Actress. Born Anne Lloyd Francis, in Ossining, New York, she began her career in the entertainment industry initially at the age of five, when she was put under contract with the John Robert Powers Agency as a model and cover girl (in order to provide income for her family during “The Depression”). She moved onto radio, appearing on the programs “Let’s Pretend” and “Coast-to Coast on a Bus”; she marked her Broadway introduction in the 1941 play “Lady in the Dark”, before playing juveniles on various radio soap operas. She signed with MGM and marked her motion picture debut with an uncredited part in the 1947 picture “This Time for Keeps” and initiated what would be a lengthy association of the small screen, appearing in featured and countless guest roles. Establishing herself a dependable performer whose attractive features and cool persona led to substantial supporting roles, she enjoyed her most productive period during the 1950s and 1960s, with parts in the features “Rogue Cop” (1954), “Bad Day at Black Rock” (1955), “Battle Cry” (1955), “Blackboard Jungle” (1955), “Forbidden Planet” (1956), “The Hired Gun” (1957) and “Funny Girl” (1968); she will be best remembered by TV audiences for playing the title role in the series “Honey West” (1965 to 1966, which she earned a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award nomination). Among her other television credits are “The Twilight Zone”, “The Virginian”, “Columbo”, “The Love Boat”, “Fantasy Island”, “The Drew Carey Show”, and many more. Francis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She died from complications of pancreatic cancer. (bio by: C.S.)