Mary Frann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Frann
Frann in an episode of That Girl in 1968
Born	Mary Frances Luecke (1943-02-27)February 27, 1943 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	September 23, 1998(1998-09-23) (aged 55) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery
Other names	Jennifer Douglas Mary Fran
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1961–1998
Known for	Newhart
Spouse(s)	T. J. Escott ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1983)​
Partner(s)	Jonathan Cookman, Jr. (??–1998, her death)

Mary Frann (born Mary Frances Luecke; February 27, 1943 – September 23, 1998) was a talented American actress. She was known for her work in plays, movies, and especially on television. Many people remember her best as Joanna Loudon. This was the character she played as the wife of Bob Newhart's character in the popular TV show Newhart. This funny show, called a sitcom, was on TV from 1982 to 1990.

Early Life and First Steps

Mary Frann was born in St. Louis, Missouri. When she was a child, she worked as a model. She also appeared in commercials for a local TV station. She attended Nerinx Hall High School during this time.

At 18, Mary won the title of Missouri's "Junior Miss". She then went on to win the national title of America's Junior Miss in 1961. This win helped her get a scholarship to study acting at Northwestern University. While in college, she also worked as a weather reporter for a TV station in St. Louis.

After a year, Mary left Northwestern to move to Chicago. There, she co-hosted a morning TV show. She also started acting in local plays and getting roles in television and movies. In 1964, she made her TV acting debut. This was in an episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre. Her first movie role was in 1966, in a musical drama called Nashville Rebel.

Becoming a Star Actress

Mary Frann realized she wanted to be a full-time actress. So, in 1968, she moved to Los Angeles, California. She stayed with her good friend, actress Joan Van Ark. Soon after arriving, Mary got a role in the TV crime show My Friend Tony.

For a short time, Mary used the stage name "Jennifer Douglas." She picked this name from a phone book! After My Friend Tony ended, she went back to using "Mary Frann." This was the name she had used since high school.

For the next five years, Mary continued acting in TV shows and plays. In 1974, she joined the cast of the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. She played the character Amanda Howard until 1979. While on the show, she also made guest appearances on other popular series. These included Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, and Fantasy Island.

In 1982, Mary Frann got her most famous role. She played Joanna Loudon in the sitcom Newhart. Joanna was the wife of Dick Loudon, played by Bob Newhart. The show was about a couple who owned an inn in Vermont. Newhart was very popular with audiences. It was nominated for many awards, including 25 Emmys.

After Newhart finished in 1990, Mary took on different kinds of roles. She starred in the TV miniseries Lucky/Chances. This role was very different from her character on Newhart. She wanted to show people she could play many different parts.

During her time on Newhart, Mary also acted in other projects. She appeared in TV movies like Gidget's Summer Reunion (1985) and Dance 'til Dawn (1988). She also co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants. And she was a hostess for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade.

Her very last acting role was in an episode of the series Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. This episode aired after she passed away.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Mary Frann married T.J. Escott in 1973. They later divorced in 1983.

Mary was very active in helping others. She volunteered and raised money for many charities. For seven years, she was part of the Celebrity Action Council. This group of famous women helped with the women's outreach program at the Los Angeles Mission. The night before she died, she had attended a meeting there.

Later Years and Passing

Mary Frann passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 23, 1998. She was at her home in Beverly Hills, California. Doctors determined she died from a heart attack. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Selected Filmography