Fran Carlon

She was born in Indianapolis[4] and grew up in Chicago. She received her theatrical training at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre[1] and later at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Carlon began her stage career in the role of Little Eva in a touring production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Her first Broadway show, Play, Genius, Play, lasted only four performances.[1] Her other Broadway credits included Sunrise at Campobello and Men of Distinction. She went to Hollywood where she appeared in films with Douglas Montgomery, Loretta Young and the Ritz Brothers.[3]

Carlon "entered radio doing commercials on Amos 'n' Andy."[2] Her radio roles included Martha in This Changing World,[5] the reporter Lorelei Heilbron in Big Town, sister Sue in Big Sister, Rhoda Brent in Blackstone, the Magic Detective and Irene in Our Gal Sunday. She played the lead in Joan and Kermit,[6] Kitty Keene, Mary Marlin and Joyce Jordan, M.D.. She was also in episodes of Mary Noble, Backstage Wife; Lora Lawton; Ma Perkins; The Chicago Theater of the Air; Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons and Theatre Five.[4][7]

Her television roles included Ada in The Hamptons, Julia Burke in As the World Turns and Portia Blake in Portia Faces Life.[3][8]

She was married to Casey Allen, a radio actor and announcer, and had two children,[4][9][10] a daughter, Kerry, and a son, Kim.[1]

In 1993, she died of cancer in Manhattan, New York.[11]

• List of radio soaps
• List of female detective characters