Biography
Fran Ryan (also credited as Frances Mary Ryan) was an American character actress. Born on 29 November 1916 in Los Angeles, California, she died on 15 January 2000 in Burbank, California. She began performing at the age of six at Oakland's Henry Duffy Theatre, attended Stanford University for three years, and entertained troops with the USO during the Second World War. She worked in stage comedy, singing and acting in California and Chicago before her television career began in the 1960s.
Her television roles included Aggie Thompson in The Doris Day Show, Doris Ziffel in Green Acres (1969–1971, replacing Barbara Pepper), and Miss Hannah in the final season of Gunsmoke (replacing Amanda Blake); she reprised the latter role in the 1987 television film Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge. Film appearances included Stripes (1981), The Long Riders (1980) and Pale Rider (1985) as Ma Blankenship. She also provided voices for animated series such as Hong Kong Phooey and Little Dracula.
