Fran Bennett (August 14, 1937 – September 12, 2021) was an American actress, known for her works in theater and on television. She portrayed the role of Mother Olivia Jefferson in a re-creation of the pilot episode of The Jeffersons in Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons.
Life and career Bennett was born in Malvern, Arkansas. She made her acting debut in theater, and her television debut on the daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. Bennett later had guest-starring roles in Roots: The Next Generations, Lou Grant, Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, L.A. Law, and Dynasty.
Bennett had a regular role in the short-lived NBC medical drama Nightingales in 1989. She also had recurring roles in the daytime soap operas General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful and Sunset Beach. In prime time, she had recurring roles in Quantum Leap, In the Heat of the Night, Crisis Center and The Book of Daniel. In recent years, she appeared in Boston Legal, ER, Becker and Scandal. She played the coroner in an episode of Remington Steele January 14, 1986.
Bennett had appeared in a number of films, including Promises in the Dark (1979), How I Got Into College (1989), The Doctor (1991), Plymouth (1991), New Nightmare (1994), Foxfire (1996), The Next Best Thing (2000) and Jessabelle (2014).
From 1996 to 2003, she was head of the performance program in the School of Theater at the California Institute of the Arts.
In 2019, she portrayed the role of Mother Olivia Jefferson in a re-creation of the pilot episode of The Jeffersons in Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons alongside Jamie Foxx as George, Wanda Sykes as Louise as well as Kerry Washington and Will Ferrell as Helen and Tom Willis respectively.
Death Bennett died in Los Angeles on September 12, 2021, at the age of 84.Fran Bennett, Actress and Longtime CalArts Voice and Acting Teacher, Dies at 84/
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1979Promises in the DarkER Nurse1985NarratorShort1989How I Got into CollegeMrs. Cook1994Wes Craven's New NightmareDr. Christine Heffner1996FoxfireJudge Holifield1997Leave It to BeaverDr. Beawoot1999UnbowedMiss Bennett2000Judge Tracey Bennett2001MapleGrandmotherShort2001Mrs. Quinn2002Crazy as HellMrs. Ada Barnett2009Star TrekVulcan MidwifeScenes cut2014JessabelleMrs. Davis2016Growing UpLenoraShort2021The ManorRuth
Television Year Title Role Notes1960To Tell the TruthHerself1965–1966Guiding LightMrs. Matson1978Diff'rent StrokesMrs. Thompson"The Social Worker"1979Roots: The Next GenerationsTrixie"1.6"Friendships, Secrets and LiesClarissaTV film1980Here's BoomerDr. Joyce Clarke"Molly"1980Evelyn"Convictions"1980Knots LandingBev Tolner"Let Me Count the Ways"1981Ms. MerriamTV film1981Lou GrantSarah / Chaney"Boomerang", "Wedding"1982Knots LandingKimya Haman"Abby's Choice"1983Matt HoustonLucille"The Ghost of Carter Gault"1983General HospitalFlora Johnston3 episodes1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the LaughterMiss DealTV film1984Cat on a Hot Tin RoofSookeyTV film1984Trapper John, M.D.Mrs. Ramsey"School Nurse"1985Falcon CrestNurse"Cold Comfort", "Confessions"1985Shadow ChasersDr. Frolov"Spirit of St. Louis"1986St. ElsewhereNurse Julie Attucks"To Tell the Truth"1986Simon & SimonWanda Tale"The Blue Chip Stomp"1986BensonSen. Williams"Secret Love"1986Foley SquareDr. Charney"Nobody's Perfect"1986Cagney & LaceyJudge Hansen"Family Connections"1987Mrs. Caldwell"Don't I Know You from Somewhere?"1987Judge Madeline CollinsRecurring role1987–1988L.A. LawJudge Hillary Miller Johnson"The Douglas Fur Ball", "Hand Roll Express"1988Highway to HeavenFlora"Back to Oakland"1988DynastyGloria Wilby"The Trial", "The Proposal"1988NightingalesLenore Ritt, RNTV film1988Roots: The GiftMammy MayTV film1989NightingalesHead Nurse Lenore RittMain role1989ALFMrs. Watson"Happy Together"1989Tour of DutyMrs. Johnson"Green Christmas"1990Mancuso, F.B.I.Anna Sims"Conspiracy"1990AmenJudge Wilde"Deacon's Dilemma"1990Nurse Mary FalkTV film1990MatlockBetty Harding"The Personal Trainer"1990–1991WIOULeonara Gates"The Inquisition", "Labored Relations"1990–1992In the Heat of the NightRuda Gibson"Family Matters", "Ruda's Awakening", "Last Rights"1991PlymouthDebraTV film1991Crazy from the HeartJudge Sandra FarrellTV film1991Quantum LeapAda Simpson"Justice"1991Star Trek: The Next GenerationFleet Adm. Shanthi"Redemption II"1992Jake and the FatmanThornton"Last Dance"1992Breaking the SilenceJudge RichardsTV film1992Quantum LeapMarie Billings"Trilogy: Parts 1, 2 & 3"1992Melrose PlaceDr. Miller"Jake vs. Jake"1994Murder, She WroteDet. MacKenzie"Proof in the Pudding"1994Once in a LifetimeDr. Liz WellsTV film1994Judge Donna AndrewsTV film1996ArlissAmelia Halimon"Negotiating: It's Never Personal"1996ERPhyllis"Union Station"1996What Love SeesBessie HaysTV film1997Crisis CenterTess's MotherRecurring role1997Sunset BeachChief HarrisRecurring role1997Sports Theater with Shaquille O'NealGrandma Williams"4 Points"1997Chicago HopeDr. Andrea Porter"Second Chances"1998Team Night RiderMiss Barrett"Angels in Chains"1998Tempting FateNurse LorenzoTV film1999Early EditionJudge A. Harding Joseph"Pinch Hitters"2000Chicago HopeDr. Odelia Wilkes"Letting Go"2000City of AngelsHattie Brewster"Prototype", "Weenis Between Us"2000BeckerEnid Connelly"Sight Unseen"2001JudgeTV film2002Any Day NowMrs. Raymond"Just the Beginning: Part 1"2002Days of Our LivesJudge Ross1 episode2003BoomtownBeatrice Rahming"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang"2006RainyRegular role2006Boston LegalJudge Diane Avent"Shock and Owww!"2008ERMichelle"Owner of a Broken Heart"2008Grave MisconductMrs. CrutchTV film2009NumbersEstelle Brown"Shadow Markets"2010CommunityNana Barnes"Basic Genealogy"2015ScandalLois"Run"2015Iris"Going South", "Idyllwild"2018Animal KingdomMrs. Fullerton"Prey" 2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience Mother Olivia Jefferson Episode: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons
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