kids encyclopedia robot

Fran Bennett facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Fran Bennett
Born August 14, 1937
Died September 11, 2021 (aged 84)
Education University of Wisconsin at Madison, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts
Occupation Actress
Years active 1961–2021
Employer
  • CalArts School of Theater, 1996-2003
  • Antaeus Theatre Company
  • Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company
  • London Academy of Dramatic Art
Notable work
Lead in "King Lear", Center for New Theater, Los Angeles, 2002
Television
  • The Bold and the Beautiful
  • Diff'rent Strokes
  • Guiding Light
  • Quantum Leap
  • Roots: The Next Generations
  • Scandal
Honours
  • NAACP Theatre Award
  • AEA/AFTRA/SAG Diversity Award
  • Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, inducted 2005

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.

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 Dancing Bulrushes, TheThe 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 Next Best Thing, TheThe Next Best Thing Judge Tracey Bennett
2001 Maple Grandmother Short film
2001 Sky Is Falling, TheThe 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 Righteous Apples, TheThe Righteous Apples Evelyn Episode: "Convictions"
1980 Knots Landing Bev Tolner Episode: "Let Me Count the Ways"
1981 Violation of Sarah McDavid, TheThe 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 Year in the Life, AA Year in the Life Mrs. Caldwell Episode: "Don't I Know You from Somewhere?"
1987 Bold and the Beautiful, TheThe 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 Knife and Gun Club, TheThe 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 Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor, AA 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 Jennie Project, TheThe 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 Book of Daniel, TheThe 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 Fosters, TheThe 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
kids search engine
Fran Bennett Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.