RIP Anne Francis

Updated on January 4, 2011 By Ken Begg 10 Comments

Sadder news yet for Forbidden Planet fans. Too soon after the passing of its male star, Leslie Nielsen, his alluring romantic lead Anne Francis has passed on as well.

Although Ms. Francis had starred in other big films previously, including Bad Day at Black Rock and Rock Around the Clock (both 1955), it was as Altaira in 1956’s Forbidden Planet that she gained true screen immortality. Ms. Francis went on to have a very long and busy career in both movies and television, and was the first woman to star in her own American action series, Honey West, in 1965. Honey had a male sidekick, but she was definitely the show’s lead character.

Ms. Francis was 81.

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  • Man, 2011 is wasting no time killing off more film stars. First Pete Postletwaite, now her.

  • Mr. Rational

    What a shame. I just saw her the other night in one of her Twilight Zone appearances — “The After Hours,” I think it was. Hopefully she’s just gone back to the store so another one can go out, and she’ll get another turn eventually.

  • David Fullam

    Looks like we will be losing more cool people in 2011. :(

  • roger h

    When I was a wee one, I believe Honey West captured my imagination more than Bat Man.

    :(

  • Rock Baker

    What can I say? This is just terrible news for cinemanauts like myself. Rest In Peace, Anne, you’ve given us a lot of warm memories.

  • P Stroud

    RIP Anne, you were a real honey on Forbidden Planet and an early crush for me at 10 years of age. I’ll hoist a beer for ya as I watch my FP DVD tonight.

  • PB210

    Oddly, Moonstone Books just publishes some Honey West comic books, and announced a prose anthology of Honey West stories.

  • Looks like Gerry Rafferty just died. The rule of 3 is appeased…for now.

  • sandra

    Pete Postelthwaite just died. Maybe he makes the third – celebrities always die in groups of three.

  • Marsden

    unfortunately, 3 threes is nine and 3 three 3 is 27, so it’s never really over, is it?

    I just try to keep in mind the Night Court episode where Harry locked up a guy (Stephen Root) that claimed to be death. He said, “if no one died, where would you park?”