Bonnie Franklin Dies: 'One Day At a Time' Star Dead at 69, TV's Ann Romano Dies Due to Complications from Pancreatic Cancer

"One Day At a Time" star Bonnie Franklin died Friday due to complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 69-years-old. Franklin played Ann Romano on the historic television show, bringing TV viewers a new type of character. A divorced mother.

Franklin's character on "One Day At a Time" raised two teenage daughters while struggling to balance her career and personal life. The character represented a social change in the nation. One that has become far more common now.

From 1975 to 1984, Franklin played Romano on the CBS TV show. She had to act through several controversial plot lines that were ahead of their time. "One Day At a Time" covered topics such as premarital sex, sexual harassment, and an assortment of other hot button issues. Franklin also managed to provide comic relief to so many viewers as the same time.

Despite being widely known for playing Romano on "One Day At a Time," Franklin also earned a Tony nomination for "Applause." Before starring in "One Day At a Time" with Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertenelli, Franklin appeared in television shows such as "The Munsters"and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." Franklin had a guest spot in "Hot in Cleveland" in 2011.

For younger readers, Franklin may not be a household name, but her impact on TV was great. She played one television's most influential roles. She made the character of Ann Romano one that was loved across the nation. She was able to bring comedy to people's homes while bringing up topics that were not easy to discuss at the time. Franklin's contributions go far beyone television, but for many who didn't get a chance to meet the actress, will always have her brilliant performances as Ann Romano on "One Day At a Time."

In September of 2012, Franklin announced she had pancreatic cancer. Franklin was married to playwright Ronald Sossi for three years and film producer Marvin Minoff from 1980, until he died in 2009. Franklin had no children.