Louise Beavers

Louise Beavers

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1902-03-08
Deathday: 1962-10-26 (60 years old)

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Biography

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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Filmography

all 148

Movies 143

TV Shows 5

self 1

Self
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (1998)

Movie
Gussie
The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life (1960)

Movie
Rose
All the Fine Young Cannibals

All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960)

Movie
The Swamp Fox

The Swamp Fox (1959)

TV
Mrs. Teale
Bourbon Street Beat

Bourbon Street Beat (1959)

TV
Clover, Nora's Housekeeper / Delilah Jones
Frontier Doctor

Frontier Doctor (1958)

TV
The Cook
The Goddess

The Goddess (1958)

Movie
Osia
Tammy and the Bachelor

Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)

Movie
Willamay
Teenage Rebel

Teenage Rebel (1956)

Movie
Maid
You Can't Run Away from It

You Can't Run Away from It (1956)

Movie
Bonnie Drew
Good-bye, My Lady

Good-bye, My Lady (1956)

Movie
Louise
The Danny Thomas Show

The Danny Thomas Show (1953)

TV
2
Artamesa
Never Wave at a WAC

Never Wave at a WAC (1953)

Movie
Mammy
I Dream of Jeanie

I Dream of Jeanie (1952)

Movie
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
Colorado Sundown

Colorado Sundown (1952)

Movie
Beulah
The Beulah Show

The Beulah Show (1950)

TV
Selma
My Blue Heaven

My Blue Heaven (1950)

Movie
Jackie's Mother
The Jackie Robinson Story

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Movie
Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
Tell It to the Judge

Tell It to the Judge (1949)

Movie
Chloe
Good Sam

Good Sam (1948)

Movie
Bertha
For the Love of Mary

For the Love of Mary (1948)

Movie
Laundry Woman
A Southern Yankee

A Southern Yankee (1948)

Movie
Gussie
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

Movie
6
Lindy
Banjo

Banjo (1947)

Movie
Martha
Lover Come Back

Lover Come Back (1946)

Movie
Rosie
Young Widow

Young Widow (1946)

Movie
Hannah
Delightfully Dangerous

Delightfully Dangerous (1945)

Movie
Bedelia
Barbary Coast Gent

Barbary Coast Gent (1944)

Movie
Opal / Sam the Deckhand
Dixie Jamboree

Dixie Jamboree (1944)

Movie
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
South of Dixie

South of Dixie (1944)

Movie
Birdie
There's Something About a Soldier

There's Something About a Soldier (1943)

Movie
Cleo
Top Man

Top Man (1943)

Movie
Niagara
Du Barry was a Lady

Du Barry was a Lady (1943)

Movie
Willie
All by Myself

All by Myself (1943)

Movie
Cleo
Good Morning, Judge

Good Morning, Judge (1943)

Movie
Petunia, the Maid
Seven Sweethearts

Seven Sweethearts (1942)

Movie
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
The Big Street

The Big Street (1942)

Movie
Mamie
Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn (1942)

Movie
7.33
Maum Maria
Reap the Wild Wind

Reap the Wild Wind (1942)

Movie
Pansy
Young America

Young America (1942)

Movie
Aunt Emmeline
The Vanishing Virginian

The Vanishing Virginian (1942)

Movie
Stella
Shadow of the Thin Man

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

Movie
5.36
Mammy Lou
Belle Starr

Belle Starr (1941)

Movie
Clotilda
Kisses for Breakfast

Kisses for Breakfast (1941)

Movie
Beulah
Sign of the Wolf

Sign of the Wolf (1941)

Movie
Ophelia
Virginia

Virginia (1941)

Movie
Celestine
I Want a Divorce

I Want a Divorce (1940)

Movie
Clementine
No Time for Comedy

No Time for Comedy (1940)

Movie
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Primrose Path

Primrose Path (1940)

Movie
Ivory
Women Without Names

Women Without Names (1940)

Movie
Aunt Lindy
Parole Fixer

Parole Fixer (1940)

Movie
Aunt Tina
The Lady's from Kentucky

The Lady's from Kentucky (1939)

Movie
Mother Barton
Reform School

Reform School (1939)

Movie
Lily (uncredited)
Made for Each Other

Made for Each Other (1939)

Movie
Cassey
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (1938)

Movie
Hyacinth
The Headleys at Home

The Headleys at Home (1938)

Movie
Jenny
Brother Rat

Brother Rat (1938)

Movie
Clairce
Scandal Street

Scandal Street (1938)

Movie
Gloria
The Last Gangster

The Last Gangster (1937)

Movie
Millie
Love in a Bungalow

Love in a Bungalow (1937)

