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.

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.

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.

Death

Prentiss died in prison on January 12, 2010.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Any WednesdayMiss Linsley
1968Assignment to KillHotel Party Girl in Red Dress (uncredited)
If He Hollers, Let Him Go!Thelma WilsonCrime drama film
1970The Out-of-TownersAirline StewardessComedy film
1974California SplitBarbara Miller
1988My Stepmother Is an AlienThe Voice of Bag (voice)Science fiction comedy

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962I'm Dickens, He's FensterDr. Else McClinton (as Ann Gardner)Episode: "Part-Time Friend"
1966BewitchedBetty (uncredited)Episode: "A Bum Raps"
1967Captain NiceSgt. Candy Kane15 episodes
MannixGwen RogersEpisode: "Beyond the Shadow of a Dream"
1968Get SmartNancyEpisode: "The Little Black Book: Part 1" Episode: "The Little Black Book: Part 2"
1969Hogan's HeroesIlseEpisode: "The Missing Klink"
1963-1969The VirginianAlice (as Ann Gardner) Geraldine Del FinniaEpisode: "Man of Violence" Episode: "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs"
1969It Takes a ThiefDesk ClerkEpisode: "Catspaw"
Hawaii Five-OLannie Devereaux (as Anne Prentiss)Episode: "Not That Much Different"
The Courtship of Eddie's FatherKerry AllenEpisode: "Teacher's Pet"
In Name OnlyJill WillisABC Movie of the Week
1970The Name of the GameLeonaEpisode: "Jerry Wilde Is Drowning"
The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsElaine StoneEpisode: "This Will Really Kill You"
McCloudOfficer MurdockEpisode: "Walk in the Dark"
1969-1971BonanzaWilhelmina Calhoun Wilhelmina Calhoun Meena CalhounEpisode: "Meena" Episode: "The Horse Traders" Episode: "Easy Come, Easy Go"
1972SearchAnn Mulligan (as Ann Prentis)Episode: "Moonrock"
1970-1972Love, American StyleJudy 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"
1973The LieElaine Frederickstelevision film
1973-1974Emergency!Fran Lillington Cindy's MotherEpisode: "Boot" Episode: "Messin' Around"
1975BarettaAnnieEpisode: "The Half-Million Dollar Baby"
1976SwitchCoraEpisode: "Ain't Nobody Here Named Barney"
Phillip and BarbaraShirleytelevision film
1978QuarkGene / Jean (voice, uncredited)7 episodes
1978-1979Starsky and HutchMrs. CarstonEpisode: "The Trap" Episode: "Ninety Pounds of Trouble"
1984MasqueradeMavis KellyEpisode: "Winnings"

External links