Fannie Flagg, born Patricia Neal on September 21, 1944, is an American actress, comedian, and author. She gained fame as a semi-regular panelist on the game show Match Game (1973–1982) and is notably recognized for her celebrated novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (1987), which she adapted into the screenplay for the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes. The screenplay earned her an Academy Award nomination.

Flagg began her career in the fifth grade with her first play, The Whoopee Girls, showcasing her early talent in writing, directing, and acting. By nineteen, she was writing and producing television specials, later contributing to Candid Camera as both a writer and performer. Her distinguished work spans television, film, and theater.

She authored several New York Times bestsellers, including Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!, Standing in the Rainbow, and A Redbird Christmas. Her screenplay for Fried Green Tomatoes won the prestigious Scripter Award. In recognition of her literary contributions, she received the Harper Lee Prize.

Fannie Flagg resides in California and Alabama, continuing her legacy in storytelling.