Frances Conroy

Frances Conroy Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: March 15, 1953

Age: 71 years old

Birth Place: Monroe, Georgia

Classically trained and extremely versatile, actress Frances Conroy crafted a wide-ranging career as a supporting player in an admirable array of films, television projects, and live stage productions. After graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School, she performed in several New York Shakespeare Festival productions prior to making early appearances in films like "Manhattan" (1979) and "Falling in Love" (1984). The increasingly in-demand actress juggled TV guest spots on shows like "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1985-87), with turns in such films as "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (1988), as well as award-winning performances in Broadway productions like "The Secret Rapture" (1989). In the early 1990s, Conroy began a fruitful working relationship with American playwright Arthur Miller, starring in a number of his stage efforts over the decade, as well as in the screen adaptation of his classic work, "The Crucible" (1996). However, Conroy would become best known for her role as the emotionally distant matriarch of a troubled family of morticians on the acclaimed cable drama "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2000-05). For her role as the frustratingly naïve Ruth Fisher, Conroy would be nominated for an Emmy for each season of the show, in addition to winning a Golden Globe for her portrayal. Post-"Six Feet Under" work found her making several noteworthy appearances on the hit series "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012), and sharing screen time with Robert De Niro in the crime drama "Stone" (2010). Though seldom receiving top-billing in her numerable projects, Conroy nonetheless became one of the most respected working actresses during her time on stage and screen.

Born on Nov. 13, 1953 in Monroe, GA, Conroy grew up in and around the New York City area and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her interest in theater from an early age. After attending high school in Long Island, she trained at NYC's prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse and graduated from the Juilliard School's drama division, attending workshops taught by revered guest lecturers, such as actor John Houseman. Conroy went on to appear in numerous New York Shakespeare Festival productions, including "Measure for Measure" (1976), and starred as Desdemona in "Othello" (1979), alongside Richard Dreyfuss and Raul Julia. Conroy made one of her earliest feature film appearances in director Woody Allen's tale of a middle-aged man's quest for love, "Manhattan" (1979), appearing briefly as a Shakespearian actress. In addition to her already impressive list of stage credits, Conroy began making appearances in television fare, such as the political biopic "Kennedy" (NBC, 1983), which covered the assassinated president's all-too-brief term in office. The following year saw Conroy landing another small role in the Robert De Niro/Meryl Streep romantic drama "Falling in Love" (1984). Work in episodic television also began to come her way, as with her leading role in a segment of the second revival of the classic science fiction anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1985-87) in 1986.

Before long, both the frequency of Conroy's film work and the size of her roles increased, and she found herself working with an impressive array of actors and directors. Supporting roles included a turn in director Mike Newell's "Amazing Grace and Chuck" (1987) alongside Gregory Peck and Jamie Leigh Curtis; in "Rocket Gibraltar" (1988) as one of star Burt Lancaster's daughters; and in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (1988) as a wealthy woman targeted by hilariously immoral con men Michael Caine and Steve Martin. That same year, she reunited with Woody Allen with a small part in his forgotten drama "Another Woman" (1988), starring Gena Rowlands, Mia Farrow and Gene Hackman. Combining the stage with the small screen, Conroy played Mrs. Gibbs in a televised production of Thorton Wilder's "Our Town" (PBS, 1989). The acclaimed theatrical adaptation, with famed monologist Spaulding Gray in the role of the Stage Manager, was originally performed at Broadway's Lyceum Theater and aired as a part of the ongoing series "Great Performances" (PBS, 1972- ). Conroy won her first Drama Desk Award that same year for her performance as Marion French, an ambitious conservative politician in David Hare's "The Secret Rapture" (1989). There was another brief appearance in Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989), in addition to a small part in the period mob drama "Billy Bathgate" (1991), starring Dustin Hoffman as crime boss Dutch Schultz.

