Fran Bennett
Biography
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
All Movies (27)
- The Manor2021 · as Ruth
- Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"2019 · as Mother Jefferson
- Jessabelle2014 · as Mrs. Davis
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy2010 · as Self
- Grave Misconduct2008 · as Mrs. Crutch
- The Sky is Falling2001 · as Mrs. Quinn
- The Next Best Thing2000 · as Judge Tracey Bennett
- 8MM1999 · as Nun
- Foxfire1996 · as Judge Holifield
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor1994 · as Judge Donna Andrews
- Wes Craven's New Nightmare1994 · as Dr. Christine Heffner
- Once in a Lifetime1994 · as Dr. Liz Wells
- Majority Rule1992 · as Jane
- Breaking the Silence1992 · as Judge Virginia Richards
- The Doctor1991 · as Admissions Secretary
- The Knife and Gun Club1990 · as Nurse Mary Falk
- My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He?1989 · as Nurse Etting
- How I Got Into College1989 · as Mrs. Cook
- Roots: The Gift1988 · as May
- Nightingales1988 · as Nurse Ritt
- The Morning After1986 · as Airline Clerk
- Between Two Women1986 · as Night Nurse
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof1984
- Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter1984 · as Miss Deal
- Romantic Comedy1983 · as Doctor #1
- The Violation of Sarah McDavid1981 · as Ms. Merriam
- Friendships, Secrets and Lies1979 · as Clarissa
All TV Shows (49)
- The Fosters2013 · as Iris
- Scandal2012 · as Louis
- Community2009 · as Nana
- The Book of Daniel2006 · as Lorraine
- Numb3rs2005 · as Estelle Brown
- Boston Legal2004 · as Judge Diane Avent
- NCIS2003 · as Mary Elaine Smith
- Boomtown2002 · as Beatrice Rahming
- Crossing Jordan2001 · as Judge
- Providence1999 · as Chairwoman
- Sunset Beach1997
- Early Edition1996 · as Judge A. Harding Joseph
- Arli$$1996 · as Amelia Halimon
- ER1994 · as Phyllis
- ER1994 · as Michelle
- Chicago Hope1994 · as Andrea Porter
- Chicago Hope1994 · as Odelia Wilkes
- Melrose Place1992 · as Dr. Miller
- Capital News1990
- Nasty Boys1990
- Mancuso, F.B.I.1989
- Quantum Leap1989 · as Ada Simpson
- Quantum Leap1989 · as Marie Billings
- Nightingales1989 · as Head Nurse Lenore Ritt
- Star Trek: The Next Generation1987 · as Fleet Admiral Shanthi
- Jake and the Fatman1987 · as Thornton
- Jake and the Fatman1987 · as Judge (uncredited)
- Tour of Duty1987 · as Mrs. Johnson
- A Year in the Life1987 · as Mrs. Caldwell
- ALF1986 · as Mrs. Watson
- L.A. Law1986 · as Judge Hillary Miller Johnson
- Matlock1986 · as Betty Harding
- Shadow Chasers1985 · as Dr. Frolov
- The Twilight Zone1985 · as UN Chairman (segment "A Small Talent for War")
- Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Detective MacKenzie
- Highway to Heaven1984 · as Flora
- St. Elsewhere1982 · as Nurse Julie Attucks
- Remington Steele1982 · as Coroner
- Matt Houston1982 · as Lucille
- Cagney & Lacey1982
- Falcon Crest1981 · as Nurse
- Simon & Simon1981 · as Wanda Tale
- Knots Landing1979 · as Bev Tolner
- Knots Landing1979 · as Dr. Faulkner
- Knots Landing1979 · as Kimya Haman
- Diff'rent Strokes1978
- Lou Grant1977 · as Sarah
- Lou Grant1977 · as Chaney
- ABC Afterschool Special1972 · as Nurse Etting