Francine Beers (November 26, 1924 – March 27, 2014) was an American radio, television, film and theatre actress. Her career spanned nearly six decades.

Life and career

Beers was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, the only child of Harry and Sadie Beers. Her father had two sisters, Rose and Sally. Sally appeared in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

and in the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air ...

. Harry Beers died when Francine was 15 years old. Francine and her mother moved in with Sadie's parents until Francine graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1942. After graduation, she worked for

Young & Rubicam VMLY&R is an American marketing and Marketing communications, communications company specializing in advertising, Digital media, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting, formed from the merger of ...

advertising, beginning in 1944 in their Radio and Television department. In 1964, she left Young and Rubicam to become an actress. She largely played character parts and supporting roles in radio, on stage, in soap operas and on television shows. Her roles included Judge Janis Silver (''

Law and Order In modern politics, law and order is the approach focusing on harsher enforcement and penalties as ways to reduce crime. Penalties for perpetrators of disorder may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three-strikes laws a ...

''), Sybil Gooley (''

All in the Family ''All in the Family'' is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS for nine seasons, from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. Afterwards, it was continued with the spin-off series '' Archie Bunker's Place'', which picked up where ''All in ...

''; a role also played by

Jane Connell Jane Sperry Connell (pronounced con-NELL, née Bennett; October 27, 1925 – September 22, 2013) was an American actress and singer. Early years Connell was born in Berkeley, California, to Louis Wesley and Mary (née Sperry) Bennett. She majo ...

), and Bea Finster on ''

Kate & Allie ''Kate & Allie'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from March 19, 1984 to May 22, 1989, starring Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced women, both with children, who decide to live together in the same house. ...

''. Before and after venturing into TV acting, she enjoyed a lengthy theatre career in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in such plays as ''"

Cafe Crown ''Cafe Crown'' is a three-act play by Hy Kraft that premiered on Broadway on January 23, 1942, at the Cort Theatre. The cast included Sam Jaffe and Morris Carnovsky. Its action presented "a motley group of amiable squatters found in a Second Avenue ...

"'' (1964), ''

6 Rms Riv Vu ''6 Rms Riv Vu'' is a play by Bob Randall, who also wrote the book for ''The Magic Show''. Play ''6 Rms Riv Vu'' derives its title from shorthand used by real estate agents in classified advertising. In this case, a six-room apartment with a v ...

'' (1972; she also appeared in the 1974 TV film adaptation),

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), ''Death of a Salesman'' ( ...

's ''

The American Clock ''The American Clock'' is a play by Arthur Miller. The play is about 1930s America during The Great Depression. It is based in part on Studs Terkel's '' Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression''. Plot The Baum family—father Moe, mot ...

'' ("A Mural for Theatre") (1980), and

William Alfred William Alfred (August 16, 1922 – May 20, 1999) was an American playwright, poet, and professor of English literature at Harvard University. Biography Alfred was born into an Irish family in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a bricklayer and ...

's ''The Curse of an Aching Heart'' in 1982. Beers continued to work as an actress until she retired in 2007. Her last noted role was as Mrs. Lefkowitz in '' In Her Shoes'' (2004).Profile
RottenTomatoes.com; accessed September 2, 2014.IBDB Profile
accessed September 4, 2014.

Death

Beers died on Thursday, March 27, 2014, aged 89, in her apartment on Manhattan's

Upper West Side The Upper West Side (UWS) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Central Park on the east, the Hudson River on the west, West 59th Street to the south, and West 110th Street to the north. The Upper West ...

Career

Theatrical roles

* 1962: ''King of the Whole Damn World'', Jan Hus Playhouse, NY (Hannah Klein) * 1964: ''Café Crown'' (Celia Perlman) * 1964, 1965: ''Kiss Mama'' (Susie) * 1966: ''Monopoly'' at the Establishment Theatre, NY (The Mother) * 1967: ''Funny Girl'' (Mrs. Strakosh, the matchmaker) * 1972–1973: ''Six Rooms Riv Vu'' (Lady in 4A and Trixie's mother) * 1980–81: ''The American Clock'' (Fanny Margulies) * 1982: ''Curse of an Aching Heart'' in Little Theatre New York (Minnie Crump) * 1982: New Theatre Workshop Monday Evening Series, BMI Workshop appearances

Major theatrical tours

* 1966: ''Midnight Ride of Alvin Blum'' (Clara) * 1967: ''On a Clear Day, etc.'' (Mrs. Hatch)

Film

* 1971: '' Made for Each Other'' * 1971: '' A New Leaf'' - Henrietta's Servant * 1984: ''

Over the Brooklyn Bridge ''Over the Brooklyn Bridge'' is a 1984 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by Menahem Golan, written by Arnold Somkin, and starring Elliott Gould. It has the working title of ''My Darling Shiksa'', referring to a Shiksa, a woman ou ...

'' - Ruth Sherman * 1987: ''

3 Men and a Baby ''Three Men and a Baby'' is a 1987 American comedy film directed by Leonard Nimoy. It stars Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson as three bachelors as they attempt to adapt their lives to de facto fatherhood with the arrival of the love ...

'' - Woman at Gift Shop * 1988: ''

Sticky Fingers ''Sticky Fingers'' is the 9th British and 11th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. The Stones released it on 23 April 1971 on their new, and own label Rolling Stones Records. They had been contracted by Decca ...

'' - Gertie * 1998: ''

Meschugge ''Meschugge'' (English title: ''The Giraffe'') is a 1998 German thriller film directed by Dani Levy and set during World War II. The German title roughly translates as "crazy". The English title refers to the nickname of a character who was once ...

