Anne Francis (September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011) was a captivating American actress who made an enduring mark on both classic science fiction cinema and groundbreaking television. She secured her place in film history with her iconic role as Altaira Morbius in the landmark 1956 sci-fi epic, Forbidden Planet. A decade later, she became a television pioneer, starring as the stylish and savvy private eye in Honey West (1965–1966). For that trailblazing role—the first U.S. TV series to feature a female detective’s name in the title—Francis won a Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy nomination, cementing her status as a star who broke new ground for women on screen.
