Anne Francis Dies at 80

The woman who shared the screen with Robbie the Robot in the 1950's Si-Fi classic Forbidden Planet has died.  Anne Francis, an actress whose career spanned both TV and motion pictures was a former child model and radio actress.  She got her first role with Mickey Rooney in the MGM film "Summer Holiday" and moved into television during its infancy.

Her biggest TV role was her series "Honey West" where she played a female private eye.  Surprisingly one of her most memorable roles was in a Twilight Zone episode where she played a department store mannequin who came to life.

Personally, I will always remember her as Altair, the daughter of Walter Pidgeon in Forbidden Planet. One of the other stars of that movie, Leslie Nielson died in late 2010.  I can hear the Theramin music now!