild" |
| 2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Mother Olivia Jefferson | Episode: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons |
