Georgann Johnson (born Georgia Anne Johnson, August 15, 1926 – June 4, 2018) was an American stage, film, and television actress. She was also known as Georgiann Johnson and Georgianne Johnson.

Early years

Johnson was born in

Decorah, Iowa Decorah is the largest city in and county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,587 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of Iowa ...

, the daughter of George and Helene (Hjerleid) Johnson. She attended Decorah High School, Luther College, and

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

before becoming an actress in 1952.

Stage

In 1953, Johnson was cast with her future husband, actor

Stanley Prager Stanley Prager (January 8, 1917 – January 18, 1972) was an American actor and a television and theatre director. Career Prager was born in New York City. He spent three years at Johns Hopkins University before working in summer stock and on ...

, in the Broadway revival of ''Room Service'' starring

Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, he was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in comedy-drama films. He received num ...

. Johnson and Prager wed in 1956. Her other Broadway credits include '' Critic's Choice'' (1960), ''Drink to Me Only'' (1958), and ''Reclining Figure'' (1954). Prager gave up his career as an actor after he testified in 1955 as a witness before the

House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative United States Congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 19 ...

. Johnson later appeared in two films directed by

Martin Ritt Martin Ritt (March 2, 1914 – December 8, 1990) was an American director, producer, and actor, active in film, theatre and television. He was known mainly as an auteur of socially-conscious dramas and literary adaptations, described by Stanley K ...

, who had been caught in the Hollywood blacklist as well: ''The Front'' (1976) and ''Murphy’s Romance'' (1985).

Film

In films, Johnson had roles in '' Short Cut to Hell'' (1957), ''

Midnight Cowboy ''Midnight Cowboy'' is a 1969 American drama film directed by John Schlesinger, adapted by Waldo Salt from the 1965 novel by James Leo Herlihy. The film stars Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, with supporting roles played by Sylvia Miles, J ...

'' (1969), '' From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler'' (1973), ''

Health Health has a variety of definitions, which have been used for different purposes over time. In general, it refers to physical and emotional well-being, especially that associated with normal functioning of the human body, absent of disease, p ...

'' (1980), '' The Day After'' (1983), '' The Slugger's Wife'' (1985), '' Murphy's Romance'' (1985) and '' Quicksilver'' (1986).

Television

Johnson debuted on television in commercials. In 1965, she played Lois Carter in an episode of ''The Fugitive'', and in 1967, she played Laura Craig in the same series.from both IMDb and watching the episodes on MeTV She played the blind love interest to

Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in action films and his "granite features and brawny physique". Bronson was born into extreme poverty in ...

, who used his unexpected fortune to pay for surgery to restore her sight, in an episode of '' The Millionaire''. She went on to play Alice Snowden in '' Archie Bunker's Place'', Dorothy Jarvis in '' Cutter to Houston'', Marge Weskitt on ''

Mister Peepers ''Mister Peepers'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from July 3, 1952, to June 12, 1955. Overview Wally Cox starred as Robinson J. Peepers, Jefferson City's junior high school science teacher. Others in the cast included Tony Randall ...

'', and Katherine McKay on ''

Our Family Honor ''Our Family Honor'' is an American drama television series that aired on ABC from September 17, 1985, until January 3, 1986, as part of its 1985 fall lineup. Series overview Launched as a two-hour made-for-television movie, ''Our Family Hon ...

''. She was also a regular on '' The Larry Storch Show''. During the 1970s, she appeared in the long-running crossover role of Ellen Grant in '' Another World'' and its spinoff ''

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

'', as well as Jane Spencer in ''

As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other so ...

''. She played the mother of Jack Tripper in an episode of

Three%27s Company ''Three's Company'' is an American television sitcom that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. Developed by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross and Bernie West, it is based on the British sitcom '' Man About the ...

and later played Charlotte O'Neill, mother of the title character in '' The Trials of Rosie O'Neill''.Georgann Johnson obituary
legacy.com; accessed June 27, 2018. She played Doreen Selvy in ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents''' "The Night of the Execution". In November 1993, Johnson took over the role of Mrs. Elizabeth Quinn on the CBS Series, '' Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' during its second season. She continued in the role for the remainder of the series and several made-for-TV movies.

Personal life

Johnson married Prager in 1954, and they remained together until his death in 1972. In 1981, she married Jack Tenner. They remained wed until his death in 2008.

Death

On June 4, 2018, Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 91.

Partial filmography

*''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1956) (Season 2 Episode 10: "Jonathan") - Rosine Dalliford *''

'' (1957) (Season 2 Episode 23: "One for the Road") - Beryl Abbott *''

'' (1957) (Season 3 Episode 13: "Night of the Execution") - Doreen Selvy *'' Short Cut to Hell'' (1957) - Glory Hamilton *'' The Fugitive'' (1965) - Season 3, Episode 15 - Lois Carter *''

'' (1969) - Rich Lady - New York *'' From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler'' (1973) - Mrs. Kincaid *'' The Front'' (1976) - T.V. Interviewer *'' Hart to Hart'' A New Kind Of High (1979) - Mrs. Capello *''

'' (1980) - Lily Bell *''

Looker ''Looker'' is a 1981 American science fiction thriller film written and directed by Michael Crichton, starring Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey, and Leigh Taylor-Young. It follows a series of mysterious deaths plaguing female models wh ...

'' (1981) - Cindy's Mother *''

Shoot the Moon ''Shoot the Moon'' is a 1982 American drama film directed by Alan Parker, and written by Bo Goldman. It stars Albert Finney, Diane Keaton, Karen Allen, Peter Weller, and Dana Hill. Set in Marin County, California, the film follows George ...

'' (1982) - Isabel *''

Three's Company ''Three's Company'' is an American television sitcom that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. Developed by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross and Bernie West, it is based on the British sitcom '' Man About the ...

'' (1982) -Jack Tripper's Mother *''

Mama's Family ''Mama's Family'' is an American sitcom television series starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper, Mama (Thelma Harper). The series is a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches called "The Family (sketch), The Family" featured on ''T ...

'' (1983) - Bunny Van Courtland *'' The Day After'' (1983, TV Movie) - Helen Oakes *'' Hart to Hart'' Highland Fling (1983) - Jeannie *''

Too Close for Comfort ''Too Close for Comfort'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from November 11, 1980, to May 5, 1983, and in first-run syndication from April 7, 1984, to February 7, 1987. Its name was changed to ''The Ted Knight Show'' ...

'' (1985) - Monroe's Girlfriend *'' The Slugger's Wife'' (1985) - Marie DeVito *'' Murphy's Romance'' (1985) - Margaret *'' Quicksilver'' (1986) - Mrs. Casey *''

Blind Date A blind date is a romantic meeting between two people who have never met before. Both parties arrange a date with little to no information about each other, hoping for the possibility of making a lasting impression. Typically, a family member or ...

'' (1987) - Mrs. Gruen *'' Father Hood'' (1993) - Judge *'' Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman'' (1993-1998) - Elizabeth Ann Weston Quinn *'' Seven Girlfriends'' (1999) - Anabeth's Mother *'' Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within '' (2001) - Elizabeth Ann Weston Quinn *'' The Deep End'' (2001) - 50ish Woman (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Georgann 1926 births 2018 deaths Actresses from Iowa American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Luther College (Iowa) alumni Northwestern University alumni People from Decorah, Iowa Hollywood blacklist 20th-century American women 21st-century American women