Trivia

Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 despite having quit smoking nearly twenty years earlier. She immediately underwent chemotherapy and, in February 2008, underwent surgery to remove the upper lobe of her right lung.

Has two daughters, Jane Elizabeth Abeloff (born March 21, 1962) and Margaret Francis West. Margaret was adopted in May of 1970. The adoption was one of the first granted to a single parent in the state of California. Jane Elizabeth was born with the same trade mark mole as her mother.

Retired from acting in 2004 after nearly 60 years in the motion picture industry.

She has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), Blackboard Jungle (1955), Forbidden Planet (1956) and Funny Girl (1968).

Actually took karate lessons while starring in the TV series Honey West (1965).

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1611 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

Not only participated in radio programs early in her career, but she also regularly appeared on one of New York's first television stations before World War II. The CBS-owned station used television cameras from the Farnsworth Corporation because RCA, the only other U.S. manufacturer of television equipment, was affiliated with NBC. Her participation included an early experiment with color television.

Passed away just 35 days after her Forbidden Planet (1956) co-star Leslie Nielsen died.

Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.

Her great-grandfather Tench Francis was aide to George Washington.

A longtime rodeo fan, she wrote and directed the short subject film Gemini Rising (1968).

First husband, Bamlet Lawrence Price Jr. was a former UCLA student who was working on a film project entitled One Way Ticket to Hell (1955). As part of their divorce settlement, he repaid her the $4,000 he borrowed for this film. She had one daughter, Jane Elizabeth, by her second husband, Dr. Robert Abeloff, a dentist. Each marriage lasted about three years.

Alumna of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1950.

Stage: Appeared as the "young" Gertrude Lawrence in the original Broadway production of "Lady in the Dark".

She took flyIng lessons but had to quit before getting her license as she got pregnant.

Long involved with the International New Thought Alliance, a metaphysical religious organization.

Turned down the lead role in the film soaper Claudelle Inglish (1961); Diane McBain won the role but the film bombed. Francis later replaced actress Joan Hackett on the film The Satan Bug (1965).

She began her career on Broadway in Lady in the Park playing Gertrude Lawrence as a child.

A former model and cover girl she took flying lessons but had to give them up before getting her licence because she was pregnant.

Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book "They Fought in the Creature Features" (McFarland & Co., 1995).

1953 Deb Star.

As a child she lived in an apartment at 66-11 99th Street in Forest Hills, New York.

She was a lifelong Democrat.