Skip to content
Join free
Fran Ryan
Actor

Fran Ryan

29 Nov 1916Born
15 Jan 2000Died
83Age at death
114Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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.

She starred in many feature films, including Flush (1977), Big Wednesday (1978), Take This Job and Shove It (1981), Pale Rider (1985), Chances Are, and in her scene-stealing cameo in 1981's Stripes, as a tortured cab fare to Bill Murray as the cabbie, in the opening scenes of the comedy film.

Ryan made guest appearances on TV shows ranging from Batman, Adam-12, CHiPs, Quantum Leap, Night Court, Baywatch to The Commish.

Fran Ryan was often compared to actress Marjorie Main; they looked similar to one another. Ryan died on January 15, 2000, at age 83. She is buried in the family plots alongside her mother, at the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, in Hayward, California.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Fran Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 114 credits.

  1. 1993River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie KeeneFilm: Hattie Clandell
  2. 1993SutureFilm: Mrs. Lucerne
  3. 1991The CommishSeries (2 episodes)
  4. 1991Little DraculaSeries (26 episodes)
  5. 1990Thanksgiving DayFilm: Lois
  6. 1990The New Adam-12Series: Ida Collins (1 episode)
  7. 1990Tiny Toon AdventuresSeries: Grandma (voice) (1 episode)
  8. 1990The Dave Thomas Comedy ShowSeries (5 episodes)
  9. 1990Archie: To Riverdale and Back AgainFilm: Miss Grundy
  10. 1990The BradysSeries (1 episode)
  11. 1989Nick KnightFilm: Jeannie
  12. 1989BaywatchSeries (1 episode)
  13. 1989Quantum LeapSeries: Dorothy Jaeger (1 episode)
  14. 1989Chances AreFilm: Mavis Talmadge
  15. 1989Out ColdFilm: Arlene
  16. 1988Murphy BrownSeries: The Asp (1 episode)
  17. 1988Lucky StiffFilm: Ma
  18. 1988Empty NestSeries: Mrs. Kramer (1 episode)
  19. 1987Gunsmoke: Return to DodgeFilm: Hannah
  20. 1986Quiet CoolFilm: Ma
  21. 1986The WizardSeries: Tillie Russell (19 episodes)
  22. 1986Stewardess SchoolFilm: Fainting Lady
  23. 1986FuzzbucketFilm: Mrs. Langendorf
  24. 1986MatlockSeries: Doris Curtis (1 episode)
  25. 1985The ColbysSeries (1 episode)
  26. 1985Amazing StoriesSeries: Mrs. Abbott (1 episode)
  27. 1985Pale RiderFilm: Ma Blankenship
  28. 1985Rebel LoveFilm: Granny Plug
  29. 1985Father of Hell TownFilm: Mother Maggie
  30. 1985The Sure ThingFilm: Lady in Car
  31. 1985Hollywood WivesSeries: Nita Carrolle (1 episode)
  32. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: Rose Mulligan (1 episode)
  33. 1984Highway to HeavenSeries (2 episodes)
  34. 1984Punky BrewsterSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1984BrothersSeries: Mrs. Murphy (1 episode)
  36. 1984The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.Film: Millie Clark
  37. 1984Night CourtSeries: Ethel La Rue, Miss Crombie (1 episode)
  38. 1983Eyes of FireFilm: Sister (Calvin's Wife)
  39. 1983ManimalSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1983BrainwashFilm: Marie Davis
  41. 1983Mister TSeries (30 episodes)
  42. 1983Private SchoolFilm: Miss Dutchbok
  43. 1983Ghost DancingFilm: Judge
  44. 1983Tough EnoughFilm: Gert Long
  45. 1982Johnny BelindaFilm: Aunt Aggie McAdam
  46. 1982It Takes TwoSeries (1 episode)
  47. 1982Life of the Party: The Story of BeatriceFilm: Beatrice's Mother
  48. 1982Matt HoustonSeries (1 episode)
  49. 1982No Soap, RadioSeries (5 episodes)
  50. 1982Savannah SmilesFilm: Farmer Wilma
  51. 1982Shoot the MoonFilm: Judge (uncredited)
  52. 1981Falcon CrestSeries: Cass (1 episode)
  53. 1981Father MurphySeries (1 episode)
  54. 1981StripesFilm: Dowager in Cab
  55. 1981The Adventures of Nellie BlyFilm: Mrs. Roman
  56. 1981AmericanaFilm: Colonel
  57. 1981Foul PlaySeries (1 episode)
  58. 1981Hill Street BluesSeries (1 episode)
  59. 1981Christmas Mountain: The Story Of A Cowboy AngelFilm: Flora
  60. 1980The Long RidersFilm: Mrs. Samuel
  61. 1980When the Whistle BlowsSeries (1 episode)
  62. 1979Goldie and the BoxerFilm: Ethel
  63. 1979Rocky IIFilm: Adrian's Nurse (uncredited)
  64. 1978TaxiSeries: Mrs. Elizabeth Weber (1 episode)
  65. 1978The Great BrainFilm: Aunt Bertha
  66. 1978Big WednesdayFilm: Lucy
  67. 1978Straight TimeFilm: Cafe Owner
  68. 1977Deadly GameFilm: Frieda Beezly
  69. 1977CHiPsSeries: Nancy (2 episodes)
  70. 1977Carter CountrySeries (1 episode)
  71. 1977Panic in Echo ParkFilm
  72. 1977Grizzly AdamsSeries: Gerty (1 episode)
  73. 1977How the West Was WonSeries (1 episode)
  74. 1976Liza’s Pioneer DiaryFilm: Martha Stedman
  75. 1976Stalk the Wild ChildFilm: Ellen Mott
  76. 1976Charlie's AngelsSeries: Nurse Fager, Belle Asher (1 episode)
  77. 1976The QuestSeries: Mag Wood (1 episode)
  78. 1976Family PlotFilm: Registrar Clerk (uncredited)
  79. 1976Good HeavensSeries (1 episode)
  80. 1976Laverne & ShirleySeries (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.