Fran 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. 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.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: November 29, 1916
Deathday: January 15, 2000
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Known For
The Long Riders
1980-05-16
The Long Riders
Overview: The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.
Genres: Western Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1980-05-16
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Private School
1983-06-29
Private School
Overview: Private-school student Christine loves Jim. But her classmate, Jordan, is also vying for Jim's attention and trying to end his relationship with Christine. Meanwhile, Jim's friend Bubba embarks on a series of sexual escapades, including dressing up as a woman to access the girls' locker room. Despite Jim and Christine's efforts to spend some time alone, various shenanigans and schemes interfere.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-06-29
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Quiet Cool
1986-11-08
Quiet Cool
Overview: This actioner is set in a remote, heavily forested area in Northern California where marijuana growers raise their illegal crops and run whole communities with their terrorist tactics and wealth. The tale centers on the efforts of a fearless New York cop to free one such community from the tyranny of the pot growers. It begins with a surveyor who is leading the town's crooked sheriff to a small marijuana field he has just discovered. The surveyor is killed before he can get there. Joshua, a small boy, sees the execution and tries to get back in time to tell his parents. Unfortunately, the killers murder his family and throw him off a cliff. The boy's aunt, worried at not hearing from her family, gets suspicious and asks an old flame, NY cop Joe Dillon, to investigate. The town sheriff is not pleased by his intrusion and warns him to stay out of it. Dillon disobeys, and that is where all the action comes in.
Genres: Crime Action
Original Language: de
Release Date: 1986-11-08
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Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
1987-09-27
Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge
Overview: Will Mannon, "product of the Devil's loins," is released from a frontier prison and promptly goes in search of the people who put him there some 12 years ago -- Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell.
Genres: TV Movie Action Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1987-09-27
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Suture
1993-09-14
Suture
Overview: Brothers Vincent and Clay meet up for the first time after their father's funeral and remark on how similar they look. But unknown to Clay, Vince is actually plotting to kill him with a car bomb and pass the corpse off as his own, planning to start a new life elsewhere with his father's inheritance. But Clay survives the blast and has his face, memory and identity restored in hospital... but are they the right ones?
Genres: Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-09-14
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Hog Wild
1974-01-20
Hog Wild
Overview: A Chicago man and his family move to an Idaho pig farm, where he's crippled by an angry sow.
Genres: Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-01-20
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River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
1993-10-03
River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene
Overview: A white water rafting vacation turns into a nightmare when divorced mother Maggie Keene must confront the deadly and charismatic killer who is stalking her. The hunt is on, and Maggie's desperation to stay alive proves to be a worthy match for her killer, the river, and the dangerous elements she is forced to survive.
Genres: TV Movie Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-10-03
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The Adventures of Nellie Bly
1981-06-11
The Adventures of Nellie Bly
Overview: A "Classics Illustrated" account of pioneer female journalist Nellie Bly, who became a legend through her exposes of corruption and inhumane conditions in New York of the 1880s in "The New York World."
Genres: Drama History TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-06-11
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Ghost Dancing
1983-05-30
Ghost Dancing
Overview: Farm widow Sarah Bowman has been impoverished by the siphoning of her water supply. A nearby big-city aqueduct has priority over water rights, leaving the rural outskirts virtually dry. Attempting to bring her cause to the forefront, Sarah dynamites the reservoir, half-hoping that she'll be "martyred" in the process. When she fails to arouse public support, she targets the local power plant for her next blast. Assistant DA Anne Greyfeather, who as an orphaned Indian girl was virtually raised by Sarah, decides to challenge the water-department bureaucracy on McGuire's behalf.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-05-30
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Johnny Belinda
1982-10-19
Johnny Belinda
Overview: While attempting to set up a communal garden in a poverty stricken rural community, Bill Richmond becomes aware of a mute, disheveled girl named Belinda. Written off as mentally handicapped by the community, including her harsh father, Belinda intrigues Bill. He persists in making contact, discovering that Belinda is in fact deaf. Bill finds that he can communicate with Belinda using sign language, and teaches her to sign.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-10-19
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The Front Line
1965-01-01
The Front Line
Overview: Training film for supermarket checkers. Sponsored by Reader's Digest and Super Market Institute.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-01-01
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Americana
1981-05-16
Americana
Overview: In a small town in rural Kansas, a troubled veteran attempts to restore an old merry-go-round ride.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-05-16
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Out Cold
1989-03-03
Out Cold
Overview: Sunny is married to the butcher, Ernie, and their marriage is about to end as both of them have affairs. Thus Sunny hires Lester Atlas as private investigator in order to collect proof for the divorce. One evening drunken Ernie and his partner Dave have a fight in the butcher shop with Ernie getting knocked out in the fridge where he dies during the night. But it was not Dave's fault but intentional murder by Sunny. Only Lester has proof so Sunny kills him, too. Thus she only has to kill Dave to get rid of all witnesses, but he can free himself out of the fridge and wants to take revenge.
