Elizabeth Baur, a stunning blue-eyed beauty from Los Angeles, embarked on a successful television career in the 1970s, despite her family's initial reservations. Her ancestors, with roots stretching back five generations, were once one of the wealthiest families in California, owning vast real estate holdings in Encino and Beverly Hills. However, they failed to anticipate the area's subsequent boom, leading to a decline in their fortunes.
Elizabeth's great-grandmother, a pioneer settler in the San Fernando Valley, hailed from the Basque region of France. Her father, Jack Baur, was a veteran casting director at 20th Century Fox, who strongly disapproved of his daughter's ambitions to become an actress. Despite his disapproval, Elizabeth remained determined to pursue her dreams, studying acting at the Estelle Harman Actor's Workshop and later earning a degree in theatre arts from Los Angeles Valley College.
Elizabeth's early career was marked by bit roles in Batman (1966) and The Boston Strangler (1968),before she landed a recurring role as a rancher's ward in Lancer (1968) on CBS. Although the series only ran for 51 episodes, it allowed her to take on guest spots on other TV shows and engage in her favorite hobbies, including golf and painting.
The highlight of Elizabeth's career came in 1971 when she won the role of Officer Fran Belding in TV's Ironside (1967),replacing Barbara Anderson after season four. She went on to play the likable and down-to-earth character in 89 episodes, describing the role as her most challenging to date. After several years of relative inactivity, Elizabeth made her screen swansong in the made-for-TV movie The Return of Ironside (1993).
