Mary Frann - wikipedia Mary Frann Mary Frann Mary Frances Luecke ( 1943 - 02 - 27 ) February 27, 1943 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. September 23, 1998 ( 1998 - 09 - 23 ) ( aged 55 ) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Cause of death Heart attack Resting place Holy Cross Cemetery Other names Jennifer Douglas Mary Fran Education Nerinx Hall High School Alma mater Northwestern University Years active 1964 -- 1998 Spouse ( s ) T.J. Escott ( m. 1973 ; div. 1983 ) Mary Frann ( born Mary Frances Luecke, February 27, 1943 -- September 23, 1998 ) was an American stage, film and television actress. Frann is best known for her role as Bob Newhart 's wife, Joanna Loudon, on the CBS sitcom Newhart, which aired from 1982 to 1990. Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Personal life 3.1 Charity work 4 Selected filmography 5 References 6 External links Early years Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Frann was a child model and appeared in commercials for a local television station while she attended Nerinx Hall High School. At the age of 18, she was voted Missouri 's `` Junior Miss ''. She went on to win the 1961 national title of America 's Junior Miss and earned a college scholarship to study drama at Northwestern University. As America 's Junior Miss, she starred in a Jam Handy educational film ( Prom : It 's a Pleasure ) extolling the etiquette and fun of the high school prom. While attending Northwestern, Frann worked as a weather reporter for the NBC station in St. Louis. After a year, she dropped out of Northwestern and moved to Chicago where she co-hosted a morning show on an ABC affiliate. While working as a host, Frann worked in local theatre productions and began working in television and films. In 1964, Frann made her television debut in an episode of the Kraft Suspense Theatre. That same year, she appeared in the television movie Nightmare in Chicago, starring Carroll O'Connor. In 1966, Frann made her film debut in the low budget musical drama Nashville Rebel, starring Waylon Jennings. Career Mary ( right ) under the screen name `` Jennifer Douglas '', with Ted Bessell and Marlo Thomas on an episode of That Girl in 1968. After receiving an offer to host another morning show, Frann realized she wanted to pursue a career as an actress rather than a broadcaster. In 1968, she moved to Los Angeles where she stayed with her best friend, actress Joan Van Ark. Shortly after her arrival, Frann won a role on the NBC crime drama series My Friend Tony. After winning the role, Frann 's agent told her that he felt she should change her name to something more appealing. Frann adopted the stage name `` Jennifer Douglas, '' a name she picked from the phone book. After My Friend Tony was canceled after one season, Frann returned to using the name `` Mary Frann '' ( which she had gone by since high school ) as her professional name. For the next five years, Frann continued to work in television and also worked in theatre in Los Angeles and New York. In 1974, she landed the role of Amanda Howard on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. She would remain on the show until 1979. While on the series, Frann also made guest appearances on Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, Fantasy Island, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1978, Frann was nearly cast as Sue Ellen Ewing on the CBS prime - time drama Dallas. Producers later decided to cast actress Linda Gray. In 1982, she starred on the short - lived series King 's Crossing with Linda Hamilton. That series was canceled after one season due to low ratings. Later that year, she landed her most memorable role as Joanna Loudon, the wife of Vermont inn owner Dick Loudon ( Bob Newhart ), in the sitcom Newhart. The series, which aired from October 1982, to September 1990, was a hit with audiences and was nominated for 25 Emmys and five Golden Globes. Shortly after filming the series finale, Frann was cast as `` Clementine Duke '' in the miniseries Lucky / Chances. The series was based on two of Jackie Collins ' novels, Lucky and Chances. The role was a dramatic departure from Frann 's work on Newhart and surprised audiences. She later told the Los Angeles Times, `` I thought it would be outrageous, flamboyant, glamorous. I wanted to remind people that I was capable of playing many different roles. '' During the run of Newhart, Frann continued acting in various projects. In 1985, she co-starred in the TV movie Gidget 's Summer Reunion, and in 1988, she appeared in Dance ' til Dawn with Alyssa Milano, Christina Applegate and Kelsey Grammer. Frann also co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants of 1986 and 1987, and acted as hostess for the Macy 's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade. Her last acting role came in the series Beyond Belief : Fact or Fiction. Due to the sporadic airing of the