Person

Fran Bennett

Acting · 1937–2021 · Malvern, Arkansas, USA

Fran Bennett (August 14, 1937 – September 12, 2021) was an American actress, best 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.

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  NCIS

  Mary Elaine Smith

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  Star Trek: The Next Generation

  Fleet Admiral Shanthi

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  Melrose Place

  Dr. Miller

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  Murder, She Wrote

  Detective MacKenzie

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  ER

  Phyllis

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  Chicago Hope

  Andrea Porter

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  Quantum Leap

  Ada Simpson

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  Knots Landing

  Bev Tolner

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  Community

  Nana

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  Sunset Beach

  1997

• 2021The ManorRuth
• 2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"Mother Jefferson
• 2014JessabelleMrs. Davis
• 2013The FostersIris
• 2012ScandalLouis
• 2010Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street LegacySelf
• 2009CommunityNana
• 2008Grave MisconductMrs. Crutch
• 2006The Book of DanielLorraine
• 2005Numb3rsEstelle Brown
• 2004Boston LegalJudge Diane Avent
• 2003NCISMary Elaine Smith
• 2002BoomtownBeatrice Rahming
• 2001Crossing JordanJudge
• 2001The Sky is FallingMrs. Quinn
• 2000The Next Best ThingJudge Tracey Bennett
• 19998MMNun
• 1999ProvidenceChairwoman
• 1997Sunset Beach
• 1996Early EditionJudge A. Harding Joseph
• 1996FoxfireJudge Holifield
• 1996Arli$$Amelia Halimon
• 1994Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing GovernorJudge Donna Andrews
• 1994Wes Craven's New NightmareDr. Christine Heffner
• 1994Once in a LifetimeDr. Liz Wells
• 1994ERPhyllis
• 1994Chicago HopeAndrea Porter
• 1992Majority RuleJane
• 1992Melrose PlaceDr. Miller
• 1992Breaking the SilenceJudge Virginia Richards
• 1991The DoctorAdmissions Secretary
• 1990The Knife and Gun ClubNurse Mary Falk
• 1990Capital News
• 1990Nasty Boys
• 1989Mancuso, F.B.I.
• 1989My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He?Nurse Etting
• 1989How I Got Into CollegeMrs. Cook
• 1989Quantum LeapAda Simpson
• 1989NightingalesHead Nurse Lenore Ritt
• 1988Roots: The GiftMay
• 1988NightingalesNurse Ritt
• 1987Star Trek: The Next GenerationFleet Admiral Shanthi
• 1987Jake and the FatmanThornton
• 1987Tour of DutyMrs. Johnson
• 1987A Year in the LifeMrs. Caldwell
• 1986The Morning AfterAirline Clerk
• 1986ALFMrs. Watson
• 1986L.A. LawJudge Hillary Miller Johnson
• 1986Between Two WomenNight Nurse
• 1986MatlockBetty Harding
• 1985Shadow ChasersDr. Frolov
• 1985The Twilight ZoneUN Chairman (segment "A Small Talent for War")
• 1984Murder, She WroteDetective MacKenzie
• 1984Highway to HeavenFlora
• 1984Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• 1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the LaughterMiss Deal
• 1983Romantic ComedyDoctor #1
• 1982St. ElsewhereNurse Julie Attucks
• 1982Remington SteeleCoroner
• 1982Matt HoustonLucille
• 1982Cagney & Lacey
• 1982American PlayhouseSookey
• 1981Falcon CrestNurse
• 1981Simon & SimonWanda Tale
• 1981The Violation of Sarah McDavidMs. Merriam
• 1979Knots LandingBev Tolner
• 1979Friendships, Secrets and LiesClarissa
• 1978Diff'rent Strokes
• 1977Lou GrantSarah
• 1972ABC Afterschool SpecialNurse Etting