A pouty-lipped glamour girl in "B" films during the 1940s, actress Frances Rafferty did a complete role reversal and turned wholesome housewife on TV into the next decade. Born on June 16, 1922 in Sioux City, Iowa, Frances Anne Rafferty and her family, during the Depression era, moved to Los Angeles in search of work. Interested in the arts while growing up, she won a scholarship to the Edith Jane Dancing School the next year and attended UCLA following her high school graduation, but dropped out when she nabbed an understudy position for dancer 'Vera Zorina' as Gladys, was short-lived, lasting only one season. Frances quietly semi-retired after the show's demise with just a handful of TV performances coming her way, then disappeared altogether. She later raised quarter horses with her husband in California for a time. She died in 2004 of natural causes at age 81 in Paso Robles, where she helped form a local acting group called the "Pioneer Players".
Met actress Alexis Smith as a dance student at age 10 and they remained lifelong friends. It was Smith who suggested Frances try acting after a knee injury ended her promising dance career. Frances was at Smiths bedside when she died of cancer in 1993.
Was a war-era cover girl for "Yank, the Army Weekly" a couple of times.
Had a daughter and son with second husband Thomas Baker, whom she was introduced to by actress/dancer Peggy Ryan.
Lucille Ball , who remembered Frances from their MGM days, was instrumental in casting her in the "December Bride" series, which was produced by Balls company, Desilu.
She was a staunch Republican and conservative.
Upon her death, her remains were donated to medical science.
