Fran Crowley



&nbsp Frances Marie Crowley, commonly known as "Fran Crowley", is a fictional character on the television series, Mama's Family. She was portrayed by Rue McClanahan during the show's first two seasons.

Character history
Fran is the uptight younger sister of acid-tongued Thelma Harper. At first, she was the only one living with Thelma, until the arrival of her nephew, Vinton Harper and his children, Vinton "Buzz" Harper, Jr. and Sonja Harper. She was a reporter for one of Raytown's newspapers, "The Bugle". She was also a budding author, and had her own writing studio, which had been yanked from her by Thelma who needed the room for Sonja. (The room had originally belonged to Ellen Jackson and Eunice Higgins, Vinton's older sisters).

At times, Fran had felt that her privacy had been invaded because of Vint and his family moving in, namely because Sonja had read her manuscript. Another particular cross was that she had to share a bathroom with the kids. At least, Buzz kept his things in an orderly fashion, and for this won favor from Fran; while Sonja was a typical teenager, messy and earning more wrath from Fran.

Fran always looked like that she was one step away from a nervous breakdown, and she often stood up to her opinionated sister. At times though, she would unbend, and let her hair down and have some fun. She showed this side of herself when she indulged in some wine at the wedding preparations for Vint and Naomi Oates. Also, when she chaperoned Sonja's slumber party when Thelma was out of town. However, after two years, (and because Rue McClanahan and Betty White, who played Ellen, had been asked to join the cast of The Golden Girls), Fran Fran had died as a result of swallowing a toothpick in the ladies room at the local bar and grill, The Bigger Jigger. Her room eventually went to her great nephew, Bubba Higgins.

Appearances

 * Episode 101: Vint and the Kids Move In
 * Episode 102: For Better or Worse
 * Episode 103: The Wedding: Part 1
 * Episode 104: The Wedding: Part 2
 * Episode 109: Mama's Boyfriend
 * Episode 110: Fran's Dress
 * Episode 111: Alien Marriage
 * Episode 113: Mama's Silver
 * Episode 201: Flaming Forties
 * Episode 202: The Return of Leonard Oates
 * Episode 204: Naomi and the Stork
 * Episode 206: Obscene Call
 * Episode 207: Ellen's Boyfriend
 * Episode 208: Aunt Gert Rides Again
 * Episode 210: The Mama Who Came to Dinner
 * Episode 211: Mama Learns to Drive
 * Episode 212: Black Belt Mama
 * Episode 213: Mama Buys a Car
 * Episode 215: No Room at the Inn
 * Episode 216: Mama for Mayor: Part 1
 * Episode 217: Mama for Mayor: Part 2
 * Episode 218: Harper Versus Harper
 * Episode 221: Ask Aunt Fran
 * Episode 222: A Grave Mistake