Frances Mary Ryan (November 29, 1916 January 15, 2000) was an American character actress featured in television and films. She was born in Los Angeles, California.
Career
Ryan began performing at the age of six at Oakland's Henry Duffy Theatre. She attended Stanford University for three years, and during World War II was a member of the USO entertaining troops. She performed comedy, singing and acting on stage in California and Chicago, and launched her television career two decades later. Her television debut came in episode 43 of Batman, in 1966, followed by a bit part in Beverly Hillbillies. She also appeared in a 1972 episode of Columbo, Dagger of the Mind, as "uncredited woman at the airport."
Ryan's first supporting cast television role was as Aggie Thompson in the first several episodes of The Doris Day Show. The same season, she was offered the replacement role on the series Green Acres as Doris Ziffel from 1969 to 1971. Ryan replaced Barbara Pepper, who was in poor health. Ryan also starred on the long-running TV Western series Gunsmoke during its 20th and final season as Miss Hannah (Cobb). In 1987, she reprised the role of Miss Hannah in the TV movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.
Ryan played the role of Rosie Carlson in the soap opera Days of Our Lives (1976–1979) and Sister Agatha in General Hospital in 1989. She also did voices for cartoons such as Hong Kong Phooey, Mister T, and Little Dracula. Fran starred on some TV shows for children, such as Sigmund and the Sea Monsters in 1975 as Gertrude Grouch, the 1970s children's show New Zoo Revue as Ms. Goodbody, the 1980s TV series No Soap, Radio as Mrs. Belmont, and the short-lived 1980s CBS TV series The Wizard as Tillie Russell from 1986 to 1987. Her last regular TV role was on The Dave Thomas Comedy Show.
Ryan also appeared in a series of commercials for Hungry Jack biscuits beginning in 1975.
She appeared in many feature films, including Big Wednesday (1978), as Frank and Jesse James' mother in The Long Riders (1980), Take This Job and Shove It (1981), Pale Rider (1985), Chances Are (1989), and a cameo appearance in 1981's Stripes, as a cab fare to Bill Murray as the cabbie, in the opening scenes of the film. Ryan made many guest appearances on TV shows, including Batman (episode 43), Adam-12, The Brady Bunch, CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard, Quantum Leap, Night Court, Taxi, Baywatch, and The Commish.
Personal life Fran's first husband, Walter Kenneth Wayne (whom she married in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1949), died in a plane crash, in a plane he was piloting in January 1951, while Fran was pregnant with their first and only child. She gave birth to their son, Christopher, in April 1951. Fran remarried in January 1953 to Howard Schafer. Howard, too, perished in a plane crash in Oregon in May 1953 in a plane he was piloting. The wreckage of Howard's plane was not discovered until 15 years later in November 1968. The remains of Howard and his passengers were never found. All that was found at the crash site was a woman's shoe, four combs, and two pair of eyeglasses.
Death Ryan died on January 15, 2000, at age 83. She was cremated and her ashes buried in 2004 in the family plot, alongside her mother Mary, at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward, California.