Genres: Comedy Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-03-03
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Stewardess School
1986-08-01
Stewardess School
Overview: A group of varied misfits (including a former prostitute/stripper and a bumbler who can't see more than 6 inches in front of his face) enter a school to become flight attendants. Somehow, the group makes it through to the final test: a cross-country flight.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-08-01
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Pale Rider
1985-06-28
Pale Rider
Overview: A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.
Genres: Western Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-06-28
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Family Plot
1976-04-09
Family Plot
Overview: Spiritualist Blanche Tyler and her cab-driving boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.
Genres: Comedy Crime Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-04-09
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Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities
1969-03-26
Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities
Overview: The pilot film for the long-run series introduced the kindly small-town general practitioner who, following a mild coronary, grudgingly brings in an independent, motorcycling young associate to help share his workload. Welby's lady friend and his family, part of the plot of this movie, were written out of the subsequent series, with only his medical sidekick, Steven Kiley, and their secretary/nurse, Consuelo, remaining as regulars.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1969-03-26
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Father of Hell Town
1985-03-06
Father of Hell Town
Overview: In this pilot to the short-lived "Hell Town," Robert Blake plays a scrappy, ex-convict-turned-ghetto priest in an impoverished inner-city parish.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-03-06
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Eyes of Fire
1983-10-21
Eyes of Fire
Overview: In 1750, an adulterous preacher is ejected from a small British colony with his motley crew of followers, who make their way downriver to establish a new settlement of their own beyond the western frontier.
Genres: Horror Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-10-21
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Deadly Game
1977-12-01
Deadly Game
Overview: A military convoy is transporting something apparently for disposal. They pass by Sheriff Abel Marsh's town and they are passing by property that's owned by Amy Franklin who is the girlfriend of Abel's deputy, Malcolm. Before they know it, everything around the property is uninhabitable. The army returns to clean things up and make restitution. But there is one nagging question, was this an accident or was it deliberate? That is something Abel is most interested in finding out.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-12-01
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Thanksgiving Day
1990-11-19
Thanksgiving Day
Overview: Light-hearted spoof about a dysfunctional upper-income family who have to come to terms with family and business problems around the titular holiday.
Genres: Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-11-19
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Scandalous John
1971-06-22
Scandalous John
Overview: A crotchety old ranch owner fights to be able to live his life the way he wants to, and not the way other people--and the law--tell him he has to.
Genres: Western Comedy Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1971-06-22
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Goldie and the Boxer
1979-12-30
Goldie and the Boxer
Overview: Lighthearted tale of a 10-year-old girl who, when her boxer father dies, strikes up a relationship with a struggling fighter who was his sparring partner and takes on the job of managing him from obscurity to the championship.
Genres: Action Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-12-30
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Straight Time
1978-03-18
Straight Time
Overview: After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-03-18
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Lucky Stiff
1988-11-01
Lucky Stiff
Overview: Ron Douglas has no luck in women. When his bride runs away on their wedding day, he goes on holiday up in the mountains and finds himself in a bizarre series of events after attending a dinner party turned deadly.
Genres: Comedy Horror
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-11-01
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Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
1982-09-29
Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
Overview: A dramatization of the life of the founder of Los Angeles's first alcoholic recovery center for women, Beatrice O'Reilly.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-09-29
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Nick Knight
1989-08-20
Nick Knight
Overview: Detective Nick Knight is investigating a series of murders in which the bodies are found drained of blood - but the most recent one doesn't fit the pattern. Instead it involves the cure that Nick has been searching for for decades, so that he himself can face the light of day. Later remade as the first two episodes of Forever Knight.
Genres: Crime Drama Horror TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-08-20
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Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
1990-05-06
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
Overview: The classic comic book characters created by John L. Goldwater are brought to tv in a slightly older version. Here the characters are adults returning to their high school reunion and remembering old times and romances from good old Riverdale High
Genres: TV Movie Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-05-06
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Fuzzbucket
1986-05-18
Fuzzbucket
Overview: In the vein of "Harvey", an invisible creature befriends a 12 year old boy. Of course, no one else can see him nor believes in him.
Genres: Adventure Comedy Fantasy Family TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-05-18
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Christmas Mountain
1981-01-01
Christmas Mountain
Overview: A cowboy comes to a town at Christmas time. He eats at a cafe but was unable to pay for his meal, so the owner throws him in jail. The town wants to alleviate their guilt over a Mexican family, who has pregnant woman with them, who lives on top of a mountain called Christmas mountain. They bail out the cowboy and tells to bring some old clothes and food to them. While there the young boy of the family feels sorry for him and prays that god will send him some help. It comes in the form of an old friend of his who died years ago. He tells him that he is not exactly living a proper life but he has a chance to turn things around, first by telling the townsfolk that their so called charity towards the Mexicans is not enough.
