Francine Beers

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, the only child of Harry and Sadie Beers. Her father had two sisters in show business, Rose and Sally, one in vaudeville and the other in the Ziegfeld Follies. Harry Beers died when Francine was 15 years old. Francine and her mother moved in with Sadie's parents until Francine graduated from high school in 1942.

After graduation, she worked for Young & Rubicam 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) and Sybil Gooley (All in the Family). Beers continued to work as an actress until she retired in 2007. Her last big role was as Mrs. Lefkowitz in In Her Shoes (2004).^[1][2][3][4]

Death

Francine Beers died on Thursday, March 27, 2014, aged 89, in her apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side.^[5]

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

• 1969: Three Into Two Won’t Go
• 1971: Made for Each Other
• 1971: A New Leaf (Henrietta's Servant)
• 1984: Over the Brooklyn Bridge (Ruth Sherman)
• 1987: 3 Men and a Baby (Woman at Gift Shop)
• 1988: Sticky Fingers (Frances)
• 1998: The Giraffe
• 1998: Meschugge (Martha Galinski)
• 2000: Keeping the Faith (Gretta Nussbaum)
• 2005: Trust the Man (Old Lady)
• 2005: In Her Shoes (Mrs. Lefkowitz)
• 2007: Lucky You (Elderly Female Player)

Television

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• 1965: The Nurses
• 1967–74: The Carol Burnett Show (Mrs. Raskin, Self)
• 1975: All in the Family (Sybil Gooley)
• 1980: Alone at Last (Agnes Bernowski)
• 1980–81: Edge of Night (Eileen Goodman #1)
• Another World, Search for Tomorrow, The Doctors
• 1981–82: One of the Boys (Mrs. Green)
• 1981: American Playhouse
• 1981: ABC Afterschool Specials
• 1981: Starstruck (Mrs. Kvaris)
• 1983: It’s Only Money
• 1983: All My Children
• 1985: Brass (Eileen)
• 1986: Kate & Allie (Bea Finster)
• 1989: Chicken Soup (Hilda)
• 1989: True Blue
• 1990: The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (Receptionist)
• 1991: American Playhouse: The Sunset Gang (Judy)
• 1991–97: Law and Order (Judge Janis Silver, Judge Newman)
• 1993: Tribeca (Woman in Curlers)
• 1995: The Wright Verdicts (Judge Simpson)
• 2002: Sex and the City (Mrs. Cohen)

Awards

1988: Helen Hayes Award, 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.^[6]
• King of the Whole Damn World - Dallas, Athena (April 27, 1962). "Hellenic American Scenes". The Greek Press, Chicago Illinois.^[7]
• King of the Whole Damn World - 'JH" (April 28, 1962). "King of the Whole Damn World". Cue.^[8]
• King of the Whole Damn World - "The Imps of Bleeker Street". Saturday Review. May 6, 1962.^[9]
• Kiss Mama - Molleson, John (October 2, 1964). "'Kiss Mama': Twirling A Flavorful Pasta". New York Herald Tribune.^[10]
• Kiss Mama - Thompson, Jack (October 2, 1964). "La Rosa Turns to Acting". American.^[11]
• Kiss Mama - Davis, James (October 2, 1964). "'Mama' Is A Fun Play". Daily News.^[12]
• Kiss Mama - Funk, Lewis (October 2, 1964). "George Panetta's 'Kiss Mama' at the Actors Playhouse". New York Times.^[13]
• Kiss Mama - Lloyd, Eric (October 5, 1964). "A Family Saga". Wall Street Journal.^[14]
• Kiss Mama - Share, Peter (October 8, 1964). "Theatre: 'Kiss Mama'". Village Voice.^[15]
• Kiss Mama - "Off Broadway: At Home with the Caparutas". New Yorker. October 10, 1964.^[16]
• Kiss Mama - 'Kenn.' (October 21, 1964). "Off-Broadway Reviews: Kiss Mama". Variety.^[17]
• Monopoly - Molleson, John (March 7, 1966). "4 Short Plays by Jerome Kass Mark Birth of a Playwright". New York Herald Tribune.^[18]
• Funny Girl - Kelly, Herb (March 15, 1967). "'Funny Girl' A Hit Show That Uncovers New Star". The Miami News.^[19]
• Funny Girl - Burns, Ben (April 4, 1967). "Barb(Actress)ra Funny 'Funny Girl'". Miami Herald.^[20]
• Funny Girl - Freund Bob (April 4, 1967). "'Funny Girl' Tugs At The Heart, Tickles Ribs". Ft. Lauderdale News.^[21]
• Clear Day - Dettmer, Roger (August 4, 1967). "Two Cheers for 'Clear Day'". Chicago's American.^[22]

References

1. Profile, RottenTomatoes.com; accessed September 2, 2014.
2. Profile, fandango.com; accessed September 2, 2014.
3. IMDb profile; accessed September 2, 2014.
4. IBDB Profile; accessed September 4, 2014.
5. Notice of death, legacy.com; accessed September 2, 2014 (subscription required for whole article).
6. O'Connor, Jim (April 16, 1962). "'King of the World' A Very Funny Show". New York Times.
7. Dallas, Athena (April 27, 1962). "Hellenic American Scenes". The Greek Press, Chicago, Illinois.
8. JH (April 28, 1962). "King of the Whole Damn World". Cue.
9. "The Imps of Bleeker Street". Saturday Review. May 6, 1962.
10. Molleson, John (October 2, 1964). "'Kiss Mama': Twirling A Flavorful Pasta". New York Herald Tribune.
11. Thompson, Jack (October 2, 1964). "La Rosa Turns to Acting". American.
12. Davis, James (October 2, 1964). "'Mama' Is A Fun Play". Daily News.
13. Funk, Lewis (October 2, 1964). "George Panetta's 'Kiss Mama' at the Actors Playhouse". New York Times.
14. Lloyd, Eric (October 5, 1964). "A Family Saga". Wall Street Journal.
15. Share, Peter (October 8, 1964). "Theatre: 'Kiss Mama'". Village Voice.
16. "Off Broadway: At Home with the Caparutas". New Yorker. October 10, 1964.
17. Kenn. (October 21, 1964). "Off-Broadway Reviews: Kiss Mama". Variety.
18. Molleson, John (March 7, 1966). "4 Short Plays by Jerome Kass Mark Birth of a Playwright". New York Herald Tribune.
19. Kelly, Herb (March 15, 1967). "'Funny Girl' A Hit Show that Uncovers New Star". The Miami News.
20. Burns, Ben (April 4, 1967). "Barb(Actress)ra Funny 'Funny Girl'". Miami Herald.
21. Freund, Bob (April 4, 1967). "'Funny Girl' Tugs At The Heart, Tickles Ribs". Ft. Lauderdale News.
22. Dettmer, Roger (August 4, 1967). "Two Cheers for 'Clear Day'". Chicago's American.