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1965Mickey One Homeless Woman Uncredited 1970Scream, Evelyn, Scream! The Old Woman 1971Scandalous John Farm Woman 1971The Million Dollar Duck Mrs. Purdham Uncredited 1974How to Seduce a Woman Mrs. Toklas 1975The Apple Dumpling Gang Mrs. Stockley 1976Family Plot Registrar Clerk Uncredited 1978Straight Time Cafe Owner 1978Big Wednesday Lucy 1978The Great Brain Aunt Bertha 1979Rocky II Adrian’s Nurse 1980The Long Riders Mrs. Zerelda Cole Samuel 1981Americana Colonel 1981Take This Job and Shove It Mrs. Hinkle 1981Circle of Power Marie Davis 1981Stripes Dowager in Cab 1981Christmas Mountain Flora 1982Shoot the Moon Judge Uncredited 1982Savannah Smiles Farmer Wilma 1982Flush Belle Chance 1983Tough Enough Gert Long 1983Private School Miss Dutchbok 1983Eyes of Fire Calvin's Wife 1985The Sure Thing Lady in Car 1985Rebel Love Granny Plug 1985Pale Rider Ma Blankenship 1986Stewardess School Fainting Lady 1986Quiet Cool Ma 1988Lucky Stiff Ma 1989Out Cold Arlene 1989Chances Are Mavis Talmadge 1993Suture Mrs. Lucerne
Television Year Title Role Notes 1965The Front Line presented by Reader's Digest Customer Episode: "How To Be An Effective Supermarket Checker" 1966Batman Chairlady Episode: "The Greatest Mother of Them All" 1967The Second Hundred Years Mrs. Sanders Episode: "No Experience Necessary" 1968The Beverly Hillbillies Mrs. Meek Episode: "The Housekeeper" 1968The Doris Day Show Aggie Thompson 10 episodes 1969Daniel Boone Mrs. Jones Episode: "Love and Equity" 1969Marcus Welby, M.D. Nurse Prifogle Episode: "A Matter of Humanities" 1969Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Rosie Episode: "The Wonderful Old Saloon" 1969The Bill Cosby Show Mrs. Beal Episode: "Rules Is Rules" 1969Adam-12 Mrs. Killian Episode: "Log 142: As High as You Are" 1970I Dream of Jeannie Switchboard Operator Episode: "One of Our Hotels Is Growing" 1970The Brady Bunch Mrs. Hunsaker Episode: "To Move or Not to Move" 1970The Bold Ones: The Lawyers Edna Episode: "Trial of a PFC" 1970Men at Law Mrs. Kenton Episode: "Where Were We, Waldo?" 1970The Partridge Family 1st Wife Episode: "My Son, the Feminist"1969-1971Green Acres Doris Ziffel / Minnie Holcombe 7 episodes 1971Night Gallery Third Witch (segment "Witches' Feast"), Episode: "Death in the Family/The Merciful/Class of '99/Witches' Feast" 1971The Jimmy Stewart Show Laundry Manager Episode: "Guest of Honor" 1972Nichols Minnie Dowd Episode: "About Jesse James" 1972McCloud Nurse Episode: "Give My Regrets to Broadway" 1972Bonanza Widow Lucas Episode: "A Visit to Upright" 1972Return to Peyton Place Dr. Helen Randall 1972Ironside Charge Nurse Episode: "Five Days in the Death of Sgt. Brown" 1972New Zoo Revue Ms. Goodbody 1972The Bold Ones: The New Doctors E.R. Nurse Episode: "A Very Strange Triangle" 1972Columbo Woman at Airport Uncredited, Episode: "Dagger of the Mind" 1973The New Dick Van Dyke Show Mom Episode: "Exit Laughing" 1974Hog Wild Flora TV movie 1974Hong Kong Phooey Voice 1974Devlin voices1973-1974Sigmund and the Sea Monsters Gertrude 5 episodes1972-1975Gunsmoke Hannah / Mrs. Keller 6 episodes 1975The Family Holvak Mavis Bidwell Episode: "The Long Way Home: Part 2" 1975The Rookies Ma Burker Episode: "Ladies Day" 1976Good Heavens Ma Buckingham Episode: "See Jane Run" 1976The Quest Mag Wood Episode: "Seventy-Two Hours" 1976Stalk the Wild Child Ellen Mott TV movie 1976 Visions Martha Stedman Episode: "Liza's Pioneer Diary" 1977Panic in Echo Park TV movie 1977Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Miss Adeline Jeeter 15 episodes 1977Barney Miller Mrs. Hirsch, Homeless Woman Episode: "Corporation" 1977James at 16 Woman Construction Worker Episode: "Higher Ground" 1977Deadly Game Frieda Beezly TV movie 1977-1978One Day at a Time Episodes: "The Dress Designer" (1978) as Eve"Julie's Operation" (1977) as Nurse 1978The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams Gerty Episode: "The Great Burro Race"1976-1978Starsky & Hutch Landlady / Miss Bycroft / Stella 3 episodes 1978CHiPs Nancy / Lady Driver Episodes: "Trick or Trick" as Nancy"Surf's Up" as Lady Driver 1977-1978Charlie's Angels Belle Asher / Nurse Fager 2 episodes 1979How the West Was Won Mrs. Holmes Episode: "Hillary"1978-1979Carter