'' - Martha Galinski * 2000: ''

Keeping the Faith ''Keeping the Faith'' is a 2000 American romantic comedy film written by Stuart Blumberg, and starring Ben Stiller, Edward Norton (in his directorial debut), Jenna Elfman, Eli Wallach, and Anne Bancroft. This film was released by Touchstone Pic ...

'' - Greta Nussbaum * 2005: ''

Trust the Man ''Trust the Man'' is a 2005 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Bart Freundlich. The film is set in New York and centers around two couples as they deal with relationship issues such as intimacy and commitment. Plot The film center ...

'' - Old Lady * 2005: '' In Her Shoes'' - Mrs. Lefkowitz * 2007: '' Lucky You'' - Elderly Female Player

Television

* 1970: '' The Doctors'' - Patient * 1974: ''

The Carol Burnett Show ''The Carol Burnett Show'' is an American variety/sketch comedy television show that originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in fall 1991. It starred Carol Burnett, Harvey ...

'' - Mrs. Raskin * 1974: ''

'' - Woman in 4 A * 1975: ''

'' - Sybil Gooley * 1980: ''Alone at Last'' - Agnes Bernowski * 1978–81: ''

Edge of Night ''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that networ ...

'' - Lillian Goodman #1 * 1981: ''

ABC Afterschool Specials ''ABC Afterschool Special'' is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presented situations, often controver ...

'' - Mrs. Kvares * 1981–82: ''

One of the Boys ''One of the Boys'' is the second studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Capitol Records. She collaborated with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart (musician and producer), Dave Stewart, Max Marti ...

'' - Mrs. Green * 1985: ''Brass'' - Eileen * 1986: ''

'' - Bea Finster * 1989: ''

Chicken Soup Chicken soup is a soup made from Chicken (food), chicken, simmered in water, usually with various other ingredients. The classic chicken soup consists of a clear broth, chicken broth, often with pieces of chicken or vegetables; common addition ...

'' - Hilda * 1989: '' True Blue'' * 1990: ''

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on NBC from May 21, 1987 to June 29, 1988 and on Lifetime from April 17, 1989 to April 13, 1991. It was created by Jay Tarses and stars Blair Brown in ...

'' - Receptionist * 1991: ''

American Playhouse ''American Playhouse'' is an American anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Overview It premiered on January 12, 1982, with ''The Shady Hill Kidnapping'', written and narrated by John Cheever an ...

'' - Judy * 1991–97: ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...

'' - Arraignment Judge Janis Silver * 1993: ''

TriBeCa Tribeca (), originally written as TriBeCa, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street". The "triangle" (more accurately a quadrilateral) is bounded by Canal Stre ...

'' - Woman in Curlers * 1995: ''

The Wright Verdicts ''The Wright Verdicts'' is an American drama television series created by Dick Wolf. The series stars Tom Conti, Margaret Colin and Aida Turturro. The series aired on CBS from March 31, 1995, to June 11, 1995. Cast *Tom Conti as Charles Wright ...

'' - Judge Simpson * 2000: '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' - Francis Reiner * 2002: ''

Sex and the City ''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy, romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City (newspaper column), newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the ...

'' - Mrs. Cohen

Awards

1988:

Helen Hayes Award The Helen Hayes Awards are theater awards recognizing excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are named in tribute of Helen Hayes, who is also known as the "First Lady of American Theatre." They ar ...

, Washington D.C. ''Light Up the Sky'' - Arena Stage Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Production.

Links

* ''King of the Whole Damn World'' - O'Connor, Jim (April 16, 1962). "'King of the World' A Very Funny Show". New York Times. * ''King of the Whole Damn World'' - Dallas, Athena (April 27, 1962). "Hellenic American Scenes". The Greek Press, Chicago Illinois. * ''King of the Whole Damn World'' - 'JH" (April 28, 1962). "King of the Whole Damn World". Cue. * ''King of the Whole Damn World'' - "The Imps of Bleeker Street". Saturday Review. May 6, 1962. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Molleson, John (October 2, 1964). "'Kiss Mama': Twirling A Flavorful Pasta". New York Herald Tribune. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Thompson, Jack (October 2, 1964). "La Rosa Turns to Acting". American. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Davis, James (October 2, 1964). "'Mama' Is A Fun Play". Daily News. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Funk, Lewis (October 2, 1964). "George Panetta's 'Kiss Mama' at the Actors Playhouse". New York Times. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Lloyd, Eric (October 5, 1964). "A Family Saga". Wall Street Journal. * ''Kiss Mama'' - Share, Peter (October 8, 1964). "Theatre: 'Kiss Mama'". Village Voice. * ''Kiss Mama'' - "Off Broadway: At Home with the Caparutas". New Yorker. October 10, 1964. * ''Kiss Mama'' - 'Kenn.' (October 21, 1964). "Off-Broadway Reviews: Kiss Mama". Variety. * ''Monopoly'' - Molleson, John (March 7, 1966). "4 Short Plays by Jerome Kass Mark Birth of a Playwright". New York Herald Tribune. * ''Funny Girl'' - Kelly, Herb (March 15, 1967). "'Funny Girl' A Hit Show That Uncovers New Star". The Miami News. * ''Funny Girl'' - Burns, Ben (April 4, 1967). "Barb(Actress)ra Funny 'Funny Girl'". Miami Herald. * ''Funny Girl'' - Freund Bob (April 4, 1967). "'Funny Girl' Tugs At The Heart, Tickles Ribs". Ft. Lauderdale News. * ''Clear Day'' - Dettmer, Roger (August 4, 1967). "Two Cheers for 'Clear Day'". Chicago's American.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beers, Francine 1924 births 2014 deaths Jewish American actresses Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni American film actresses American radio actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Actresses from New York City People from the Upper West Side 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American Jews