Genres: Western Adventure Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-01-01
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The Apple Dumpling Gang
1975-07-01
The Apple Dumpling Gang
Overview: A roving bachelor gets saddled with three children and a wealth of trouble when the youngsters stumble upon a huge gold nugget. They join forces with two bumbling outlaws to fend off the greedy townspeople and soon find themselves facing a surly gang of sharpshooters.
Genres: Comedy Family Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1975-07-01
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Savannah Smiles
1982-04-09
Savannah Smiles
Overview: The young daughter of a politician runs away due to lack of attention. She hides in the car of two not too bright crooks who are slowly converted into parent figures as the police web closes down on the supposed kidnappers.
Genres: Family Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-04-09
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Panic in Echo Park
1977-06-23
Panic in Echo Park
Overview: A young doctor tries to convince everyone about an impending epidemic, but he is accused of creating panic.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-06-23
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The Million Dollar Duck
1971-06-30
The Million Dollar Duck
Overview: Professor Dooley takes home a duck from his research laboratory as a toy for his son, but soon finds out that it lays golden eggs.
Genres: Comedy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1971-06-30
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Long Way Home
1975-09-07
Long Way Home
Overview: The Holvak family house the escaped convict named Craw that the son befriends. Reverend Holvak's faith is tested and young Ramey faces a choice between a friendship and his family.
Genres: Drama Family TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1975-09-07
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Chances Are
1989-03-10
Chances Are
Overview: Louie Jeffries is happily married to Corinne. On their first anniversary, Louie is killed crossing the road. Louie is reincarnated as Alex Finch, and twenty years later, fate brings Alex and Louie's daughter, Miranda, together. It's not until Alex is invited to Louie's home that he begins to remember his former life, wife and best friend. Of course, there's also the problem that he's attracted to Louie's/his own daughter.
Genres: Fantasy Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-03-10
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Rocky II
1979-06-15
Rocky II
Overview: After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-06-15
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Rebel Love
1985-03-25
Rebel Love
Overview: During the American Civil War, a lonely Indiana farm widow finds love when she takes in an injured traveling salesman, only to learn he is a Confederate spy on the run from Yankee patrols.
Genres: Western Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-03-25
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Stalk the Wild Child
1976-11-03
Stalk the Wild Child
Overview: A young boy who had been abandoned as a child and raised by wild dogs is taken to a university where a team attempts to teach him civilized behavior.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-11-03
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The Great Brain
1978-06-01
The Great Brain
Overview: Based on the book by John D. Fitzgerald, this movie stars Jimmy Osmond as a mischievous boy out to swindle his whole town for everything they're worth...and who occasionally puts his smarts to use for a good cause.
Genres: Comedy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-06-01
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Tough Enough
1983-04-14
Tough Enough
Overview: An aspiring country singer, whose money is disappearing faster than his career opportunities, enters a "Tough Man" amateur boxing contest to earn some cash to pay his bills. Amazingly enough, he wins it, and is picked to go onto the national finals. He's torn between his first love, music, and the glitz, glamor and money of the "Tough Man" world.
Genres: Action Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-04-14
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Stripes
1981-06-26
Stripes
Overview: John Winger, an indolent sad sack in his 30s, impulsively joins the US Army after losing his job, his girlfriend and his apartment.
Genres: Action Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-06-26
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The Sure Thing
1985-03-01
The Sure Thing
Overview: Gib, a beer-guzzling slob, and Alison, an uptight Ivy-Leaguer, are an unlikely duo stuck together on a cross-country trip during Christmas break. At first they get on each other's nerves but, as time passes, they find their divergent natures complement each other. Now they need to realize what they've already found before it's too late.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-03-01
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Big Wednesday
1978-05-26
Big Wednesday
Overview: Three 1960s California surfers fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-05-26
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The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
1984-05-16
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
Overview: Marcus Welby is back, and he has a few problems. First he is trying to bridge the gap between an old friend of his who gave up practicing medicine in favor of being the hospital administrator, and his son who is now a doctor and who is currently treating and romancing a woman who has kidney problems. And one of his patients an expectant mother is in an accident along with her husband and her husband dies. She blames Mark and is refusing to bond with her new baby. And the hospital that he has been serving faithfully for years is considering letting some of their elderly staff members go and Mark is on top of the list.
Genres: TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1984-05-16
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Mickey One
1965-09-27
Mickey One
Overview: A former comic is on the run from the mob.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-09-27
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Liza’s Pioneer Diary
1976-11-17
Liza’s Pioneer Diary
Overview: The story of a gentle, unsure young woman who grows in maturity and self-reliance as she travels across the American plains in 1848 in a wagon train with her young husband and his family.
Genres: Western Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-11-17
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