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Louise Beavers
Born · March 8, 1902
Died · October 26, 1962 (60 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Bio
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.
Make Room for Granddaddy
(0 episode)
5.0
1970
The Facts of Life
Gussie
5.2
1960
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Rose
5.3
1960
The Swamp Fox
(8 episodes)
6.7
1959
Bourbon Street Beat
Mrs. Teale · (1 episode)
5.0
1959
The Goddess
The Cook
5.9
1958
Tammy and the Bachelor
Osia
7.0
1957
Teenage Rebel
Willamay
6.5
1956
You Can't Run Away from It
Maid
4.7
1956
Good-bye, My Lady
Bonnie Drew
7.7
1956
The Danny Thomas Show
Louise · (5 episodes)
6.0
1953
Never Wave at a WAC
Artamesa
4.9
1953
I Dream of Jeanie
Mammy
3.6
1952
Colorado Sundown
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
3.3
1952
The Beulah Show
Beulah · (39 episodes)
7.0
1950
My Blue Heaven
Selma
7.0
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
Jackie's Mother
6.4
1950
Tell It to the Judge
Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
6.3
1949
For the Love of Mary
Bertha
5.8
1948
Good Sam
Chloe
6.0
1948
A Southern Yankee
Laundry Woman
5.2
1948
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Gussie
7.0
1948
Banjo
Lindy
7.5
1947
Lover Come Back
Martha
6.2
1946
Lover Come Back
Martha, Kay's Maid
6.2
1946
Young Widow
Rosie
4.8
1946
Delightfully Dangerous
Hannah
5.3
1945
Barbary Coast Gent
Bedelia
4.6
1944
Dixie Jamboree
Opal
4.5
1944
Dixie Jamboree
Sam the Deckhand
4.5
1944
South of Dixie
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
0.0
1944
There's Something About a Soldier
Birdie
4.8
1943
Top Man
Cleo
0.0
1943
Du Barry was a Lady
Niagara
6.1
1943
All by Myself
Willie
0.0
1943
Good Morning, Judge
Cleo
0.0
1943
Seven Sweethearts
Petunia, the Maid
6.0
1942
The Big Street
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
5.8
1942
Reap the Wild Wind
Maum Maria
6.4
1942
Young America
Pansy
0.0
1942
The Vanishing Virginian
Aunt Emmeline
6.0
1942
Holiday Inn
Mamie
7.0
1942
Shadow of the Thin Man
Stella
7.0
1941
Belle Starr
Mammy Lou
5.6
1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Clotilda
5.5
1941
Sign of the Wolf
Beulah
6.0
1941
Virginia
Ophelia
0.0
1941
I Want a Divorce
Celestine
0.0
1940
No Time for Comedy
Clementine
5.4
1940
Primrose Path
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
6.5
1940
Women Without Names
Ivory
4.8
1940
Parole Fixer
Aunt Lindy
0.0
1940
The Lady's from Kentucky
Aunt Tina
0.0
1939
Reform School
Mother Barton
0.0
1939
Made for Each Other
Lily (uncredited)
6.2
1939
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Cassey
4.3
1938
The Headleys at Home
Hyacinth
0.0
1938
Brother Rat
Jenny
5.0
1938
Life Goes On
Sally Weston
0.0
1938
Scandal Street
Clairce
0.0
1938
The Last Gangster
Gloria
6.3
1937
Love in a Bungalow
Millie
0.0
1937
Wings Over Honolulu
Mammy
5.3
1937
Make Way for Tomorrow
Mamie
7.5
1937
Rainbow on the River
Toinette
9.0
1936
General Spanky
Cornelia
5.3
1936
Wives Never Know
Florabelle
0.0
1936
Bullets or Ballots
Nellie LaFleur
6.6
1936
Annapolis Farewell
Miranda
0.0
1935
West of the Pecos
Mauree
0.0
1934
Imitation of Life
Delilah Johnson
7.0
1934
Beggar's Holiday
Heliotrope
0.0
1934
I Give My Love
Maid
6.0
1934
Dr. Monica
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
4.8
1934
The Merry Frinks
Camille
3.7
1934
Cheaters
Lily
0.0
1934
A Modern Hero
Azais's Maid
7.0
1934
Merry Wives of Reno
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
4.8
1934
Glamour
Millie
3.5
1934
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Maid
0.0
1934
Registered Nurse
Flo - Sadie's Maid
4.6
1934
The Woman Condemned
Sally
4.5
1934
Gambling Lady
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
6.3
1934
I've Got Your Number
Crystal
6.0
1934
Bedside
Pansy
5.6
1934
Palooka
Crystal
3.2
1934
In the Money
Lily
3.5
1933
Only Yesterday
Abby (Uncredited)
6.8
1933
Bombshell
Loretta
6.5
1933
Her Splendid Folly
Anastasia
0.0
1933
Notorious But Nice
Ophelia
5.5
1933
The Midnight Patrol
Maid (scenes deleted)
6.5
1933
A Shriek in the Night
Maid
5.1
1933
Her Bodyguard
Margot's Maid
0.0
1933
Midnight Mary
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
6.9
1933
Hold Your Man
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
6.1
1933
What Price Innocence?
