She was a Marjorie Main look-alike and her roles were quite similar in
style. Big, stocky with a mane of red hair usually in a bun, and strong
features, she had a gravelly voice like Main's also. She was irritated when
people confused her with Ms. Main. She was born on November 29, 1926 in
Los Angeles, California and had been acting since the age of 6 at Oakland's
Henry Duffy Theatre. She attended Stanford University for three years and
during World War II was a member of the USO entertaining troups. She had
done comedy, singing and acting on stage, some in Chicago, prior to her
television career. She was primarily a television actress but had done some
films. Ms. Ryan also specialized in voice-overs in commercials and animated
films. Among her films were: "Scandalous John" (1971) as a Farm
Woman, her movie debut; "The Apple Dumpling Gang" (1975) as Mrs.
Stockley; "Big Wednesday" (1978) as Lucy; "Straight Time"
(1978) as Cafe Owner; "Rocky II" (1979) as Adrian's Nurse; "The
Long Riders" (1980) as Mrs. Samuel; "Stripes" (1981) with
Bill Murray, as Dowager in Cab; "Tough Enough" (1983) as Gert
Long; "Pale Rider" (1985) as Ma Blankenship; "Chances Are"
(1989) as Mavis Talmadge and "Suture" (1993) as Mrs. Lucerne.
On TV she had a reputation as a replacement actress as she'd replaced many
series regulars in her day. Her TV credits were: "The Doris Day Show"
(1968) as Aggie Thompson; "Green Acres" (1969-71) as Doris Ziffel
(replacing Barbara Pepper); "Gunsmoke" (1974-75) as Miss Hannah,
saloon owner of the Long Branch (replacing Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell);
"Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1975) as the voice of Gertrude
Gouch; "General Hospital" (1979) a soap as Sister Agatha; "No
Soap, Radio" (1982) as Mrs. Belmont; "Hollywood Wives" (1985)
a mini-series as Nina Carrolle; "The Wizard" (1986) as Tillie
Russell and "Little Dracula" (1991) as the voice of Hannah the
Barbarian. She has also guest starred on such series as: "Batman";
"The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Brady Bunch"; "Bonanza";
"I Dream of Jeannie"; "Taxi"; "Matlock"; "Night
Court" and "The Commish." Her TV movies include: "Johnny
Belinda" (1982); "Thanksgiving Day" (1990) and "River
of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene" (1993). She died on January 16,
2000 at her home in Burbank, California at age 73.son"; "Banacek";
"Little House on the Prairie" and Knight Rider."
