Born in Dawson, Texas, to Rufus Franklin and Nola (née Dell) Comer, her first major television credit was a guest appearance in a 1963 episode of Gunsmoke, followed by roles in several other dramatic series of the 1960s, such as Dr. Kildare and Bonanza. In 1964, she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress for her work on an episode on Arrest and Trial.