Louise Beavers
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 8, 1902
- Died
- October 26, 1962 (aged 60)
- Birthplace
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Louise Beavers (March 8, 1902 – October 26, 1962) was an American film and television actress. Beavers appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows from the 1920s until 1960, most often cast in the role of a maid, servant, or slave. She was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, one of the four African-American sororities. Beavers was a breakthrough actress for black women and became known as a symbol of a "mammy" on the screen. A mammy archetype "is the portrayal within a narrative framework or other imagery of a black domestic servant, generally good-natured, often overweight, and loud". Louise Beavers started her career in the 1920s. At the time, black people in films were limited to acting in only very few roles, usually as slaves or domestic help. She played the "mammy" in many of the movies she acted in. She started to gain more attention in the acting world after she played the role of Julia in Coquette, which starred Mary Pickford. In this film she played the black maid and mother figure to a young white woman. She once received a review which stated: "Personally, Miss Beavers is just splendid, just as fine as she appears on screen, but she also has a charm all her own, which needs no screen role for recognition. She has a very pleasing personality, one that draws people to her instantly and makes them feel that they are meeting a friend instead of a Hollywood Star." Beavers had an attractive personality, and often played roles in which she helps a white protagonist mature in the course of the movie. In 1934, Beavers played Delilah in Imitation of Life in a dramatic role. Her character again plays a black maid, but instead of the usual stereotypical comedic or purely functional role, Delilah's story line is a secondary parallel plot. The public reacted positively to Beavers' performance. It was not only a breakthrough for Beavers, but was also "the first time in American cinema history that a black woman's problems were given major emotional weight in a major Hollywood motion picture". Some in the media recognized the unfairness of Hollywood's double standard regarding race. For example, California Graphic Magazine wrote, "the Academy could not recognize Miss Beavers. She is black!" As Beavers' career grew, some criticized her for the roles she accepted, alleging that such roles institutionalized the view that blacks were subservient to whites. Beavers dismissed the criticism. She acknowledged the limited opportunities available, but said: "I am only playing the parts. I don't live them." As she became more famous, Beavers began to speak against Hollywood's portrayal and treatment of black Americans, both during production and after promoting the films. Beavers became active in public life, seeking to help support African Americans. In later life, Beavers was plagued by health issues, including diabetes. She died on October 26, 1962, at the age of 60, following a heart attack. Beavers was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1976.
Known For
Filmography
Make Room for Granddaddy
TV
The Facts of Life
Movie · as Gussie
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Movie · as Rose
Bourbon Street Beat
TV · as Mrs. Teale · 1 ep
The Swamp Fox
TV · 8 eps
The Goddess
Movie · as The Cook
Tammy and the Bachelor
Movie · as Osia
The Hostess with the Mostes'
Movie · as Mattie Mae
Teenage Rebel
Movie · as Willamay
Good-bye, My Lady
Movie · as Bonnie Drew
You Can't Run Away from It
Movie · as Maid
Never Wave at a WAC
Movie · as Artamesa
The Danny Thomas Show
TV · as Louise · 5 eps
Colorado Sundown
Movie · as Mattie, Jackie's Maid
I Dream of Jeanie
Movie · as Mammy
The Jackie Robinson Story
Movie · as Jackie's Mother
My Blue Heaven
Movie · as Selma
The Beulah Show
TV · as Beulah · 39 eps
Tell It to the Judge
Movie · as Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Movie · as Gussie
A Southern Yankee
Movie · as Laundry Woman
For the Love of Mary
Movie · as Bertha
Good Sam
Movie · as Chloe
Banjo
Movie · as Aunt Lindy
Young Widow
Movie · as Rosie
Lover Come Back
Movie · as Martha, Martha, Kay's Maid
Delightfully Dangerous
Movie · as Hannah
Dixie Jamboree
Movie · as Opal, Sam the Deckhand
Barbary Coast Gent
Movie · as Bedelia
South of Dixie
Movie · as Magnolia Brown / Chloe
Follow the Boys
Movie · as Louise Beavers (uncredited)
Du Barry Was a Lady
Movie · as Niagara
Good Morning, Judge
Movie · as Cleo
All by Myself
Movie · as Willie
There's Something About a Soldier
Movie · as Birdie
Top Man
Movie · as Cleo
Holiday Inn
Movie · as Mamie
Reap the Wild Wind
Movie · as Maum Maria
The Big Street
Movie · as Ruby (uncredited)
The Vanishing Virginian
