Ann Prentiss

Ann Prentiss
Prentiss in 1970
Born
Ann Elizabeth Ragusa

(1939-11-27)November 27, 1939
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 2010(2010-01-12) (aged 70)
Chowchilla, California, U.S.
Other namesAnn Gardner
OccupationActress
Years active1966–1988
Known for
RelativesPaula Prentiss (sister)
Richard Benjamin (brother-in-law)

Ann Prentiss (November 27, 1939 – January 12, 2010) was an American actress.

Early life

Prentiss was born Ann Elizabeth Ragusa in San Antonio, Texas, to Paulene (née Gardner) and Thomas J. Ragusa. Her father was of Sicilian descent. Her elder sister, Paula Prentiss, is also an actress.[1]

Career

Prentiss had many supporting roles in films and television series in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including Get Smart's "The Little Black Book", Hogan's Heroes' "The Missing Klink" (1969), and on the Baretta episode "Half a Million Dollar Baby". She provided the voice of an alien species in the comedy film My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988), co-starring alongside Kim Basinger and Dan Aykroyd. Her other film roles included appearances in Any Wednesday (1966), If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968), The Out-of-Towners (1970), and California Split (1974), opposite George Segal and Elliott Gould.

In the 1967 NBC-TV series Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry, Prentiss played Police Sgt. Candy Kane, the girlfriend of the title character, a shy chemist/superhero portrayed by William Daniels.[2]

Personal life

Criminal conviction

Prentiss was convicted in a California court of a 1996 assault against her father, and a subsequent threat against members of her family. The district attorney claimed that Prentiss, while incarcerated on the assault charge, had attempted to hire another inmate to kill three people, including her father and actor-director Richard Benjamin, her brother-in-law. On July 23, 1997, the court sentenced her to 19 years in prison.[3][1]

Death

Prentiss died in prison on January 12, 2010.[4]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1966 Any Wednesday Miss Linsley
1968 Assignment to Kill Hotel Party Girl in Red Dress (uncredited)
If He Hollers, Let Him Go! Thelma Wilson Crime drama film
1970 The Out-of-Towners Airline Stewardess Comedy film
1974 California Split Barbara Miller
1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien The Voice of Bag (voice) Science fiction comedy

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1962 I'm Dickens, He's Fenster Dr. Else McClinton (as Ann Gardner) Episode: "Part-Time Friend"
1966 Bewitched Betty (uncredited) Episode: "A Bum Raps"
1967 Captain Nice Sgt. Candy Kane 15 episodes
Mannix Gwen Rogers Episode: "Beyond the Shadow of a Dream"
1968 Get Smart Nancy Episode: "The Little Black Book: Part 1"
Episode: "The Little Black Book: Part 2"
1969 Hogan's Heroes Ilse Episode: "The Missing Klink"
1963-1969 The Virginian Alice (as Ann Gardner)
Geraldine Del Finnia 		Episode: "Man of Violence"
Episode: "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs"
1969 It Takes a Thief Desk Clerk Episode: "Catspaw"
Hawaii Five-O Lannie Devereaux (as Anne Prentiss) Episode: "Not That Much Different"
The Courtship of Eddie's Father' Kerry Allen Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
In Name Only Jill Willis television film
1970 The Name of the Game Leona Episode: "Jerry Wilde Is Drowning"
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Elaine Stone Episode: "This Will Really Kill You"
McCloud Officer Murdock Episode: "Walk in the Dark"
1969-1971 Bonanza Wilhelmina Calhoun
Wilhelmina Calhoun
Meena Calhoun 		Episode: "Meena"
Episode: "The Horse Traders"
Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go"
1972 Search Ann Mulligan (as Ann Prentis) Episode: "Moonrock"
1970-1972 Love, American Style Judy Ricker (segment "Love and Las Vegas")
Yvonne (segment "Love and the Lady Barber")
Clara (segment "Love and the Hairy Excuse") 		Episode: "Love and Las Vegas / Love and the Good Samaritan / Love and the Marriage Counselor"
Episode: "Love and the College Professor / Love and the Eyewitness / Love and the Lady Barber / Love and the Plumber"
Episode: "Love and the Hairy Excuse / Love and Lady Luck / Love and the Pick-Up Fantasy"
1973 The Lie Elaine Fredericks television film
1973-1974 Emergency! Fran Lillington
Cindy's Mother 		Episode: "Boot"
Episode: "Messin' Around"
1975 Baretta Annie Episode: "The Half-Million Dollar Baby"
1976 Switch Cora Episode: "Ain't Nobody Here Named Barney"
Phillip and Barbara Shirley television film
1978 Quark Gene / Jean (voice, uncredited) 7 episodes
1978-1979 Starsky and Hutch Mrs. Carston Episode: "The Trap"
Episode: "Ninety Pounds of Trouble"
1984 Masquerade Mavis Kelly Episode: "Winnings"

References

  1. ^ a b La Jeunesse, Anne (July 25, 1997). "Paula Prentiss' sister ordered to prison". News-Pilot. San Pedro, California. p. 11. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Leszczak, Bob (November 2, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 30. ISBN 978-0786468126. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "Sister of actress terrorizes family". The Hartford Sentinel. Hartford, California. AP. July 25, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2011). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2010. McFarland. pp. 341–342. ISBN 9780786486496. Retrieved April 23, 2017.


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