Fran Ryan
Known for Acting · 113 credits
- Born
- 1916-11-29
- Died
- 2000-01-15
- Place of birth
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Also known as
- Frances Mary Ryan
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fran Ryan (November 29, 1916 – January 15, 2000) was an American character actress featured in television and films. She was born in Los Angeles, California.
Fran Ryan began performing at the age of 6, at Oakland's Henry Duffy Theatre, in Northern California. 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 but was not to launch her television career for two decades. Her small screen debut came in an episode on Television's Batman, in 1966, followed by a bit part in Beverly Hillbillies. Ryan's best known television role was as Aggie Thompson in The Doris Day Show (in its first incarnation plotline theme), though the gig only lasted a few months. This role was cut short because she was offered the 'replacement' role on the hit series Green Acres as Doris Ziffel from 1969-1971. Fran was to replace Barbara Pepper, who by then was in poor health. Sadly, Miss Pepper died just five months later of heart ailments, on July 15, 1969.
Ryan also starred on the long running TV Western series Gunsmoke during its twentieth and final season as Miss Hannah (Cobb). In 1987, she reprised the role of Miss Hannah in the TV movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge.
Fran Ryan played the role of Sister Agatha in the soap opera General Hospital in (1979). She also did voices for cartoons such as Hong Kong Phooey, Mister T and Little Dracula. Fran starred on some TV shows for children like Sigmund and the Sea Monsters in 1975 as Gertrude Grouch, and in 1970s children's show The New Zoo Revue as Ms. Goodbody, the 1980s TV series No Soap, Radio as Mrs. Belmont, the short lived 1980s CBS TV series The Wizard as Tillie Russell from 1986-1987. Her last regular TV role was on The Dave Thomas Comedy Show.
Known For
TV Shows (65)
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Rose Mulligan
Falcon Crest
1981
as Cass
Hill Street Blues
1981
Adam-12
1968
as Mrs. Killian
Quantum Leap
1989
as Dorothy Jaeger
Batman
1966
as Chairlady
Baywatch
1989
Charlie's Angels
1976
as Nurse Fager / Belle Asher
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
1976
as Miss Adeline Jeeter
The Waltons
1972
Night Court
1984
as Ethel La Rue / Miss Crombie
Barney Miller
1975
as Mrs. Hirsch, Homeless Woman
Matlock
1986
as Doris Curtis
Taxi
1978
as Mrs. Elizabeth Weber
I Dream of Jeannie
1965
as Switchboard Operator
Starsky & Hutch
1975
as Landlady
Green Acres
1965
Daniel Boone
1964
as Mrs. Jones
Highway to Heaven
1984
Night Gallery
1970
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Murphy Brown
1988
as The Asp
The Rookies
1972
Gunsmoke
1955
as Mrs. Keller / Hannah
Empty Nest
1988
as Mrs. Kramer
One Day at a Time
1975
The Commish
1991
Amazing Stories
1985
as Mrs. Abbott
McCloud
1970
That Girl
1966
Matt Houston
1982
Tiny Toon Adventures
1990
as Grandma (voice)
The Partridge Family
1970
as 1st Wife
The Colbys
1985
The Brady Bunch
1969
CHiPs
1977
as Nancy
Punky Brewster
1984
How the West Was Won
1977
Brothers
1984
as Mrs. Murphy
Nichols
1971
as Minnie Dowd
The Bill Cosby Show
1969
as Mrs. Beal
Father Murphy
1981
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971
as Dick's mother
Grizzly Adams
1977
as Gerty
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters
1973
as Gertrude
Manimal
1983
The Second Hundred Years
1967
as Mrs. Sanders
The Wizard
1986
as Tillie Russell
Hong Kong Phooey
1974
Good Heavens
1976
It Takes Two
1982
The New Adam-12
1990
as Ida Collins
The Quest
1976
as Mag Wood
Carter Country
1977
When the Whistle Blows
1980
Hollywood Wives
1985
as Nita Carrolle
Little Dracula
1991
New Zoo Revue
1972
Devlin
1974
Mister T
1983
Movies (48)
Chances Are
1989
as Mavis Talmadge
Rocky II
1979
as Adrian's Nurse (uncredited)
Pale Rider
1985
as Ma Blankenship
Private School
1983
as Miss Dutchbok
Stripes
1981
as Dowager in Cab
The Long Riders
1980
as Mrs. Samuel
Family Plot
1976
as Registrar Clerk (uncredited)
The Sure Thing
1985
as Lady in Car
Straight Time
1978
as Cafe Owner
Mickey One
1965
as Homeless Woman (uncredited)
Suture
1993
as Mrs. Lucerne
The Million Dollar Duck
1971
as Mrs. Purdham (uncredited)
Big Wednesday
1978
as Lucy
Out Cold
1989
as Arlene
River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
1993
as Hattie Clandell
Stewardess School
1986
as Fainting Lady
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
1990
as Miss Grundy
The Apple Dumpling Gang
1975
as Mrs. Stockley
Savannah Smiles
1982
as Farmer Wilma
Tough Enough
1983
as Gert Long
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities
1969
Johnny Belinda
1982
as Aunt Aggie McAdam
Thanksgiving Day
1990
as Lois
Deadly Game
1977
as Frieda Beezly
Eyes of Fire
1983
as Sister (Calvin's Wife)
Nick Knight
1989
as Jeannie
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
1987
as Hannah
Brainwash
1983
as Marie Davis
Lucky Stiff
1988
as Ma
Quiet Cool
1986
as Ma
Fuzzbucket
1986
as Mrs. Langendorf
Scandalous John
1971
as Farm Woman
Panic in Echo Park
1977
The Great Brain
1978
as Aunt Bertha
Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
1982
as Beatrice's Mother
Ghost Dancing
1983
as Judge
Goldie and the Boxer
1979
as Ethel
Long Way Home
1975
as Marvis Bidwell
Americana
1981
as Colonel
The Adventures of Nellie Bly
1981
as Mrs. Roman
Hog Wild
1974
as Flora
Rebel Love
1985
as Granny Plug
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
1984
as Millie Clark
Stalk the Wild Child
1976
as Ellen Mott
Father of Hell Town
1985
as Mother Maggie
Liza’s Pioneer Diary
1976
as Martha Stedman
Christmas Mountain: The Story Of A Cowboy Angel
1981
as Flora
The Front Line
1965
as Haughty Customer
About Fran Ryan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Fran Ryan (November 29, 1916 – January 15, 2000) was an American character actress featured in television and films. She was born in Los Angeles, California. Fran Ryan began performing at the age of 6, at Oakland's Henry Duffy Theatre, in Northern California. 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 but was not to launch her television career for two de… With 113 credits spanning from 1955 to 1993, Fran Ryan has appeared in 48 films and 65 TV shows.
Fans searching for Fran Ryan movies, Fran Ryan filmography, or the latest projects starring Fran Ryan can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Fran Ryan Movies
- Chances Are (1989) — as Mavis Talmadge
- Rocky II (1979) — as Adrian's Nurse (uncredited)
- Pale Rider (1985) — as Ma Blankenship
- Private School (1983) — as Miss Dutchbok
- Stripes (1981) — as Dowager in Cab
Where to Watch Fran Ryan Films
Most Fran Ryan movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Fran Ryan, check our movies catalogue and browse page.