Louise Beavers
Born
March 8, 1902
Died
October 26, 1962 (60 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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
Make Room for Granddaddy
(0 episode)
1970
The Facts of Life
Gussie
1960
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Rose
1960
The Swamp Fox
(8 episodes)
1959
Bourbon Street Beat
Mrs. Teale · (1 episode)
1959
The Goddess
The Cook
1958
Tammy and the Bachelor
Osia
1957
Teenage Rebel
Willamay
1956
You Can't Run Away from It
Maid
1956
Good-bye, My Lady
Bonnie Drew
1956
The Danny Thomas Show
Louise · (5 episodes)
1953
Never Wave at a WAC
Artamesa
1953
I Dream of Jeanie
Mammy
1952
Colorado Sundown
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
1952
The Beulah Show
Beulah · (39 episodes)
1950
My Blue Heaven
Selma
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
Jackie's Mother
1950
Tell It to the Judge
Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
1949
For the Love of Mary
Bertha
1948
Good Sam
Chloe
1948
A Southern Yankee
Laundry Woman
1948
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Gussie
1948
Banjo
Lindy
1947
Lover Come Back
Martha
1946
Lover Come Back
Martha, Kay's Maid
1946
Young Widow
Rosie
1946
Delightfully Dangerous
Hannah
1945
Barbary Coast Gent
Bedelia
1944
Dixie Jamboree
Opal
1944
Dixie Jamboree
Sam the Deckhand
1944
South of Dixie
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
1944
There's Something About a Soldier
Birdie
1943
Top Man
Cleo
1943
Du Barry Was a Lady
Niagara
1943
All by Myself
Willie
1943
Good Morning, Judge
Cleo
1943
Seven Sweethearts
Petunia, the Maid
1942
The Big Street
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
1942
Reap the Wild Wind
Maum Maria
1942
Young America
Pansy
1942
The Vanishing Virginian
Aunt Emmeline
1942
Holiday Inn
Mamie
1942
Shadow of the Thin Man
Stella
1941
Belle Starr
Mammy Lou
1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Clotilda
1941
Sign of the Wolf
Beulah
1941
Virginia
Ophelia
1941
I Want a Divorce
Celestine
1940
No Time for Comedy
Clementine
1940
Primrose Path
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
1940
Women Without Names
Ivory
1940
Parole Fixer
Aunt Lindy
1940
The Lady's from Kentucky
Aunt Tina
1939
Reform School
Mother Barton
1939
Made for Each Other
Lily (uncredited)
1939
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Cassey
1938
The Headleys at Home
Hyacinth
1938
Brother Rat
Jenny
1938
Life Goes On
Sally Weston
1938
Scandal Street
Clairce
1938
The Last Gangster
Gloria
1937
Love in a Bungalow
Millie
1937
Wings Over Honolulu
Mammy
1937
Make Way for Tomorrow
Mamie
1937
Rainbow on the River
Toinette
1936
General Spanky
Cornelia
1936
Wives Never Know
Florabelle
1936
Bullets or Ballots
Nellie LaFleur
1936
Annapolis Farewell
Miranda
1935
West of the Pecos
Mauree
1934
Imitation of Life
Delilah Johnson
1934
Beggar's Holiday
Heliotrope
1934
I Give My Love
Maid
1934
Dr. Monica
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
1934
The Merry Frinks
Camille
1934
Cheaters
Lily
1934
A Modern Hero
Azais's Maid
1934
Merry Wives of Reno
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
1934
Glamour
Millie
1934
I Believed in You
Prisoner
1934
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Maid
1934
Registered Nurse
Flo - Sadie's Maid
1934
The Woman Condemned
Sally
1934
Gambling Lady
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
1934
I've Got Your Number
Crystal
1934
Bedside
Pansy
1934
Palooka
Crystal
1934
In the Money
Lily
1933
Only Yesterday
Abby (Uncredited)
1933
Bombshell
Loretta
1933
Her Splendid Folly
Anastasia
1933
Notorious But Nice
Ophelia
1933
The Midnight Patrol
Maid (scenes deleted)
1933
A Shriek in the Night
Maid
1933
Her Bodyguard
Margot's Maid
1933
Midnight Mary
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
1933
Hold Your Man
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
1933
What Price Innocence?
Hannah
1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Minnie
1933
The Big Cage
Mandy
1933
Central Airport
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
1933
Pick-up
Magnolia (uncredited)
1933
The Phantom Broadcast
Minnie
1933
42nd Street
Pansy (uncredited)
1933
Girl Missing
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
1933
She Done Him Wrong
Pearl
1933
Hunting Trouble
Lucy
1933
Too Busy to Work
Mammy
1932
Wild Girl
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
1932
Hell's Highway
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
1932
Divorce In The Family
Rosetta
1932
Doctor X
Louise (Uncredited)
1932
Unashamed
Amanda
1932
What Price Hollywood?
Mary's Maid Bonita
1932
The Dark Horse
Kay's Maid Levinnia
1932
Street of Women
Mattie, Natalie's maid
1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
1932
Night World
Maid (uncredited)
1932
Young America
Maid (Uncredited)
1932
You're Telling Me
The Maid (uncredited)
1932
It's Tough to Be Famous
Ada, Janet's Maid
1932
The Expert
Lulu
1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Beautician (uncredited)
1932
Ladies of the Big House
Ivory
1931
Good Sport
September
1931
Girls About Town
Hattie
1931
Reckless Living
Maid
1931
Sundown Trail
Auntie Jenny
1931
Party Husband
Laura's Maid
1931
Six Cylinder Love
1931
Don't Bet on Women
Maid (uncredited)
1931
Millie
Maid (uncredited)
1931
Paid
Convict (uncredited)
1930
Knights Before Christmas
1930
Bright Lights
Angela
1930
Outside the Law
Judy the Maid
1930
Manslaughter
Rose
1930
Our Blushing Brides
Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
1930
Recaptured Love
Maid
1930
Back Pay
Nellie - Hester's Maid
1930
Safety in Numbers
Messalina
1930
True to the Navy
Maid (uncredited)
1930
Honey
Black Revivalist
1930
She Couldn't Say No
Cora
1930
Wide Open
Easter
1930
Second Choice
Maid (uncredited)
1930
Wall Street
Magnolia
1929
Barnum Was Right
Maid
1929
Thunderbolt
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
1929
Glad Rag Doll
Hannah
1929
Coquette
Julia
1929
Election Day
Farina's mother
1929