series, the episode she was in, `` The Curse of Hampton Manor, '' aired two years after her death. Personal Life Frann was married once, but had no children. In 1973, she married T.J. Escott. They separated in 1982 and were divorced the following year. On September 23, 1998, Frann died in her sleep at her home in Beverly Hills, California. Her body was discovered by her publicist and her longtime partner Jonathan Cookman Jr. An autopsy later determined that she died of a heart attack and also suffered from an undiagnosed scarring of the heart muscle tissue. Her remains are interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. At the time of her death, she was in a long - term relationship with Cookman. Charity work Frann was active as a volunteer fund - raiser and was involved with charitable works. She was a member of the Celebrity Action Council, a volunteer group of celebrity women who served the women 's outreach of the Los Angeles Mission, for seven years. The night before her death, she had attended a meeting at the Mission. Selected filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1961 The Prom : It 's a Pleasure ! Junior Miss Missouri Short subject Uncredited 1966 Nashville Rebel Molly Morgan 1976 Woman in the Rain Alternative title : A Hell Black Night 1990 Fatal Charm Susan Direct - to - video release Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre Annette Episode : `` Once Upon a Savage Night '' 1968 Get Smart Stewardess Episode : `` Snoopy Smart vs. the Red Baron '' Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1968 That Girl Pat Crawford Episode : `` Ann vs. Secretary '' Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1968 - 1969 The Wild Wild West Dr. Virginia Mays Princess Lina 2 episodes Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 My Friend Tony 16 episodes Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 Bonanza Barbara Parker Episode : `` The Running Man '' Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1969 Lancer Dorrie Episode : `` The Kid '' Credited as Jennifer Douglas 1971 The Bill Cosby Show Louise Episode : `` The Miraculous Martin '' 1972 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Joanne Episode : `` Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda '' 1972 Hawaii Five - O Jean Holland Episode : `` Chain of Events '' 1972 Search Stephanie Burnside Episode : `` Operation Iceman '' 1973 Cannon Janice Rogers Episode : `` Murder for Murder '' 1973 -- 1974 Return to Peyton Place D.B. Bentley Unknown episodes Firehouse Episode : `` Tide of Terror '' The F.B.I. Agent Pat Driscoll Episode : `` Confessions of a Madman '' Apple 's Way Claudine Delacorte Episode : `` The Circus '' 1974 -- 1979 Days of Our Lives Amanda Howard Unknown episodes The Wide World of Mystery Episode : `` Distant Early Warning '' 1975 - 1978 The Rockford Files Valerie Thomas / Maria Heller Ruth Beetson - White 2 episodes 1976 The TVTV Show Mary Kay Television special 1977 The Fantastic Journey Roxanne Episode : `` Funhouse '' 1977 Quincy, M.E. Christine Hopwood Episode : `` No Deadly Secret '' 1978 Fantasy Island Grace Arnold Episode : `` Family Reunion / Voodoo '' 1978 The Incredible Hulk Karen Weiss Episode : `` Stop the Presses '' 1978 The Rockford Files Ruth Beetson - White Episode : `` A Fast Count '' 1980 Stone Adelle Lovins Episode : `` The Man in the Full Toledo '' 1980 Portrait of an Escort Sandy Television movie 1981 Nero Wolfe Janet Eaton Episode : `` Wolfe at the Door '' 1981 WKRP in Cincinnati Avis Dropkin 2 episodes 1981 Darkroom Linda Beckwith Episode : `` Closed Circuit '' 1982 King 's Crossing Nan Hollister 10 episodes 1982 -- 1990 Newhart Joanna Loudon 184 episodes 1984 - 1985 Hotel Stephanie Dr. Ellen Graham 2 episodes 1985 Gidget 's Summer Reunion Anne Bedford Television movie The New Mike Hammer Harriet `` Harry '' Quail Episode : `` A Face in the Night '' Eight Is Enough : A Family Reunion Abby Bradford Television movie Dance ' Til Dawn Nancy Johnson Television movie Single Women, Married Men Pat Michaels Television movie 1990 I 'm Dangerous Tonight Martha Television movie 1990 CBS Comedy Bloopers Host Television special 1990 Lucky / Chances Clementine Duke Miniseries 1991 The Hitchhiker Veronica Episode : `` Secrets '' Burke 's Law Brittany Moore Episode : `` Who Killed Good Time Charlie ? '' Lois & Clark : The New Adventures of Superman Alice White Episode : `` Toy Story '' 1998 Diagnosis : Murder Lucy Caruso Episode : `` Talked to Death '' 2000 Beyond Belief : Fact or Fiction Bev Conklin Episode : `` The Curse of Hampton Manor '' Aired posthumously References ^ Jump up to : Reinhold, Toni ( January 4, 1987 ). `` Mary Frann has character 's spirit ''. Herald - Journal. Logan, Utah. p. 63. