Frances Rafferty
Encyclopedia
Frances Rafferty was an American actress, dancer, World War II
pin-up girl
and MGM contract star.
, the daughter of Maxwell Lewis Rafftery, Snr. (born about 1887), and DeEtta Cox Rafferty (born about 1892), the younger sister of Maxwell Lewis Rafferty
(May 9, 1917, in New Orleans, Louisiana – June 13, 1982, in Alabama). At the age of nine she moved with her family to Los Angeles
, California
. At a young age she studied dancing, and her physical attributes and dancing skills led to work in the film
industry.
and Walter Huston
, her significant parts were limited almost exclusively to "B" movies. Her only leading role likely to be seen on TV is in Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945).
During World War II
she was a volunteer pin-up girl
for YANK
magazine, a publication for the soldiers of the United States military.
In the 1950s, Rafferty turned to acting in network television
shows. In 1954, she guest starred in two episodes of CBS
's The Public Defender
, starring Reed Hadley
and based on cases of attorneys for the indigent.
From 1954 to 1959, she appeared as Ruth Ruskin Henshaw in all 111 episodes of the Desilu Studios CBS sitcom December Bride
, with co-stars Spring Byington
as her mother, Lily Ruskin, and Dean Miller
as her husband, Matt Henshaw.
Rafferty also appeared in a number of different television programs throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and after retiring in 1965 made one final appearance in a 1977 episode of Karl Malden
's ABC
series, The Streets of San Francisco
.
from 1944 until their divorce in 1947. In 1948 she married Thomas R. Baker, and together they had two children. Following her retirement from acting, Rafferty and her husband operated a ranch where they bred and raised quarter horses.
Frances Rafferty died in 2004 in Paso Robles, California
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pin-up girl
Pin-up girl
A pin-up girl, also known as a pin-up model, is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display, e.g. meant to be "pinned-up" on a wall...
and MGM contract star.
Early life
Frances Anne Rafferty was born in Sioux City, IowaSioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, the daughter of Maxwell Lewis Rafftery, Snr. (born about 1887), and DeEtta Cox Rafferty (born about 1892), the younger sister of Maxwell Lewis Rafferty
Max Rafferty
Maxwell Lewis Rafferty was an author, educator, and politician.-Early life:...
(May 9, 1917, in New Orleans, Louisiana – June 13, 1982, in Alabama). At the age of nine she moved with her family to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At a young age she studied dancing, and her physical attributes and dancing skills led to work in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
industry.
Career
Signed by MGM Studios, Frances made her film debut in 1942. She appeared in minor and secondary roles, and although she had a part in the 1944 film Dragon Seed with Katharine HepburnKatharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
and Walter Huston
Walter Huston
Walter Thomas Huston was a Canadian-born American actor. He was the father of actor and director John Huston and the grandfather of actress Anjelica Huston and actor Danny Huston.-Life and career:...
, her significant parts were limited almost exclusively to "B" movies. Her only leading role likely to be seen on TV is in Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945).
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she was a volunteer pin-up girl
Pin-up girl
A pin-up girl, also known as a pin-up model, is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display, e.g. meant to be "pinned-up" on a wall...
for YANK
Yank
Yank may refer to:* Yank, the Army Weekly, a newspaper for American soldiers during World War II* Yank , the rate of change in force* Yanks, a 1979 film* Short form of Yankee, a slang term for someone of American origin or heritage...
magazine, a publication for the soldiers of the United States military.
In the 1950s, Rafferty turned to acting in network television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows. In 1954, she guest starred in two episodes of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's The Public Defender
The Public Defender (TV series)
The Public Defender is a half-hour 69-episode television dramatic series starring Reed Hadley as Bart Matthews, an attorney for the indigent. The series aired on CBS from March 11, 1954 to June 23, 1955, a season and a half.-Premise:...
, starring Reed Hadley
Reed Hadley
Reed Hadley was an American movie, television and radio actor.Reed Hadley was born Reed Herring in Petrolia in Clay County near Wichita Falls, Texas, to Bert Herring, an oil well driller, and his wife Minnie. Hadley had one sister, Bess Brenner. He was reared in Buffalo, New York...
and based on cases of attorneys for the indigent.
From 1954 to 1959, she appeared as Ruth Ruskin Henshaw in all 111 episodes of the Desilu Studios CBS sitcom December Bride
December Bride
December Bride is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959, adapted from the original CBS radio network series that aired from June 1952 through September 1953.-Overview:...
, with co-stars Spring Byington
Spring Byington
Spring Byington was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of December Bride. She was a key MGM contract player appearing in films from the 1930s through the 1960s.-Early life:Byington was born Spring Dell Byington in Colorado Springs,...
as her mother, Lily Ruskin, and Dean Miller
Dean Miller (broadcaster)
Dean Miller, born Dean C. Stuhlmueller , was an American actor and broadcaster, perhaps best known for his role as the son-in-law in the CBS sitcom December Bride...
as her husband, Matt Henshaw.
Rafferty also appeared in a number of different television programs throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and after retiring in 1965 made one final appearance in a 1977 episode of Karl Malden
Karl Malden
Karl Malden was an American actor. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, he performed in such classic films as A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks...
's ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series, The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco is a 1970s television police drama filmed on location in San Francisco, California, and produced by Quinn Martin Productions, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros...
.
Personal life
She was married to John HarlanJohn Harlan (announcer)
John Harlan is an American television announcer who has worked on numerous television projects for over 40 years, particularly game and variety shows....
from 1944 until their divorce in 1947. In 1948 she married Thomas R. Baker, and together they had two children. Following her retirement from acting, Rafferty and her husband operated a ranch where they bred and raised quarter horses.
Frances Rafferty died in 2004 in Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles, California
Paso Robles is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Paso Robles is the fastest growing city in San Luis Obispo County: Its population at the 2000 census was 24,297; in 2010 it recorded some 29,793 residentsLocated on the Salinas River north of San Luis Obispo, California,...
.