Elizabeth Franz
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present

Elizabeth Franz is an American stage and television actress.

Life and career

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981The House of MirthGrace StepneyTelevision movie
1987The Secret of My SuccessGrace Foster
1989JacknifePru Buckman
1991Face of a StrangerTV movie
1992School TiesJane Dillon
1993It's Nothing PersonalUnknown
Shameful SecretsMaryanne's MotherTV movie
1995SabrinaJoanna
1996The PallbearerAunt Lucille
The Substance of FireMiss Barzakian
ThinnerLeda Rossington
TwistedMrs. Bundrass
1999A Fish in the BathtubBea Greenberg
2000Death of a SalesmanLinda LomanTelevision movie
2001A Girl ThingJosephine McCormackTV movie
2004Christmas with the KranksBev Scheel
LoopyDoris HighsmithShort Film
2005The ReaderSisselShort Film
2009In MemoriamWomanShort Film
AloneSarahShort Film
2015Take Me to the RiverEvelyn

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982American PlayhouseDoctorEpisode: "Pilgrim, Farewell"
1982Another WorldAlma RudderEpisode: "July 30, 1982"
1985Spenser: For HireMrs. O'RourkeEpisode: "Original Sin"
1986American PlayhouseMrs. RiceEpisode: "The Rise and Rise and Daniel Rocket"
1987The EqualizerMrs. ThomasSeason 3: Episodes 1&2: Blood & Wine
1987American PlayhouseDottie McCannEpisode: "Dottie"
1989ABC Afterschool SpecialCecile NelsonEpisode: "A Town's Revenge"
1989American PlayhouseUnknownEpisode: "Love and Other Sorrows"
1990RoseanneMarsha3 episodes
1994–1995SistersGladys Lear2 episodes
1995ABC Afterschool SpecialAlice KellyEpisode: "Notes for My Daughter"
2000–2001Judging AmyVivian Galloway2 episodes
2001Gilmore GirlsMiaEpisode: "The Ins and Outs of Inns"
2003Cold CaseEvelyn ShelbySeason 1: Episode 1: "Look Again"
An Unexpected LoveDorothyTelevision movie
2004Law & OrderAlison BishopEpisode: "Married with Children"
2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJeannette HenleySeason 6: Episode 4: "Scavenger"
2011HomelandIsabel SamlerEpisode: "Marine One"
2012Grey's AnatomyEmma CarrollEpisode: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
1982Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Actress in a PlaySister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for YouNominated
1983Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a PlayBrighton Beach MemoirsNominated
1990Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performer in a Children's SpecialABC Afterschool SpecialNominated
1999Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Actress in a PlayDeath of a SalesmanNominated
1999Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a PlayDeath of a SalesmanWon
2000Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieDeath of a SalesmanNominated
2001Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television MovieDeath of a SalesmanNominated
2002Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayMorning's at SevenNominated
2002Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a PlayMorning's at SevenNominated

References

    Sources

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