Movie · as Aunt Emmeline
Young America
Movie · as Pansy
Seven Sweethearts
Movie · as Petunia, the Maid
Shadow of the Thin Man
Movie · as Stella
Belle Starr
Movie · as Mammy Lou
Sign of the Wolf
Movie · as Beulah
Kisses for Breakfast
Movie · as Clotilda
Virginia
Movie · as Ophelia
No Time for Comedy
Movie · as Clementine
I Want a Divorce
Movie · as Celestine
Women Without Names
Movie · as Ivory
Parole Fixer
Movie · as Aunt Lindy
Primrose Path
Movie · as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Made for Each Other
Movie · as Lily (uncredited)
The Lady's from Kentucky
Movie · as Aunt Tina
Reform School
Movie · as Mother Barton
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Movie · as Cassey
Brother Rat
Movie · as Jenny
Life Goes On
Movie · as Sally Weston
Scandal Street
Movie · as Clairce
The Headleys at Home
Movie · as Hyacinth
The Last Gangster
Movie · as Gloria
Love in a Bungalow
Movie · as Millie
Make Way for Tomorrow
Movie · as Mamie
Wings Over Honolulu
Movie · as Mammy
Bullets or Ballots
Movie · as Nellie LaFleur
Rainbow on the River
Movie · as Toinette
General Spanky
Movie · as Cornelia
Wives Never Know
Movie · as Florabelle
Annapolis Farewell
Movie · as Miranda
Imitation of Life
Movie · as Delilah Johnson
Bedside
Movie · as Pansy
The Woman Condemned
Movie · as Sally
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Movie · as Maid
Cheaters
Movie · as Lily
Beggar's Holiday
Movie · as Heliotrope
I've Got Your Number
Movie · as Crystal
Palooka
Movie · as Crystal
Glamour
Movie · as Millie
The Merry Frinks
Movie · as Camille
Registered Nurse
Movie · as Flo - Sadie's Maid
Merry Wives of Reno
Movie · as Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
A Modern Hero
Movie · as Azais's Maid
Gambling Lady
Movie · as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Dr. Monica
Movie · as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
West of the Pecos
Movie · as Mauree
I Give My Love
Movie · as Maid
I Believed in You
Movie · as Prisoner
42nd Street
Movie · as Pansy (uncredited)
A Shriek in the Night
Movie · as Maid
The Story of Temple Drake
Movie · as Minnie
She Done Him Wrong
Movie · as Pearl
Bombshell
Movie · as Loretta
The Midnight Patrol
Movie · as Maid (scenes deleted)
Midnight Mary
Movie · as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Girl Missing
Movie · as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
In the Money
Movie · as Lily
Her Splendid Folly
Movie · as Anastasia
Notorious But Nice
Movie · as Ophelia
Central Airport
Movie · as Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Hold Your Man
Movie · as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Pick-up
Movie · as Magnolia (uncredited)
Hunting Trouble
Movie · as Lucy
What Price Innocence?
Movie · as Hannah
Her Bodyguard
Movie · as Margot's Maid
Only Yesterday
Movie · as Abby (Uncredited)
The Phantom Broadcast
Movie · as Minnie
The Big Cage
Movie · as Mandy
Night World
Movie · as Maid (uncredited)
What Price Hollywood?
Movie · as Mary's Maid Bonita
The Dark Horse
Movie · as Kay's Maid Levinnia
Wild Girl
Movie · as Mammy Lou (uncredited)
The Expert
Movie · as Lulu
It's Tough to Be Famous
Movie · as Ada, Janet's Maid
Unashamed
Movie · as Amanda
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Movie · as Beautician (uncredited)
Too Busy to Work
Movie · as Mammy
Divorce In The Family
Movie · as Rosetta
Street of Women
Movie · as Mattie, Natalie's maid
Hell's Highway
Movie · as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Movie · as Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
You're Telling Me
Movie · as The Maid (uncredited)
Doctor X
Movie · as Louise (Uncredited)
Young America
Movie · as Maid (Uncredited)
Girls About Town
Movie · as Hattie
Millie
Movie · as Maid (uncredited)
Reckless Living
Movie · as Maid
Good Sport
Movie · as September
Ladies of the Big House
Movie · as Ivory
Six Cylinder Love
Movie
Don't Bet on Women
Movie · as Maid (uncredited)
Sundown Trail
Movie · as Auntie Jenny
Party Husband
Movie · as Laura's Maid
She Couldn't Say No
Movie · as Cora
Wide Open
Movie · as Easter
Knights Before Christmas
Movie
Back Pay
Movie · as Nellie - Hester's Maid
Safety in Numbers
Movie · as Messalina
Bright Lights
Movie · as Angela
True to the Navy
Movie · as Maid (uncredited)
Our Blushing Brides
Movie · as Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Honey
Movie · as Black Revivalist
Paid
Movie · as Convict (uncredited)
Manslaughter
Movie · as Rose
Outside the Law
Movie · as Judy the Maid
Second Choice
Movie · as Maid (uncredited)
Recaptured Love
Movie · as Maid
Coquette
Movie · as Julia
Election Day
Movie · as Farina's mother
Thunderbolt
Movie · as Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Glad Rag Doll
Movie · as Hannah
Barnum Was Right
Movie · as Maid
Wall Street
Movie · as Magnolia
Nix on Dames
Movie · as Magnolia