Frances Mercer

Frances Mercer (October 21, 1915 – November 5, 2000) was an American actress whose career spanned stage, film, radio, and television. Born in New Rochelle, New York, she was the daughter of sportswriter Sid Mercer.

Mercer began her professional life as a model during her teenage years, eventually becoming one of New York's most prominent figures in that field before transitioning to acting in the late 1930s. Her film debut came in 1938 with Vivacious Lady, and she went on to appear in a substantial number of pictures, including Blind Alibi, Crime Ring, Smashing the Rackets, The Mad Miss Manton, Annabel Takes a Tour, Beauty for the Asking, Society Lawyer, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, Piccadilly Incident, There's Always Tomorrow, and Young and Dangerous. Her profile during this period extended to print media as well, with her image appearing on the cover of Redbook magazine's October 1940 issue.

Her Broadway career ran from 1939 to 1943. She made her stage debut in the musical Very Warm for May in 1939, and later appeared in the musical Something for the Boys. Beyond film and stage, Mercer maintained a presence in other entertainment media, hosting a radio program called Sunday Night at Nine in New York and appearing in the television series For Better or Worse and Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal.

In her personal life, Mercer was married to G. Robert Fleming, who ran as the Republican nominee for California's 16th congressional district in 1956, losing to Democratic incumbent Donald L. Jackson. As acting opportunities diminished in her later years, she pursued other occupations, including work as a medical assistant, a bank teller, and an antiques dealer. Mercer died on November 5, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 85.