Country Martha Episode: "The Big Move: Part 2" (1979) as Martha"Roy's Separation" (1978) 1979Salvage 1 Melba Episode: "Confederate Gold" 1976-1979Days of Our Lives Rosie Carlson 7 episodes 1979Who's on Call? Nurse Bremer Episode: "Pilot" 1979Goldie and the Boxer Cook TV movie 1980When the Whistle Blows May Episode: "Wildcatters" 1981The Dukes of Hazzard Ma Harper Episode: "Duke vs. Duke" 1981The Waltons Eula Mae Moonie Episode: "The Hostage" 1981The Adventures of Nellie Bly Mrs. Roman TV movie 1982Father Murphy Toby's Mom Episode: "Eighty-Eight Keys to Happiness" 1982Benson Molly Emerson "Clayton's Condo" 1982Taxi Mrs. Elizabeth Weber Episode: "Elegant Iggy" 1982 No Soap, Radio Mrs. Belmont 5 episodes 1982Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice Beatrice's Mother TV movie 1982Johnny Belinda Aunt Aggie McAdam TV movie 1983Laverne & Shirley Mother Superior Episode: "The Monastery Show" 1983It Takes Two Bridget Episode: "Mother and Child Reunion" 1983The Optimist Matron Episode: "Healthy Body, Unhealthy Mind" 1983Ghost Dancing Judge TV movie 1983Mister T voice 1983Matt Houston Maggie Episode: "Marilyn" 1983Falcon Crest Cass Episode: "Solitary Confinements" 1983Manimal Sadie Bethune Episode: "Night of the Beast" 1983-1984Three's CompanyGrace / Hilda 2 episodes 1984The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. Millie Clark TV movie 1984The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries Voice, Episode: "Happy Birthday, Scooby-Doo" 1984Hill Street Blues Mary Minot Episode: "The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall" 1985Hollywood Wives Nina Carrolle TV miniseries 1985Hell Town Mother Maggie TV movie 1985Punky Brewster Isabelle Peavey Episode: "Love Thy Neighbor" 1986Amazing Stories Mrs. Abbott Episode: "The Sitter" 1986Hardcastle and McCormick Mrs. Vassah Episode: "In the Eye of the Beholder" 1986The Colbys Helen Webster Episode: "Anniversary Waltz" 1974-1986The Magical World of Disney Flora / Mrs. Langendorf 3 episodes 1986Brothers Mrs. Murphy Episode: "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" 1986-1987The Wizard Tillie Russell 19 episodes 1987The New Mike Hammer Mike's New Secretary Episode: "A Blinding Fear" 1987Highway to Heaven Lil Episodes: "Man's Best Friend: Part 1 and 2" 1987Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge Hannah TV movie 1987Webster Lt. Col. Howard Episode: "Grab Bag" 1987Houston Knights Minnie Elizabeth Lundy Episode: "Secrets" 1988Mr. Belvedere Mrs. Deferschmidt Episode: "Duel" 1988Murphy Brown The Asp Episode: "Nowhere to Run" 1989Murder, She Wrote Rose Mulligan Episode: "The Sins of Castle Cove" 1989Matlock Doris Curtis Episode: "The Priest" 1989Nick Knight Jeannie TV movie 1990Empty Nest Mrs. Kramer Episode: "Take My Mom, Please" 1990Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Miss Grundy TV movie 1990The Dave Thomas Comedy Show Fran 5 episodes 1990Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers School Teacher / Camembert Kate 2 episodes 1987-1990 Night Court Miss Crombie / Ethel La Rue 3 episodes 1990Quantum Leap Dorothy Jaeger Episode: "The Boogieman - October 31, 1964" 1990Over My Dead Body Building Manager Episode: "Pilot" 1990Thanksgiving Day Lois TV movie 1990The New Adam-12 Ida Collins Episode: "Blue Avengers" 1990Davis Rules Miss Catworthy Episode: "Mission: Improbable" 1991Little Dracula Hannah the Barbarian Voice 1991Baywatch Tillie McCabe Episode: "Thin or Die" 1991Homefront Sister Theophane Episode: "Sinners Reconciled" 1992Tiny Toon Adventures Grandma Duff Voice, Episode: "Grandma's Dead" 1993River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene Hattie Clandell TV movie 1993The Commish Doris Episode: "Dying Affection", (final appearance)
References
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