
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.
Gallery

Known For
Acting History
2021
The Manor as Ruth
2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" as Mother Jefferson
2014Jessabelle as Mrs. Davis
2013The Fosters as Iris
2012Scandal as Louis
2010Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy as Self
2009Community as Nana
2008Grave Misconduct as Mrs. Crutch
2006The Book of Daniel as Lorraine
2005Numb3rs as Estelle Brown
2004Boston Legal as Judge Diane Avent
2003NCIS as Mary Elaine Smith
2002Boomtown as Beatrice Rahming
2001Crossing Jordan as Judge
2001The Sky is Falling as Mrs. Quinn
2000The Next Best Thing as Judge Tracey Bennett
19998MM as Nun
1999Providence as Chairwoman
1997Sunset Beach
1996Early Edition as Judge A. Harding Joseph
1996Foxfire as Judge Holifield
1996Arli$$ as Amelia Halimon
1994Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor as Judge Donna Andrews
1994New Nightmare as Dr. Christine Heffner
1994Once in a Lifetime as Dr. Liz Wells
1994ER as Phyllis
1994ER as Michelle
1994Chicago Hope as Andrea Porter
1992Majority Rule as Jane
1992Melrose Place as Dr. Miller
1992Breaking the Silence as Judge Virginia Richards
1991The Doctor as Admissions Secretary
1990The Knife and Gun Club as Nurse Mary Falk
1990Capital News
1989Mancuso, F.B.I.
1989Nasty Boys
1989My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He? as Nurse Etting
1989How I Got Into College as Mrs. Cook
1989Quantum Leap as Ada Simpson
1989Quantum Leap as Marie Billings
1989Nightingales as Head Nurse Lenore Ritt
1988Roots: The Gift as May
1988Nightingales as Nurse Ritt
1987Star Trek: The Next Generation as Fleet Admiral Shanthi
1987Jake and the Fatman as Thornton
1987Jake and the Fatman as Judge (uncredited)
1987Tour of Duty as Mrs. Johnson
1987A Year in the Life as Mrs. Caldwell
1986The Morning After as Airline Clerk
1986ALF as Mrs. Watson
1986L.A. Law as Judge Hillary Miller Johnson
1986Between Two Women as Night Nurse
1986Matlock as Betty Harding
1985Shadow Chasers as Dr. Frolov
1985The Twilight Zone as UN Chairman (segment "A Small Talent for War")
1984Murder, She Wrote as Detective MacKenzie
1984Highway to Heaven as Flora
1984Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter as Miss Deal
1983Romantic Comedy as Doctor #1
1982St. Elsewhere as Nurse Julie Attucks
1982Remington Steele as Coroner
1982Matt Houston as Lucille
1982Cagney & Lacey
1981Falcon Crest as Nurse
1981Simon & Simon as Wanda Tale
1981The Violation of Sarah McDavid as Ms. Merriam
1979Knots Landing as Bev Tolner
1979Knots Landing as Dr. Faulkner
1979Knots Landing as Kimya Haman
1979Friendships, Secrets and Lies as Clarissa
1978Diff'rent Strokes
1977Lou Grant as Sarah
1977Lou Grant as Chaney
1972ABC Afterschool Special as Nurse Etting








