1902-03-08 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.
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All the Fine Young Cannibals | Rose | 1960-09-15 |
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The Facts of Life | Gussie | 1960-11-14 |
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The Goddess | The Cook | 1958-06-24 |
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Tammy and the Bachelor | Osia | 1957-06-14 |
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The Hostess with the Mostes' | Mattie Mae | 1957-03-21 |
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Teenage Rebel | Willamay | 1956-11-01 |
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You Can't Run Away from It | Maid | 1956-10-30 |
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Good-bye, My Lady | Bonnie Drew | 1956-05-12 |
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Never Wave at a WAC | Artamesa | 1953-01-28 |
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I Dream of Jeanie | Mammy | 1952-06-15 |
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Colorado Sundown | Mattie, Jackie's Maid | 1952-02-08 |
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The Jackie Robinson Story | Jackie's Mother | 1950-05-16 |
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My Blue Heaven | Selma | 1950-09-15 |
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Tell It to the Judge | Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited) | 1949-11-18 |
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Good Sam | Chloe | 1948-09-01 |
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Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House | Gussie | 1948-03-25 |
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For the Love of Mary | Bertha | 1948-09-01 |
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A Southern Yankee | Laundry Woman | 1948-08-05 |
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Banjo | Lindy | 1947-05-15 |
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Lover Come Back | Martha | 1946-06-21 |
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Lover Come Back | Martha, Kay's Maid | 1946-06-21 |
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Young Widow | Rosie | 1946-03-01 |
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Delightfully Dangerous | Hannah | 1945-03-31 |
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Dixie Jamboree | Sam the Deckhand | 1944-08-15 |
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Dixie Jamboree | Opal | 1944-08-15 |
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South of Dixie | Magnolia Brown / Chloe | 1944-06-23 |
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Barbary Coast Gent | Bedelia | 1944-09-01 |
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Good Morning, Judge | Cleo | 1943-05-07 |
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Du Barry Was a Lady | Niagara | 1943-08-13 |
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All by Myself | Willie | 1943-06-11 |
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There's Something About a Soldier | Birdie | 1943-11-30 |
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Top Man | Cleo | 1943-09-17 |
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Reap the Wild Wind | Maum Maria | 1942-03-26 |
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Holiday Inn | Mamie | 1942-01-01 |
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The Vanishing Virginian | Aunt Emmeline | 1942-02-01 |
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The Big Street | Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited) | 1942-08-13 |
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Young America | Pansy | 1942-02-06 |
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Seven Sweethearts | Petunia, the Maid | 1942-11-13 |
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Belle Starr | Mammy Lou | 1941-09-12 |
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Shadow of the Thin Man | Stella | 1941-11-21 |
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Virginia | Ophelia | 1941-01-28 |
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Kisses for Breakfast | Clotilda | 1941-07-05 |
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Sign of the Wolf | Beulah | 1941-03-25 |
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Parole Fixer | Aunt Lindy | 1940-02-02 |
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I Want a Divorce | Celestine | 1940-09-20 |
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No Time for Comedy | Clementine | 1940-09-14 |
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Primrose Path | Woman Talking to Police (uncredited) | 1940-03-22 |
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Women Without Names | Ivory | 1940-03-14 |
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The Lady's from Kentucky | Aunt Tina | 1939-04-27 |
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Made for Each Other | Lily (uncredited) | 1939-02-10 |
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Reform School | Mother Barton | 1939-04-27 |
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Scandal Street | Clairce | 1938-02-11 |
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The Headleys at Home | Hyacinth | 1938-11-01 |
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Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus | Cassey | 1938-12-02 |
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Brother Rat | Jenny | 1938-10-29 |
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Life Goes On | Sally Weston | 1938-04-01 |
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Wings Over Honolulu | Mammy | 1937-05-16 |
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Love in a Bungalow | Millie | 1937-06-27 |
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Make Way for Tomorrow | Mamie | 1937-05-09 |
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The Last Gangster | Gloria | 1937-11-12 |
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Bullets or Ballots | Nellie LaFleur | 1936-06-06 |
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Rainbow on the River | Toinette | 1936-12-18 |
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Wives Never Know | Florabelle | 1936-09-18 |
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General Spanky | Cornelia | 1936-12-11 |
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Annapolis Farewell | Miranda | 1935-08-23 |
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Bedside | Pansy | 1934-01-27 |
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Merry Wives of Reno | Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited) | 1934-04-18 |
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Strictly Fresh Yeggs | Maid | 1934-04-06 |
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West of the Pecos | Mauree | 1934-12-27 |
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A Modern Hero | Azais's Maid | 1934-04-21 |
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I've Got Your Number | Crystal | 1934-02-24 |
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Imitation of Life | Delilah Johnson | 1934-11-23 |
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I Believed in You | Prisoner | 1934-04-09 |
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Dr. Monica | Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited) | 1934-06-23 |
