Elizabeth Baur was a talented and versatile actress who starred in several TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Teresa O’Brien on the CBS western series Lancer, and as Officer Fran Belding on NBC’s crime drama series Ironside. She died on September 30, 2017, at the age of 69, after a long battle with an undisclosed illness. Here are some facts about her life and career, as well as the details of her death.
Early Life and Family
Elizabeth Baur was born on December 1, 1947, in Los Angeles, California. Her great-grandmother, Juanita Gless, was an early settler of California who came from the Basque region of France. Actress Sharon Gless, who starred in Cagney & Lacey, is Baur’s first cousin. Her father, Jack Baur, was a veteran casting director at 20th Century Fox, and did not want his daughter to enter the entertainment industry. She attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, and later Los Angeles Valley College for a year and three-quarters.
Career Highlights
Baur left college to join a 20th Century Fox program for training actors. She made her film debut in The Boston Strangler (1968), starring Tony Curtis. She then moved to Universal, where she continued her TV work until she retired from acting in 1993.
She landed her first major role as Teresa O’Brien, the ward of a rancher, on the CBS western series Lancer, which ran from 1968 to 1970. She appeared in 51 episodes of the show, which also starred James Stacy and Wayne Maunder.
She then joined the cast of NBC’s Ironside, which starred Raymond Burr as a San Francisco police consultant who solves crimes from his wheelchair. She replaced Barbara Anderson, who played Eve Whitfield, after the fourth season. She portrayed Officer Fran Belding, a young and dedicated policewoman who assisted Ironside and his team. She appeared in 89 episodes of the show from 1971 to 1975, and reprised her role in the 1993 TV reunion movie The Return of Ironside.
She also guest-starred on several other TV shows, such as Batman, Daniel Boone, Room 222, Emergency!, Police Woman, Fantasy Island and Remington Steele.
Personal Life and Death
Baur was married twice in her life. Her first marriage was to Eugene Worton in 1976, and they had one daughter together, producer Lesley Worton. They divorced in 1985. Her second marriage was to Steven Springer in 1989.
Baur died on September 30, 2017, in Los Angeles, following a lengthy illness. The cause of her death was not disclosed to the public. She was survived by her husband, daughter and cousin.
Baur was remembered by her fans and co-stars as a talented and charming actress who brought warmth and grace to her roles. She was also praised for her professionalism and kindness on set. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances that will continue to entertain generations of viewers.
