LB
Louise Beavers
Actor
Died 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.
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 |
| 1960 | The Facts of Life · as Gussie |
| 1960 | All the Fine Young Cannibals · as Rose |
| 1959 | The Swamp Fox (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1958 | The Goddess · as The Cook |
| 1957 | Tammy and the Bachelor · as Osia |
| 1956 | You Can't Run Away from It · as Maid |
| 1956 | Teenage Rebel · as Willamay |
| 1956 | Good-bye, My Lady · as Bonnie Drew |
| 1956 | Frontier Doctor (TV Series) · as Clover, Nora's Housekeeper |
| 1955 | 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 | Never Wave at a WAC · as Artamesa |
| 1953 | Make Room for Daddy (TV Series) · as Louise |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as actor |
| 1952 | I Dream of Jeanie · as Mammy |
| 1952 | Colorado Sundown · as Mattie, Jackie's Maid |
| 1950 | The Jackie Robinson Story · as Jackie's Mother |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven · as Selma |
| 1949 | Tell It to the Judge · as Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House · as Gussie |
| 1948 | Good Sam · as Chloe |
| 1948 | A Southern Yankee · as Laundry Woman |
| 1945 | Delightfully Dangerous · as Hannah |
| 1944 | Dixie Jamboree · as Opal |
| 1943 | Jack London · as Mammy Jenny |
| 1943 | Du Barry Was a Lady · as Niagara |
| 1942 | The Big Street · as Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited) |
| 1942 | Holiday Inn · as Mamie |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man · as Stella |
| 1941 | Belle Starr · as Mammy Lou |
| 1941 | Sign of the Wolf · as Beulah |
| 1940 | Primrose Path · as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Made for Each Other · as Lily |
| 1938 | Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus · as Cassey |
| 1937 | Make Way for Tomorrow · as Mamie |
| 1936 | Bullets or Ballots · as Nellie LaFleur |
| 1934 | Palooka · as Crystal |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life · as Delilah Johnson |
| 1934 | Gambling Lady · as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited) |
| 1934 | The Woman Condemned · as Sally |
| 1933 | 42nd Street · as Pansy (uncredited) |
| 1933 | A Shriek in the Night · as Maid |
| 1933 | She Done Him Wrong · as Pearl |
| 1933 | The Midnight Patrol · as Maid (scenes deleted) |
| 1933 | Midnight Mary · as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Hold Your Man · as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited) |
| 1933 | The Phantom Broadcast · as Minnie |
| 1933 | Girl Missing · as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited) |
| 1933 | In the Money · as Lily |
| 1933 | Bombshell · as Loretta |
| 1933 | Grin and Bear It · as actor |
| 1932 | Doctor X · as Louise (Uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Greeks Had a Word for Them · as Beautician (uncredited) |
| 1932 | What Price Hollywood? · as Mary's Maid Bonita |
| 1932 | It's Tough to Be Famous · as Ada, Janet's Maid |
| 1932 | You're Telling Me · as The Maid (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Party Husband · as Laura's Maid |
| 1931 | Millie · as Maid (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Back Pay · as Nellie - Hester's Maid |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin · as Slave at Wedding |