LB
Louise Beavers
Actor
Born March 8, 1902Died October 26, 1962 (60 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2016 | I Am Not Your Negro · as Delilah Johnson (clip From Imitation Of Life (1934)) |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Beulah |
| 1982 | Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies · as Actress In 'the Big Street' |
| 1982 | Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter · as Actress - 'she Done Him Wrong' |
| 1960 | The Facts of Life · as Gussie |
| 1960 | All the Fine Young Cannibals · as Rose |
| 1959 | The Swamp Fox (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Bourbon Street Beat (TV Series) · as Mrs. Teale |
| 1959 | The June Allyson Show (TV Series) · as Della |
| 1958 | The Goddess · as The Cook |
| 1957 | Tammy and the Bachelor · as Osia |
| 1956 | Frontier Doctor (TV Series) · as Clover, Nora's Housekeeper |
| 1956 | Teenage Rebel · as Willamay |
| 1956 | You Can't Run Away from It · as Maid |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Mattie Mae |
| 1956 | Good-bye, My Lady · as Bonnie Drew |
| 1955 | The Little Rascals (TV Series) · as Farina's Mother (1955) |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Delia |
| 1954 | Stories of the Century (TV Series) · as Aunt Nellie |
| 1953 | Make Room for Daddy (TV Series) · as Louise |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | Never Wave at a WAC · as Artamesa |
| 1952 | I Dream of Jeanie · as Mammy |
| 1952 | Colorado Sundown · as Mattie, Jackie's Maid |
| 1951 | The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV Series) · as Mrs. Anderson |
| 1951 | Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) · as Hot Point Spokesman |
| 1950 | The Jackie Robinson Story · as Jackie's Mother |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven · as Selma |
| 1950 | Beulah (TV Series) · as Beulah |
| 1949 | Tell It to the Judge · as Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited) |
| 1948 | For the Love of Mary · as Bertha |
| 1948 | Good Sam · as Chloe |
| 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 |
| 1943 | Jack London · as Mammy Jenny |
| 1943 | There's Something About a Soldier · as Birdie |
| 1943 | Top Man · as Cleo |
| 1943 | Du Barry Was a Lady · as Niagara |
| 1942 | Tennessee Johnson · as Addie |
| 1942 | Seven Sweethearts · as Petunia, The Maid |
| 1942 | The Big Street · as Ruby, Gloria's Maid (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Holiday Inn · as Mamie |
| 1942 | Reap the Wild Wind · as Maum Maria |
| 1942 | The Vanishing Virginian · as Aunt Emmeline |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man · as Stella |
| 1941 | Belle Starr · as Mammy Lou |
| 1941 | Kisses for Breakfast · as Clotilda |
| 1941 | Virginia · as Ophelia |
| 1941 | Sign of the Wolf · as Beulah |
| 1940 | I Want a Divorce · as Celestine |
| 1940 | No Time for Comedy · as Clementine |
| 1940 | Primrose Path · as Woman Talking To Police (uncredited) |
| 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 | Brother Rat · as Jenny |
| 1937 | The Last Gangster · as Gloria |
| 1937 | Make Way for Tomorrow · as Mamie |
| 1937 | Wings Over Honolulu · as Mammy |
| 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 |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life · as Delilah Johnson |
| 1934 | Dr. Monica · as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited) |
| 1934 | The Merry Frinks · as Camille |
| 1934 | Merry Wives of Reno · as Derwent's Client - Black Mother Of 12 Wanting A Divorce (uncredited) |
| 1934 | A Modern Hero · as Azais's Maid |
| 1934 | Glamour · as Millie |
| 1934 | Registered Nurse · as Flo - Sadie's 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 | Grin and Bear It · as Cast |
| 1933 | Jimmy and Sally · as Maid |
| 1933 | In the Money · as Lily |
| 1933 | Only Yesterday · as Abby (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Bombshell · as Loretta |
| 1933 | Notorious But Nice · as Ophelia |
| 1933 | The Midnight Patrol · as Maid (scenes Deleted) |
| 1933 | A Shriek in the Night · as Maid |
| 1933 | Hold Your Man · as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Midnight Mary · as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited) |
| 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 |
| 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 | Doctor X · as Louise (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Divorce in the Family · as Rosetta |
| 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 | Sundown Trail · as Auntie Jenny |
| 1931 | Party Husband · as Laura's Maid |
| 1931 | |
| 1931 | Don't Bet on Women · as Maid (uncredited) |
| 1931 | |
| 1930 | Paid · as Convict (uncredited) |
| 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 | 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 | Wide Open · as Easter |
| 1929 | Glad Rag Doll · as Hannah |
| 1929 | Gold Diggers of Broadway · as Sadie The Maid |
| 1929 | Thunderbolt · as Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited) |
| 1929 | Coquette · as Julia |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin · as Slave At Wedding |