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Handy, Jam. `` Prom : It 's a Pleasure ''. Jam Handy. Internet Archive. Retrieved 7 February 2013. Jump up ^ Carter, Bill ( 1998 - 09 - 25 ). `` Mary Frann, 55, Bemused Wife on ' Newhart ' ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Mary Frann, played Bob Newhart 's wife on TV series ''. southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved September 24, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Guttman, Monika ( March 23, 1986 ). `` Joking Around Way of Life on Set of ' Newhart ' ''. The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra, Chris ; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ( 2003 ). Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra, Chris ; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. All Music Guide to Country : The Definitive Guide to Country Music. Backbeat Books. p. 897. ISBN 0 - 879 - 30760 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Ann vs. Secretary '' ( 5 Dec. 1968 ), That Girl : Season 3, Episode 11 at IMDb, Accessed April 27, 2014 ^ Jump up to : Norbom, Mary Ann ( July 20, 1986 ). `` Proving The Allure Of An ' Older Woman ' ''. philly.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Gold, Aaron ( May 8, 1981 ). `` Jane Wyman lands new TV series role ''. Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida. p. 20. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Heldenfels, R.D. ( October 9, 1982 ). `` ' Newhart ' Actress Mary Frann Knows ' Inns ' and Outs of Role ''. Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. p. 5. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Haviland, Joe ( June 17, 1984 ). `` Mary Frann Falls In Love With ' Newhart ' ''. Herald - Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. p. 36. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Vamp role up next ''. The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. May 23, 1990. p. 9D. Retrieved July 29, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Oliver, Myrna ( September 24, 1998 ). `` Mary Frann ; Veteran Actress Played Wife on ' Newhart ' ''. latimes.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Anderson, Nancy ( June 8, 1985 ). `` ' Gidget ' returns to the tube ''. The Evening News. Newburgh, New York. p. 5E. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Burlingame, Jon ( October 21, 1988 ). `` ' Mission : Impossible ' Is Back ! ''. Ocala Star - Banner. Ocala, Florida. p. 8B. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Texas Wins Miss USA Title ''. Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. May 21, 1986. p. 8A. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Miss Texas wins... '' Lodi News - Sentinel. Lodi, California. February 18, 1987. p. 12. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Zuckerman, Faye B. ( July 21, 1986 ). `` Miss Universe crowned tonight ''. Spokane Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. p. B5. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ Major Holmes, Sue ( February 18, 1987 ). `` Barker wins ; furs cut from pageant ''. The Times - News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. p. 14. Retrieved July 29, 2015. Jump up ^ IMDb, Beyond Belief : Fact or Fiction : `` The Curse of Hampton Manor '' airdate Jump up ^ Errico, Marcus ( 1998 - 09 - 24 ). `` '' Newhart '' Wife Mary Frann Dies ``. E ! Online. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Coroner : ' Newhart 's Mary Frann died of heart attack ''. cnn.com. November 5, 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2009. Jump up ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. ( 2001 ). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries : A Directory. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. p. 164. ISBN 0 - 786 - 40983 - 5. External links Biography portal Mary Frann on IMDb Mary Frann at the Internet Broadway Database Mary Frann at the TCM Movie Database Mary Frann at AllMovie Mary Frann at Find a Grave Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Frann&oldid=814727334 '' Categories : 1943 births 1998 deaths 20th - century American actresses Actresses from St. Louis American beauty pageant winners American child models American film actresses American humanitarians American musical theatre actresses American soap opera actresses American stage actresses American television actresses American television personalities Beauty pageant hosts Female models from Missouri Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Northwestern University School of Communication alumni Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from July 2015 Pages to import images to Wikidata Articles with hCards All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from November 2015 Articles with IBDb links Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Talk Search Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Português Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 10 December 2017, at 15 : 28. 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Question: who played joanna on the bob newhart show
Answer: Mary Frann