Mary Frann

Mary Frann (born Mary Frances Luecke, February 27, 1943 – September 23, 1998) was an American stage, film, and television actress.

She is best known for her role as Joanna Loudon, the wife of Bob Newhart's character on the CBS sitcom Newhart, which aired from 1982 to 1990.

Early years Born in St. Louis, Frann was a child model and appeared in commercials for a local television station while she attended Nerinx Hall High School. At the age of 18, she was voted Missouri's "Junior Miss". She went on to win the 1961 national title of America's Junior Miss and earned a college scholarship to study drama at Northwestern University. As America's Junior Miss, she starred in a Jam Handy educational film (Prom: It's a Pleasure) extolling the etiquette and fun of the high school prom. While attending Northwestern, Frann worked as a weather reporter for the NBC station in St. Louis. After a year, she dropped out of Northwestern and moved to Chicago where she co-hosted a morning show on an ABC affiliate. While working as a host, Frann worked in local theatre productions and began working in television and films. In 1964, Frann made her television debut in the Kraft Suspense Theatre episode "Once Upon a Savage Night", which was subsequently expanded into the TV movie Nightmare in Chicago. In 1966, Frann made her feature film debut in the low-budget musical drama Nashville Rebel, starring Waylon Jennings.

Career After receiving an offer to host another morning show, Frann realized she wanted to pursue a career as an actress rather than a broadcaster. In 1968, she moved to Los Angeles where she stayed with her best friend, actress Joan Van Ark. Shortly after her arrival, Frann won a role on the NBC crime drama series My Friend Tony. While on the series, Frann also made guest appearances on Quincy, M.E.; The Rockford Files; Fantasy Island; The Mary Tyler Moore Show and WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1978, Frann was nearly cast as Sue Ellen Ewing on the CBS primetime drama Dallas. Producers later decided to cast actress Linda Gray. In 1982, she starred on the short-lived series King's Crossing with Linda Hamilton. That series was canceled after one season due to low ratings. Later that year, she landed her most memorable role as Joanna Loudon, the wife of Vermont inn owner Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart), in the sitcom Newhart. The series, which aired from October 1982 to May 1990, was a hit with audiences and was nominated for 25 Emmys and five Golden Globes. Shortly after filming the series finale, Frann was cast as "Clementine Duke" in the miniseries Lucky/Chances. The series was based on two of Jackie Collins' novels, Lucky and Chances. The role was a dramatic departure from Frann's work on Newhart and surprised audiences. She later told the Los Angeles Times, "I thought it would be outrageous, flamboyant, glamorous. I wanted to remind people that I was capable of playing many different roles."

During the run of Newhart, Frann continued acting in various projects. In 1985, she co-starred in the TV movie Gidget's Summer Reunion, and in 1988, she appeared in Dance 'til Dawn with Alyssa Milano, Christina Applegate and Kelsey Grammer. Frann also co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants of 1986 and 1987, and acted as hostess for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade. Her body was discovered by longtime boyfriend Jonathan Cookman, Jr. Her remains are interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Selected filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1961 The Prom: It's a Pleasure! Mary Moore, Junior Miss Missouri short filmUncredited 1966 Nashville Rebel Molly Morgan 1976 Woman in the Rain Alternative title: A Hell Black Night 1990 Fatal Charm Susan Direct-to-video

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre Annette Episode: "Once Upon a Savage Night" 1968 Get Smart Stewardess Episode: "Snoopy Smart vs. the Red Baron"Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1968 That Girl Pat Crawford Episode: "Ann vs. Secretary"Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1968–69 The Wild Wild West Dr. Virginia MaysPrincess Lina 2 episodesCredited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 My Friend Tony Main castcredited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 Bonanza Barbara Parker Episode: "The Running Man"Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 Lancer Dorrie Episode: "The Kid"Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1971 The Bill Cosby Show Louise Episode: "The Miraculous Martin" 1972 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Joanne Episode: "Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda" 1972 Hawaii Five-O Jean Holland Episode: "Chain of Events" 1972 Search Stephanie Burnside Episode: "Operation Iceman" 1973 Cannon Janice Rogers Episode: "Murder for Murder" 1973–74 Return to Peyton Place D. B. Bentley Unknown episodes 1974 Firehouse Episode: "Tide of Terror" 1974 The F.B.I. Agent Pat Driscoll Episode: "Confessions of a Madman" 1974 Apple's Way Claudine Delacorte Episode: "The Circus" 1974–79 Days of Our Lives Amanda Howard Unknown episodes 1975 The Wide World of Mystery Jane Woodward Episode: "Distant Early Warning" 1975–78 The Rockford Files Valerie Thomas/Maria HellerRuth Beetson-White 2 episodes 1976 The TVTV Show Mary Kay Television special 1977 The Fantastic Journey Roxanne Episode: "Funhouse" 1977 Quincy, M.E. Christine Hopwood Episode: "No Deadly Secret" 1978 Fantasy Island Grace Arnold Episode: "Family Reunion/Voodoo" 1978 The Incredible Hulk Karen Weiss Episode: "Stop the Presses" 1978 The Rockford Files Ruth Beetson-White Episode: "A Fast Count" 1980 Stone Adelle Lovins Episode: "The Man in the Full Toledo" 1980 Portrait of an Escort Sandy TV movie 1981 Nero Wolfe Janet Eaton Episode: "Wolfe at the Door" 1981 WKRP in Cincinnati Avis Dropkin 2 episodes 1981 Darkroom Linda Beckwith Episode: "Closed Circuit" 1982 King's Crossing Nan Hollister Main cast 1982–90 Newhart Joanna Loudon Main cast 1984–85 Hotel StephanieDr. Ellen Graham 2 episodes 1985 Gidget's Summer Reunion Anne Bedford TV movie 1987 The New Mike Hammer Harriet "Harry" Quail Episode: "A Face in the Night" 1987 Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion Abby Bradford TV movie 1988 Dance 'til Dawn Nancy Johnson TV movie 1989 Single Women, Married Men Pat Michaels TV movie 1990 I'm Dangerous Tonight Martha TV movie 1990 CBS Comedy Bloopers Host Television special 1990 Lucky/Chances Clementine Duke Miniseries 1991 The Hitchhiker Veronica Episode: "Secrets" 1994 Burke's Law Brittany Moore Episode: "Who Killed Good Time Charlie?" 1997 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Alice White Episode: "Toy Story" 1998 Diagnosis: Murder Lucy Caruso Episode: "Talked to Death" 2000 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Bev Conklin Episode: "The Curse of Hampton Manor"Aired posthumously