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