needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2010) Frances Farmer in the late 1930s Born Frances Elena Farmer September 19, 1913(1913-09-19) Seattle, Washington, U.S. Died August 1, 1970(1970-08-01) (aged 56) Fishers, Indiana, U.S. Spouse Leif Erickson (1936–1942) Alfred Lobley (1951–1958) Leland Mikesell (1958–1963) Frances Elena Farmer (September 19, 1913 – August 1, 1970) was an American actress of stage and screen. She is perhaps better known for sensationalized and fictional accounts of her life, and especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital. Farmer was the subject of three films, three books, and numerous songs and magazine articles..