Fran Bennett
Fran Bennett (August 14, 1937, in Malvern, Arkansas; † September 12, 2021, in Los Angeles, California) was an American actress known for her work in theater and television. She appeared in series such as Beauty and the Beast, Little House on the Prairie, Dallas, Falcon Crest, L.A. Law, ER, Boston Legal, and Scandal. Bennett had recurring roles in General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful and appeared in films like Promises in the Dark (1979), How I Got into College (1989), New Nightmare (1994), Foxfire (1996), and Jessabelle (2014). In addition to her acting career, she was the head of the acting program at the California Institute of the Arts from 1996 to 2003 and was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2005. She passed away at the age of 84.
Known For
Credits
- 2021 · The Manor as Ruth
- 2019 · Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" as Mother Jefferson
- 2014 · Jessabelle as Mrs. Davis
- 2013 · The Fosters as Iris
- 2012 · Scandal as Louis
- 2010 · Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy as Self
- 2009 · Community as Nana
- 2008 · Grave Misconduct as Mrs. Crutch
- 2006 · The Book of Daniel as Lorraine
- 2005 · Numb3rs as Estelle Brown
- 2004 · Boston Legal as Judge Diane Avent
- 2003 · NCIS as Mary Elaine Smith
- 2002 · Boomtown as Beatrice Rahming
- 2001 · Crossing Jordan as Judge
- 2001 · The Sky is Falling as Mrs. Quinn
- 2000 · The Next Best Thing as Judge Tracey Bennett
- 1999 · 8MM as Nun
- 1999 · Providence as Chairwoman
- 1997 · Sunset Beach as
- 1996 · Early Edition as
- 1996 · Foxfire as Judge Holifield
- 1996 · Arliss as Amelia Halimon
- 1994 · Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor as Judge Donna Andrews
- 1994 · New Nightmare as Dr. Christine Heffner
- 1994 · Once in a Lifetime as Dr. Liz Wells
- 1994 · ER as Phyllis
- 1994 · ER as Michelle
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as
- 1992 · Majority Rule as Jane
- 1992 · Melrose Place as Dr. Miller
- 1992 · Breaking the Silence as Judge Virginia Richards
- 1991 · Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption as Shanthi (archive footage)
- 1991 · The Doctor as Admissions Secretary
- 1990 · The Knife and Gun Club as Nurse Mary Falk
- 1990 · Capital News as
- 1989 · Mancuso, F.B.I. as
- 1989 · Nasty Boys as
- 1989 · My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He? as Nurse Etting
- 1989 · How I Got Into College as Mrs. Cook
- 1989 · Quantum Leap as Ada Simpson
- 1989 · Quantum Leap as Marie Billings
- 1989 · Nightingales as Head Nurse Lenore Ritt
- 1988 · Roots: The Gift as May
- 1988 · Nightingales as Nurse Ritt
- 1987 · Star Trek: The Next Generation as Fleet Admiral Shanthi
- 1987 · Jake and the Fatman as Thornton
- 1987 · Jake and the Fatman as Judge (uncredited)
- 1987 · Tour of Duty as Mrs. Johnson
- 1987 · A Year in the Life as Mrs. Caldwell
- 1986 · The Morning After as Airline Clerk
- 1986 · ALF as Mrs. Watson
- 1986 · L.A. Law as Judge Hillary Miller Johnson
- 1986 · Between Two Women as Night Nurse
- 1986 · Matlock as Betty Harding
- 1985 · Shadow Chasers as Dr. Frolov
- 1985 · The Twilight Zone as UN Chairman (segment "A Small Talent for War")
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Detective MacKenzie
- 1984 · Highway to Heaven as Flora
- 1984 · Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as
- 1984 · Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter as Miss Deal
- 1983 · Romantic Comedy as Doctor #1
- 1982 · St. Elsewhere as Nurse Julie Attucks
- 1982 · Remington Steele as Coroner
- 1982 · Matt Houston as Lucille
- 1982 · Cagney & Lacey as
- 1981 · Falcon Crest as Nurse
- 1981 · Simon & Simon as Wanda Tale
- 1981 · The Violation of Sarah McDavid as Ms. Merriam
- 1979 · Knots Landing as Bev Tolner
- 1979 · Knots Landing as Kimya Haman
- 1979 · Knots Landing as Dr. Faulkner
- 1979 · Friendships, Secrets and Lies as Clarissa
- 1978 · Diff'rent Strokes as
- 1977 · Lou Grant as Sarah
- 1977 · Lou Grant as Chaney
- 1972 · ABC Afterschool Special as Nurse Etting