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TV mother to many, Bonnie Franklin, dead at 69

By April Neale Mar 1, 2013, 20:05 GMT

She was the hard working mom, Ann Romano, to many of us who grew up with her on TV.

Actress Bonnie Franklin, who played Romano in the sitcom "One Day at a Time," died Friday from pancreatic cancer at her home. She was 69 years-old.

The Santa Monica, CA. native was surrounded by her family and friends.

A child star, Franklin appeared on television at age nine, in "The Colgate Comedy Hour," and made her Broadway debut in 1970 in "Applause."

The comedy "One Day at a Time," which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1984, made her a household name. Franklin received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on the series. Pat Harrington also starred in the series as the apartment building super "Schneider" who insinuated himself into Romano and her daughters' tumultuous lives.

Franklin played divorced mother of two who was raising two daughters, the rebel was Mackenzie Phillips and the good girl was Valerie Bertinelli.

Heavy subjects were covered, and in real life, as Ms. Phillips battled many demons rooted in substance abuse. She was let go from the seriesin 1980.

Of recent date, Franklin reunited with Bertinelli for a guest appearance on TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland," and last year she appeared on "The Young and the Restless" as Sister Celeste.

A private memorial will be held next week. In lieu of flowers, her family asks for donations to CCAP, a nonprofit organization started by Franklin and her sister Judy Bush to introduce and implement great American Plays into inner city schools' curriculum.