In 1992, Conroy began what would prove to be an exceptionally rewarding and collaborative relationship with the legendary playwright Arthur Miller, when she appeared in his off-Broadway play "The Last Yankee," earning an OBIE Award for her performance. Other credits on her growing film résumé included turns in such efforts as "Scent of A Woman" (1992), starring Al Pacino; an adaptation of the Mark Twain classic "The Adventures of Huck Finn" (1993), with a young Elijah Wood in the title role; and the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romantic blockbuster "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993). She later appeared in Miller's drama "Broken Glass" at Broadway's Booth Theater in 1994, followed by the feature film adaptation of the playwright's metaphorical parable on the communist witch hunts of the 1950s, "The Crucible" (1996), for which he also wrote the screenplay. Conroy once again reteamed with Miller for the theatrical mounting of his drama "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan" in 1998, a role for which she garnered a Tony nomination when she reprised it two years later on Broadway. Interspersed with her busy rotating schedule of stage and screen work, Conroy continued to rack up TV credits, such as a second appearance on the long-running legal system procedural "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010) in 1999. The following year, she was cast as Ruth Fisher in the quirky, dysfunctional family drama "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2000-05). It was in the role of the well-intentioned, albeit, neurotic and emotionally disconnected mother of the Fisher clan that Conroy earned several Emmy nominations and won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Drama in 2004.

Even as "Six Feet Under" entered its final season, Conroy continued to appear in major feature films - among them, Martin Scorsese's biopic covering the early days of Howard Hughes, "The Aviator" (2004), in addition to a turn in the embarrassing comic book adaptation "Catwoman" (2004), featuring a latex-clad Halle Berry. She also had a role in the romantic comedy based on the novel by Steve Martin "Shopgirl" (2005), starring Martin and Claire Danes, and appeared as an ex-girlfriend of Bill Murray's in the Jim Jarmusch quasi-mystery "Broken Flowers" (2005). Other work included turns in the less-than-successful remake of the occult classic "The Wicker Man" (2006), starring Nicholas Cage, and the poorly-received adaptation of the children's fantasy novel "The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising" (2007). Conroy also tried her hand at voice work in the animated fable "The Tale of Despereaux" (2008), and returned to TV that same year with the recurring role of Virginia Hildebrand on the hit melodrama "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012). She played Jennifer Aniston's mother in the romantic drama "Love Happens" (2009), prior to joining the cast of the critically snubbed "Happy Town" (ABC, 2009-10), an ill-prepared mix of David Lynch and Stephen King storytelling, which was cancelled shortly after its premiere. As the decade came to a close, Conroy kept busy with guest spots on programs like "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 2005-2014) (on which she had a recurring role as Barney Stinson's mother Loretta), "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ), and picked up recurring voice work on "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" (Cartoon Network, 2010-13) as the voice of Angie Dinkley, mother of bespectacled teen-sleuth Velma. She also impressed in a supporting role as Robert De Niro's pious wife in the ensemble thriller "Stone" (2010), co-starring Edward Norton.

In 2011, she joined the cast of Ryan Murphy's anthology series "American Horror Story" (FX 2011- ), playing various characters for each season. While keeping busy with her steadily increasing TV work, she returned to the big screen with a supporting role in the family comedy-drama "Chasing Ghosts" (2014).

Credits

NimonaStream

Voice
The Director
Movie
2023
92%

The Boys Presents: DiabolicalStream

Voice
Barb
Series
2022

American Horror Story: Double FeatureStream

Actor
Belle Noir
Series
2021

The Power of the DogStream

Actor
Old Lady
Movie
2021
94%

JokerStream

Actor
Penny Fleck
Movie
2019
69%

James vs. His Future Self

Actor
Dr. Rowley
Movie
2019

The TaleStream

Actor
Mrs. G - Older
Movie
2018
99%

Mountain Rest

Actor
Ethel
Movie
2018

Young SheldonStream

Guest Star
Flora
Series
2017

American Horror Story: Cult

Actor
Bebe Babbitt
Show
2017

Wrestling: WWE SmackDown!