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Gambling Lady | Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited) | 1934-03-08 |
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The Woman Condemned | Sally | 1934-04-03 |
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Palooka | Crystal | 1934-01-26 |
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Cheaters | Lily | 1934-05-11 |
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Registered Nurse | Flo - Sadie's Maid | 1934-04-06 |
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Beggar's Holiday | Heliotrope | 1934-08-17 |
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Glamour | Millie | 1934-04-09 |
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The Merry Frinks | Camille | 1934-05-26 |
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I Give My Love | Maid | 1934-07-17 |
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Only Yesterday | Abby (Uncredited) | 1933-11-01 |
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Pick-up | Magnolia (uncredited) | 1933-03-24 |
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Her Splendid Folly | Anastasia | 1933-10-07 |
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Midnight Mary | Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited) | 1933-06-30 |
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Central Airport | Hotel Maid (uncredited) | 1933-04-15 |
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The Midnight Patrol | Maid (scenes deleted) | 1933-08-03 |
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Hunting Trouble | Lucy | 1933-02-08 |
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A Shriek in the Night | Maid | 1933-07-22 |
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Hold Your Man | Elite Club Attendant (uncredited) | 1933-06-30 |
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Notorious But Nice | Ophelia | 1933-08-04 |
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The Big Cage | Mandy | 1933-05-01 |
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In the Money | Lily | 1933-11-06 |
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Her Bodyguard | Margot's Maid | 1933-07-21 |
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42nd Street | Pansy (uncredited) | 1933-03-11 |
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The Phantom Broadcast | Minnie | 1933-03-14 |
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She Done Him Wrong | Pearl | 1933-02-09 |
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Girl Missing | Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited) | 1933-03-04 |
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What Price Innocence? | Hannah | 1933-06-24 |
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The Story of Temple Drake | Minnie | 1933-05-06 |
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Bombshell | Loretta | 1933-10-13 |
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The Strange Love of Molly Louvain | Washroom Attendant (uncredited) | 1932-05-28 |
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Night World | Maid (uncredited) | 1932-05-04 |
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The Dark Horse | Kay's Maid Levinnia | 1932-06-16 |
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What Price Hollywood? | Mary's Maid Bonita | 1932-06-24 |
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Wild Girl | Mammy Lou (uncredited) | 1932-11-09 |
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Divorce In The Family | Rosetta | 1932-08-27 |
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Street of Women | Mattie, Natalie's maid | 1932-06-04 |
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Unashamed | Amanda | 1932-07-02 |
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Young America | Maid (Uncredited) | 1932-04-17 |
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The Greeks Had a Word for Them | Beautician (uncredited) | 1932-02-03 |
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Too Busy to Work | Mammy | 1932-12-02 |
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It's Tough to Be Famous | Ada, Janet's Maid | 1932-04-02 |
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The Expert | Lulu | 1932-03-05 |
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You're Telling Me | The Maid (uncredited) | 1932-04-16 |
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Doctor X | Louise (Uncredited) | 1932-08-03 |
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Hell's Highway | Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited) | 1932-09-23 |
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Party Husband | Laura's Maid | 1931-06-06 |
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Millie | Maid (uncredited) | 1931-02-06 |
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Ladies of the Big House | Ivory | 1931-12-26 |
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Six Cylinder Love | 1931-05-10 | |
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Don't Bet on Women | Maid (uncredited) | 1931-02-15 |
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Girls About Town | Hattie | 1931-11-07 |
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Reckless Living | Maid | 1931-10-20 |
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Good Sport | September | 1931-12-12 |
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Sundown Trail | Auntie Jenny | 1931-09-11 |
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Second Choice | Maid (uncredited) | 1930-01-04 |
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Recaptured Love | Maid | 1930-07-07 |
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True to the Navy | Maid (uncredited) | 1930-05-25 |
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Safety in Numbers | Messalina | 1930-05-30 |
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Bright Lights | Angela | 1930-09-21 |
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Back Pay | Nellie - Hester's Maid | 1930-06-01 |
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Knights Before Christmas | 1930-11-15 | |
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She Couldn't Say No | Cora | 1930-02-15 |
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Wide Open | Easter | 1930-02-01 |
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Outside the Law | Judy the Maid | 1930-09-18 |
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Our Blushing Brides | Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited) | 1930-07-19 |
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Honey | Black Revivalist | 1930-03-29 |
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Paid | Convict (uncredited) | 1930-12-30 |
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Manslaughter | Rose | 1930-07-22 |
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Barnum Was Right | Maid | 1929-09-22 |
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Coquette | Julia | 1929-03-30 |
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Glad Rag Doll | Hannah | 1929-05-04 |
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Election Day | Farina's mother | 1929-01-12 |
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Wall Street | Magnolia | 1929-12-01 |
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Thunderbolt | Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited) | 1929-06-20 |
