From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0064792
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3263669
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Filmography (Movies)
The Facts of Life
Character:Gussie
Release Date:14/11/1960
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Character:Rose
Release Date:15/09/1960
The Goddess
Character:The Cook
Release Date:24/06/1958
Tammy and the Bachelor
Character:Osia
Release Date:14/06/1957
The Hostess with the Mostes'
Character:Mattie Mae
Release Date:21/03/1957
Teenage Rebel
Character:Willamay
Release Date:01/11/1956
You Can't Run Away from It
Character:Maid
Release Date:30/10/1956
Good-bye, My Lady
Character:Bonnie Drew
Release Date:12/05/1956
Never Wave at a WAC
Character:Artamesa
Release Date:28/01/1953
I Dream of Jeanie
Character:Mammy
Release Date:15/06/1952
Colorado Sundown
Character:Mattie, Jackie's Maid
Release Date:08/02/1952
My Blue Heaven
Character:Selma
Release Date:15/09/1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
Character:Jackie's Mother
Release Date:16/05/1950
Tell It to the Judge
Character:Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:18/11/1949
For the Love of Mary
Character:Bertha
Release Date:01/09/1948
Good Sam
Character:Chloe
Release Date:01/09/1948
A Southern Yankee
Character:Laundry Woman
Release Date:05/08/1948
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Character:Gussie
Release Date:25/03/1948
Banjo
Character:Lindy
Release Date:15/05/1947
Lover Come Back
Character:Martha
Release Date:21/06/1946
Lover Come Back
Character:Martha, Kay's Maid
Release Date:21/06/1946
Young Widow
Character:Rosie
Release Date:01/03/1946
Delightfully Dangerous
Character:Hannah
Release Date:31/03/1945
Barbary Coast Gent
Character:Bedelia
Release Date:01/09/1944
Dixie Jamboree
Character:Opal
Release Date:15/08/1944
Dixie Jamboree
Character:Sam the Deckhand
Release Date:15/08/1944
South of Dixie
Character:Magnolia Brown / Chloe
Release Date:23/06/1944
Follow the Boys
Character:Louise Beavers (uncredited)
Release Date:05/05/1944
There's Something About a Soldier
Character:Birdie
Release Date:30/11/1943
Top Man
Character:Cleo
Release Date:17/09/1943
Du Barry Was a Lady
Character:Niagara
Release Date:13/08/1943
All by Myself
Character:Willie
Release Date:11/06/1943
Good Morning, Judge
Character:Cleo
Release Date:07/05/1943
Seven Sweethearts
Character:Petunia, the Maid
Release Date:13/11/1942
The Big Street
Character:Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
Release Date:13/08/1942
Holiday Inn
Character:Mamie
Release Date:10/07/1942
Reap the Wild Wind
Character:Maum Maria
Release Date:26/03/1942
Young America
Character:Pansy
Release Date:06/02/1942
The Vanishing Virginian
Character:Aunt Emmeline
Release Date:01/02/1942
Shadow of the Thin Man
Character:Stella
Release Date:21/11/1941
Belle Starr
Character:Mammy Lou
Release Date:12/09/1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Character:Clotilda
Release Date:05/07/1941
Sign of the Wolf
Character:Beulah
Release Date:25/03/1941
Virginia
Character:Ophelia
Release Date:28/01/1941
I Want a Divorce
Character:Celestine
Release Date:20/09/1940
No Time for Comedy
Character:Clementine
Release Date:14/09/1940
Primrose Path
Character:Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Release Date:22/03/1940
Women Without Names
Character:Ivory
Release Date:14/03/1940
Parole Fixer
Character:Aunt Lindy
Release Date:02/02/1940
The Lady's from Kentucky
Character:Aunt Tina
Release Date:27/04/1939
Reform School
Character:Mother Barton
Release Date:27/04/1939
Made for Each Other
Character:Lily (uncredited)
Release Date:10/02/1939
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Character:Cassey
Release Date:02/12/1938
The Headleys at Home
Character:Hyacinth
Release Date:01/11/1938
Brother Rat
Character:Jenny
Release Date:29/10/1938
Life Goes On
Character:Sally Weston
Release Date:01/04/1938
Scandal Street
Character:Clairce
Release Date:11/02/1938
The Last Gangster
Character:Gloria
Release Date:12/11/1937
Love in a Bungalow
Character:Millie
Release Date:27/06/1937
Wings Over Honolulu
Character:Mammy
Release Date:16/05/1937
Make Way for Tomorrow
Character:Mamie
Release Date:09/05/1937
Rainbow on the River
Character:Toinette
Release Date:18/12/1936
General Spanky
Character:Cornelia
Release Date:11/12/1936
Wives Never Know
Character:Florabelle
Release Date:18/09/1936
Bullets or Ballots
Character:Nellie LaFleur
Release Date:06/06/1936
Annapolis Farewell
Character:Miranda
Release Date:23/08/1935
West of the Pecos
Character:Mauree
Release Date:27/12/1934
Imitation of Life
Character:Delilah Johnson
Release Date:23/11/1934
Beggar's Holiday
Character:Heliotrope
Release Date:17/08/1934
I Give My Love
Character:Maid
Release Date:17/07/1934
Dr. Monica
Character:Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:23/06/1934
The Merry Frinks
Character:Camille
Release Date:26/05/1934
Cheaters
Character:Lily
Release Date:11/05/1934
A Modern Hero
Character:Azais's Maid
Release Date:21/04/1934
Merry Wives of Reno
Character:Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Release Date:18/04/1934
Glamour
Character:Millie
Release Date:09/04/1934
I Believed in You
Character:Prisoner
Release Date:09/04/1934
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Character:Maid
Release Date:06/04/1934
Registered Nurse
Character:Flo - Sadie's Maid
Release Date:06/04/1934
The Woman Condemned
Character:Sally
Release Date:03/04/1934
Gambling Lady
Character:Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Release Date:08/03/1934
I've Got Your Number
Character:Crystal
Release Date:24/02/1934
Bedside
Character:Pansy
Release Date:27/01/1934
Palooka
Character:Crystal
Release Date:26/01/1934
In the Money
Character:Lily
Release Date:06/11/1933
Only Yesterday
Character:Abby (Uncredited)
Release Date:01/11/1933
Bombshell
Character:Loretta
Release Date:13/10/1933
Her Splendid Folly
Character:Anastasia
Release Date:07/10/1933
Notorious But Nice
Character:Ophelia
Release Date:04/08/1933
The Midnight Patrol
Character:Maid (scenes deleted)
Release Date:03/08/1933
A Shriek in the Night
Character:Maid
Release Date:22/07/1933
Her Bodyguard
Character:Margot's Maid
Release Date:21/07/1933
Midnight Mary
Character:Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Release Date:30/06/1933
Hold Your Man
Character:Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Release Date:30/06/1933
What Price Innocence?
