Anne Hollingshead Francine

Anne Francine Born August 8, 1917 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Died December 3, 1999 in New London, Connecticut, USA (stroke) Birth Name Anne Hollingshead Francine Nickname Annie Height 5' 9" (1.75 m) Mini Bio (1) Anne Francine was best known for her stage portrayal of the flamboyant Vera Charles in "Mame". She played the role--her favorite--both on Broadway and in touring productions. Her long and successful career began in the nightclubs. She made her professional debut in New York at the elegant Coq Rouge, where a one-night booking turned into a celebrated three-year engagement. Early in her career she made a successful transition from nightclubs to the legitimate stage, performing in both drama and musical comedy. She was featured on Broadway with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in "The Great Sebastions", with Shirley Booth in "By The Beautiful Sea" and with Maurice Evans in "Tenderloin". She spent two seasons as a member of Ellis Rabb's acclaimed APA Repertory Company, alternating with Helen Hayes as "Mrs. Candor" in "School For Scandal", joining Rabb and Rosemary Harris in "You Can't Take It With You" as the "Grand Duchess Olga Katrina", and appearing in Jean Anouilh's "The Flies" under the direction of Vinnette Carroll. In regional theatre she had starred in "Mother Courage", "The Importance Of Being Earnest", "The Skin Of Our Teeth", "Twelfth Night" and "Company". She appeared in films including Federico Fellini's Juliet of the Spirits (1965), Mike Frankovich's Stand Up and Be Counted (1972) and Savages (1972). Trivia (4) Best Known for her role of "Mrs. Flora Simpson Reilly" in the TV Show Harper Valley P.T.A. (1981). Began her career singing in night clubs in New York, London and Paris From a wealthy, Main Line Philadelphia family. Played New York's Radio City Music Hall as the Evil Queen in a live stage production of Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Personal Quotes (1) The Lunts [Alfred Lunt and wife Lynn Fontanne] were so good to me that once, as we toured from town to town, I decided to have a tea party for them on the train. Alfred loved good tea. I started heating the water, and blew out every light on the train!