Frances Conroy is a renowned American actress, best known for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Ruth Fisher on the HBO drama series Six Feet Under.
Frances Hardman Conroy was born on November 13, 1953, in Monroe, Georgia, to Ossie Hardman and Vincent Paul Conroy. Raised in a supportive environment, she developed a passion for the arts from a young age. After attending high school on Long Island, New York, she enrolled at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
While at Dickinson, Conroy became actively involved with The Mermaid Players, the college’s student theater group. Her growing interest in acting led her to transfer to New York City, where she studied drama at both the Juilliard School and the Neighborhood Playhouse. At Juilliard, she studied under renowned theater figures such as Marian Seldes and John Houseman.
Conroy’s personal life also included deep family commitments. She cared for her mother, who suffered from dementia, until her passing in 1997.
Frances Conroy's professional career began in the late 1970s, with her film debut in Woody Allen’s 1979 movie Manhattan. She went on to establish herself in both film and television with a range of supporting roles.
Her breakthrough came in 2001 when she was cast as Ruth Fisher in the HBO drama Six Feet Under. The role earned her widespread acclaim and significantly elevated her profile. For her performance, she won a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards and received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Following the success of Six Feet Under, Conroy continued to take on diverse roles. In 2008, she guest-starred as Virginia Hildebrand in Desperate Housewives. She also portrayed Loretta Stinson, Barney Stinson’s mother, in How I Met Your Mother, and played Peggy Haplin in the mystery drama Happy Town. In 2013, she appeared in the medical comedy-drama Royal Pains as Blythe Ballard.
In 2019, Conroy took on the role of Penny Fleck, the troubled mother of Arthur Fleck (the Joker), in the psychological thriller Joker, directed by Todd Phillips. Her performance contributed to the film’s critical and commercial success, showcasing her continued relevance in contemporary cinema.
Frances Conroy has been married to actor Jan Munroe since 1992. The couple has remained together for over three decades. Though they do not have children, they are known to maintain a strong and supportive relationship.
Over the course of her decades-long career, Frances Conroy has built a reputation for nuanced and compelling performances across stage, film, and television. With a net worth estimated at approximately $4 million, she is recognized as a versatile actress whose work continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike.
| Birth Date: | 13 Nov, 1953 |
| Age: | 66 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Monroe |
| Education: | Juilliard School |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Spouse: | Jan Munroe [M. 1992] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