Character:Hannah
Release Date:24/06/1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Character:Minnie
Release Date:06/05/1933
The Big Cage
Character:Mandy
Release Date:01/05/1933
Central Airport
Character:Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:15/04/1933
Pick-up
Character:Magnolia (uncredited)
Release Date:24/03/1933
The Phantom Broadcast
Character:Minnie
Release Date:14/03/1933
42nd Street
Character:Pansy (uncredited)
Release Date:11/03/1933
Girl Missing
Character:Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
Release Date:04/03/1933
She Done Him Wrong
Character:Pearl
Release Date:09/02/1933
Hunting Trouble
Character:Lucy
Release Date:08/02/1933
Too Busy to Work
Character:Mammy
Release Date:02/12/1932
Wild Girl
Character:Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Release Date:09/11/1932
Hell's Highway
Character:Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Release Date:23/09/1932
Divorce In The Family
Character:Rosetta
Release Date:27/08/1932
Doctor X
Character:Louise (Uncredited)
Release Date:03/08/1932
Unashamed
Character:Amanda
Release Date:02/07/1932
What Price Hollywood?
Character:Mary's Maid Bonita
Release Date:24/06/1932
The Dark Horse
Character:Kay's Maid Levinnia
Release Date:16/06/1932
Street of Women
Character:Mattie, Natalie's maid
Release Date:04/06/1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Character:Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
Release Date:28/05/1932
Night World
Character:Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:04/05/1932
Young America
Character:Maid (Uncredited)
Release Date:17/04/1932
You're Telling Me
Character:The Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:16/04/1932
It's Tough to Be Famous
Character:Ada, Janet's Maid
Release Date:02/04/1932
The Expert
Character:Lulu
Release Date:05/03/1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Character:Beautician (uncredited)
Release Date:03/02/1932
Ladies of the Big House
Character:Ivory
Release Date:26/12/1931
Good Sport
Character:September
Release Date:12/12/1931
Girls About Town
Character:Hattie
Release Date:07/11/1931
Reckless Living
Character:Maid
Release Date:20/10/1931
Sundown Trail
Character:Auntie Jenny
Release Date:11/09/1931
Party Husband
Character:Laura's Maid
Release Date:06/06/1931
Six Cylinder Love
Character:
Release Date:10/05/1931
Don't Bet on Women
Character:Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:15/02/1931
Millie
Character:Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:06/02/1931
Paid
Character:Convict (uncredited)
Release Date:30/12/1930
Knights Before Christmas
Character:
Release Date:15/11/1930
Bright Lights
Character:Angela
Release Date:21/09/1930
Outside the Law
Character:Judy the Maid
Release Date:18/09/1930
Manslaughter
Character:Rose
Release Date:22/07/1930
Our Blushing Brides
Character:Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:19/07/1930
Recaptured Love
Character:Maid
Release Date:07/07/1930
Back Pay
Character:Nellie - Hester's Maid
Release Date:01/06/1930
Safety in Numbers
Character:Messalina
Release Date:30/05/1930
True to the Navy
Character:Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:25/05/1930
Honey
Character:Black Revivalist
Release Date:29/03/1930
She Couldn't Say No
Character:Cora
Release Date:15/02/1930
Wide Open
Character:Easter
Release Date:01/02/1930
Second Choice
Character:Maid (uncredited)
Release Date:04/01/1930
Wall Street
Character:Magnolia
Release Date:01/12/1929
Nix on Dames
Character:Magnolia
Release Date:24/11/1929
Barnum Was Right
Character:Maid
Release Date:22/09/1929
Thunderbolt
Character:Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Release Date:20/06/1929
Glad Rag Doll
Character:Hannah
Release Date:04/05/1929
Coquette
Character:Julia
Release Date:30/03/1929
Election Day
Character:Farina's mother
Release Date:12/01/1929
Television Appearances
Images
