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Elizabeth Franz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elizabeth Franz
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present

Elizabeth Franz is an American stage and television actress.

Life and career

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In 2004–05, she appeared at the Royal National Theatre in London, in the Sam Shepard play Buried Child. She has starred in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theater productions, including the American premiere of Frank McGuinness's Bird Sanctuary. She also appeared in Long Day's Journey into Night, The Glass Menagerie, The Comedy of Errors, Madwoman of Chaillot, The Lion in Winter, A View from the Bridge, The Matchmaker, The Wizard of Oz, Great Expectations, The Model Apartment, and Woman in Mind.

On television, Franz is most notably a character actor. She became best known for her role as the villainous Alma Rudder on Another World, which she portrayed from 1982–83, while she was performing Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway. She played Helen Wendall on As the World Turns from 1994–95, and appeared as free-spirited beauty salon owner Marsha in three episodes of Roseanne.

She appeared in the series Gilmore Girls, as the inn owner, Mia, and in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Cold Case, Dear John and Judging Amy.

She has appeared in such feature films and motion pictures as Sabrina, Christmas with the Kranks, The Substance of Fire, The Pallbearer, Thinner, The Secret of My Success, School Ties and Jacknife.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 The House of Mirth Grace Stepney Television movie
1987 The Secret of My Success Grace Foster
1989 Jacknife Pru Buckman
1991 Face of a Stranger TV movie
1992 School Ties Jane Dillon
1993 It's Nothing Personal Unknown
Shameful Secrets Maryanne's Mother TV movie
1995 Sabrina Joanna
1996 The Pallbearer Aunt Lucille
The Substance of Fire Miss Barzakian
Thinner Leda Rossington
Twisted Mrs. Bundrass
1999 A Fish in the Bathtub Bea Greenberg
2000 Death of a Salesman Linda Loman Television movie
2001 A Girl Thing Josephine McCormack TV movie
2004 Christmas with the Kranks Bev Scheel
Loopy Doris Highsmith Short Film
2005 The Reader Sissel Short Film
2009 In Memoriam Woman Short Film
Alone Sarah Short Film
2015 Take Me to the River Evelyn

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 American Playhouse Doctor Episode: "Pilgrim, Farewell"
1982 Another World Alma Rudder Episode: "July 30, 1982"
1985 Spenser: For Hire Mrs. O'Rourke Episode: "Original Sin"
1986 American Playhouse Mrs. Rice Episode: "The Rise and Rise and Daniel Rocket"
1987 The Equalizer Mrs. Thomas Season 3: Episodes 1&2: Blood & Wine
1987 American Playhouse Dottie McCann Episode: "Dottie"
1989 ABC Afterschool Special Cecile Nelson Episode: "A Town's Revenge"
1989 American Playhouse Unknown Episode: "Love and Other Sorrows"
1990 Roseanne Marsha 3 episodes
1994–1995 Sisters Gladys Lear 2 episodes
1995 ABC Afterschool Special Alice Kelly Episode: "Notes for My Daughter"
2000–2001 Judging Amy Vivian Galloway 2 episodes
2001 Gilmore Girls Mia Episode: "The Ins and Outs of Inns"
2003 Cold Case Evelyn Shelby Season 1: Episode 1: "Look Again"
An Unexpected Love Dorothy Television movie
2004 Law & Order Alison Bishop Episode: "Married with Children"
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jeannette Henley Season 6: Episode 4: "Scavenger"
2011 Homeland Isabel Samler Episode: "Marine One"
2012 Grey's Anatomy Emma Carroll Episode: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1982 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Play Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You Nominated
1983 Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Brighton Beach Memoirs Nominated
1990 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special ABC Afterschool Special Nominated
1999 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Play Death of a Salesman Nominated
1999 Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Death of a Salesman Won
2000 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Death of a Salesman Nominated
2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Death of a Salesman Nominated
2002 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Morning's at Seven Nominated
2002 Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Morning's at Seven Nominated

References

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Sources

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  • Isherwood, Charles (November 19, 2007). "In a Quiet Suburb, a Quiet Life Darkened", New York Times
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