Actor
Ruth Fisher
Show
2017

American Horror Story: Roanoke

Guest Star
Mama Polk
Show
2016

The Real O'NealsStream

Guest Star
Grandma Agnes
Series
2016
67%

Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz

Voice
Auntie Em / Glinda
Movie
2016

No Pay, Nudity

Actor
Andrea
Movie
2016

CasualStream

Actor
Dawn
Series
2015
94%

Tom And Jerry And The Wizard Of Oz

Voice
.Auntie Em / Glinda
Show
2015

We Bare BearsStream

Guest Voice
Faye
Series
2015

Welcome to Happiness

Actor
Claiborne
Movie
2015

American Horror Story: Freak Show

Actor
Gloria Mott
Show
2014

Making the Rules

Actor
Mother
Movie
2014

Chasing Ghosts

Actor
Dara
Movie
2014

American Horror Story: Coven

Actor
Myrtle Snow
Show
2013

American Horror Story: Asylum: Cast and Creators Live at PALEYFEST

Guest
Show
2013

Sequin Raze

Actor
Dr. Wagerstein
Movie
2013

Ring of Fire

Actor
Maybelle Carter
Movie
2013

Superman: Unbound

Voice
Martha Kent
Movie
2013

American Horror Story: Asylum

Guest Star
Shachath
Show
2012

Ring Of Fire

Actor
Movie
2012

American Horror StoryStream

Guest Star
Moira O'Hara
Series
2011
76%

Love Bites

Guest Star
Show
2011

Tom i Jerry i Carobnjak iz Oza

Actor
Movie
2011

All-Star Superman

Voice
Martha Kent
Movie
2011

Tom and Jerry & the Wizard of Oz

Voice
Auntie Em/Glinda
Movie
2011

Happy TownStream

Guest Star
Series
2010
46%

Scooby-Doo: Mystery IncorporatedStream

Guest Voice
Angie Dinkley
Series
2010

Ubezhische

Actor
Movie
2010

Shelter

Actor
Mrs. Birnberg
Movie
2010

StoneStream

Actor
Madylyn
Movie
2010
50%

Provinces of Night

Actor
Julia Bloodworth
Movie
2010

Waking Madison

Actor
Dolly
Movie
2010

Royal PainsStream

Guest Star
Blythe Ballard
Series
2009

United States of TaraStream

Guest Star
Sandy Gregson
Series
2009
85%

New in Town

Actor
Trudy Van Uuden
Movie
2009

Love Happens

Actor
Eloise's Mom
Movie
2009

Stay Cool

Actor
Mrs. Leuchtenberger
Movie
2009

The Smell of Success

Actor
Agnes May
Movie
2009

The MentalistStream

Guest Star
Elspeth Cook
Series
2008

The Tale of Despereaux

Voice
Antoinette
Movie
2008

Humboldt County

Actor
Rosie
Movie
2008

The Grand Design

Actor
Show
2007

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

Actor
Miss Greythorne
Movie
2007

The Wicker ManStream

Actor
Dr. Moss
Movie
2006
15%

A Perfect Day

Actor
Camille
Movie
2006

Ira and Abby

Actor
Lynne Willoughby
Movie
2006

How I Met Your MotherStream

Guest Star
Loretta Stinson
Series
2005
84%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

Broken Flowers

Actor
Dora
Movie
2005

ShopgirlStream

Actor
Catherine Butterfield
Movie
2005
61%

Desperate HousewivesStream

Guest Star
Virginia Hildebrand
Series
2004
72%

CatwomanStream

Actor
Ophelia Powers
Movie
2004
8%

The AviatorStream

Actor
Katharine Martha Houghton Hepburn
Movie
2004
86%

Arrested DevelopmentStream

Guest Star
Lottie Dottie DA
Series
2003
75%

Nip/TuckStream

Guest Star
Jane Fields
Series
2003
74%

Die Mommie Die!

Actor
Bootsie Carp
Movie
2003

Maid in ManhattanStream

Actor
Paula Burns
Movie
2002
38%

Six Feet UnderStream

Actor
Ruth Fisher
Series
2001
81%

Murder in a Small Town

Actor
Martha Lassiter
Movie
1999

Thicker Than Blood

Actor
Mrs. Byrne
Movie
1998

Crisis Center

Guest Star
Marilyn
Show
1997

CosbyStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The CrucibleStream

Actor
Ann Putnam
Movie
1996
70%

The Neon Bible

Actor
Miss Scover
Movie
1995

Journey

Actor
Fiona
Movie
1995

ERStream

Guest Star
Becky Riley
Series
1994

One More Mountain

Actor
Peggy Breen
Movie
1994

The Adventures of Huck FinnStream

Actor
Scrawny Shanty Lady
Movie
1993
75%

Scent of a WomanStream

Actor
Christine Downes
Movie
1992
85%

Billy BathgateStream

Actor
Mary Behan
Movie
1991
36%

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Rocket Gibraltar

Actor
Ruby Hanson
Movie
1988

Another Woman

Actor
Lynn
Movie
1988

Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami

Actor
Lyn Kessler
Movie
1987

NewhartStream

Guest Star
Series
1982

Hill Street BluesStream

Guest Star
Porche lady
Series
1981
97%

Keeping On

Actor
Lilian Steichen
Movie
1981

ManhattanStream

Actor
Shakespearean Actress
Movie
1979
94%

News aboutFrances Conroy