Frances Hardman Conroy (born November 13, 1953) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Ruth Fisher on the television series
Six Feet Under. Her work on the show won her acclaim and several awards, including a
Golden Globe and three
Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is also known for playing the older version of the character
Moira O'Hara on
season one of the television anthology series
American Horror Story, which garnered Conroy her first
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television nomination, and as well an Emmy nomination for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Conroy subsequently portrayed
The Angel of Death,
Myrtle Snow, and
Gloria Mott on the next three seasons of the show,
Asylum,
Coven, and
Freak Show, respectively. For her performance in
Coven, she was nominated again for a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.