Wilma Francis was born Wilma Francis Sareussen on November 26, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She signed to Paramount Pictures as a starlet at eighteen in 1936 and appeared in several films, generally in minor roles with occasional second leads. In the 1940's she worked for a while as a assistant to director 'Sam Wood' and made her last billed appearance in a motion picture in Wood's 1945 film "Guest Wife". Francis made several later appearances on television and a final unbilled part in 1970's "Airport". She returned to her native New Orleans in the 1960's and was active in local theater and in the 1970's opened a casting office there to supply local talent for roles in films and television work filmed in the area. She passed away in June 23, 1991 following lung surgery at age 73.