Hannah
3.0
1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Minnie
6.5
1933
The Big Cage
Mandy
6.0
1933
Central Airport
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
6.1
1933
Pick-up
Magnolia (uncredited)
4.8
1933
The Phantom Broadcast
Minnie
4.8
1933
42nd Street
Pansy (uncredited)
6.9
1933
Girl Missing
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
5.1
1933
She Done Him Wrong
Pearl
5.8
1933
Hunting Trouble
Lucy
0.0
1933
Too Busy to Work
Mammy
4.0
1932
Wild Girl
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
6.0
1932
Hell's Highway
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
6.1
1932
Divorce In The Family
Rosetta
6.0
1932
Doctor X
Louise (Uncredited)
6.0
1932
Unashamed
Amanda
6.3
1932
What Price Hollywood?
Mary's Maid Bonita
6.7
1932
The Dark Horse
Kay's Maid Levinnia
7.2
1932
Street of Women
Mattie, Natalie's maid
4.8
1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
5.9
1932
Night World
Maid (uncredited)
6.7
1932
Young America
Maid (Uncredited)
5.0
1932
You're Telling Me
The Maid (uncredited)
5.0
1932
It's Tough to Be Famous
Ada, Janet's Maid
5.7
1932
The Expert
Lulu
6.3
1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Beautician (uncredited)
4.8
1932
Ladies of the Big House
Ivory
6.0
1931
Good Sport
September
4.5
1931
Girls About Town
Hattie
6.4
1931
Reckless Living
Maid
3.0
1931
Sundown Trail
Auntie Jenny
7.0
1931
Party Husband
Laura's Maid
5.0
1931
Six Cylinder Love
0.0
1931
Don't Bet on Women
Maid (uncredited)
4.2
1931
Millie
Maid (uncredited)
5.6
1931
Paid
Convict (uncredited)
6.8
1930
Knights Before Christmas
0.0
1930
Bright Lights
Angela
4.0
1930
Outside the Law
Judy the Maid
4.7
1930
Manslaughter
Rose
5.5
1930
Our Blushing Brides
Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
5.9
1930
Recaptured Love
Maid
5.0
1930
Back Pay
Nellie - Hester's Maid
4.0
1930
Safety in Numbers
Messalina
5.0
1930
True to the Navy
Maid (uncredited)
7.0
1930
Honey
Black Revivalist
5.0
1930
She Couldn't Say No
Cora
0.0
1930
Wide Open
Easter
5.3
1930
Second Choice
Maid (uncredited)
0.0
1930
Wall Street
Magnolia
6.0
1929
Barnum Was Right
Maid
5.0
1929
Thunderbolt
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
5.8
1929
Glad Rag Doll
Hannah
0.0
1929
Coquette
Julia
5.6
1929
Election Day
Farina's mother
7.0
1929