Movie
Mammy
Wings Over Honolulu

Wings Over Honolulu (1937)

Movie
Mamie
Make Way for Tomorrow

Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)

Movie
4.25
Toinette
Rainbow on the River

Rainbow on the River (1936)

Movie
Cornelia
General Spanky

General Spanky (1936)

Movie
Florabelle
Wives Never Know

Wives Never Know (1936)

Movie
Nellie LaFleur
Bullets or Ballots

Bullets or Ballots (1936)

Movie
6
Miranda
Annapolis Farewell

Annapolis Farewell (1935)

Movie
Mauree
West of the Pecos

West of the Pecos (1934)

Movie
Delilah Johnson
Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life (1934)

Movie
Heliotrope
Beggar's Holiday

Beggar's Holiday (1934)

Movie
Maid
I Give My Love

I Give My Love (1934)

Movie
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Dr. Monica

Dr. Monica (1934)

Movie
Camille
The Merry Frinks

The Merry Frinks (1934)

Movie
Lily
Cheaters

Cheaters (1934)

Movie
Azais's Maid
A Modern Hero

A Modern Hero (1934)

Movie
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Merry Wives of Reno

Merry Wives of Reno (1934)

Movie
Millie
Glamour

Glamour (1934)

Movie
Maid
Strictly Fresh Yeggs

Strictly Fresh Yeggs (1934)

Movie
Flo - Sadie's Maid
Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse (1934)

Movie
Sally
The Woman Condemned

The Woman Condemned (1934)

Movie
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Gambling Lady

Gambling Lady (1934)

Movie
Crystal
I've Got Your Number

I've Got Your Number (1934)

Movie
Pansy
Bedside

Bedside (1934)

Movie
Crystal
Palooka

Palooka (1934)

Movie
Lily
In the Money

In the Money (1933)

Movie
Abby (Uncredited)
Only Yesterday

Only Yesterday (1933)

Movie
Loretta
Bombshell

Bombshell (1933)

Movie
Anastasia
Her Splendid Folly

Her Splendid Folly (1933)

Movie
Ophelia
Notorious But Nice

Notorious But Nice (1933)

Movie
Maid (scenes deleted)
The Midnight Patrol

The Midnight Patrol (1933)

Movie
9
Maid
A Shriek in the Night

A Shriek in the Night (1933)

Movie
Margot's Maid
Her Bodyguard

Her Bodyguard (1933)

Movie
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Hold Your Man

Hold Your Man (1933)

Movie
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Midnight Mary

Midnight Mary (1933)

Movie
6
Hannah
What Price Innocence?

What Price Innocence? (1933)

Movie
Minnie
The Story of Temple Drake

The Story of Temple Drake (1933)

Movie
Mandy
The Big Cage

The Big Cage (1933)

Movie
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Central Airport

Central Airport (1933)

Movie
Magnolia (uncredited)
Pick-up

Pick-up (1933)

Movie
Minnie
The Phantom Broadcast

The Phantom Broadcast (1933)

Movie
Pansy (uncredited)
42nd Street

42nd Street (1933)

Movie
4
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
Girl Missing

Girl Missing (1933)

Movie
Pearl
She Done Him Wrong

She Done Him Wrong (1933)

Movie
6
Lucy, the Maid
Hunting Trouble

Hunting Trouble (1933)

Movie
Mammy
Too Busy to Work

Too Busy to Work (1932)

Movie
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Wild Girl

Wild Girl (1932)

Movie
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Hell's Highway

Hell's Highway (1932)

Movie
Rosetta
Divorce In The Family

Divorce In The Family (1932)

Movie
Louise (Uncredited)
Doctor X

Doctor X (1932)

Movie
5.17
Amanda
Unashamed

Unashamed (1932)

Movie
Mary's Maid Bonita
What Price Hollywood?

What Price Hollywood? (1932)

Movie
Kay's Maid Levinnia
The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse (1932)

Movie
Mattie, Natalie's maid
Street of Women

Street of Women (1932)

Movie
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932)

Movie
Maid (uncredited)
Night World

Night World (1932)

Movie
Maid (Uncredited)
Young America

Young America (1932)

Movie
The Maid (uncredited)
You're Telling Me

You're Telling Me (1932)

Movie
Ada, Janet's Maid
It's Tough to Be Famous

It's Tough to Be Famous (1932)

Movie
Lulu
The Expert

The Expert (1932)

Movie
Beautician (uncredited)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them

The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)

Movie
Ivory
Ladies of the Big House

Ladies of the Big House (1931)

Movie
September
Good Sport

Good Sport (1931)

Movie
Hattie
Girls About Town

Girls About Town (1931)

Movie
Maid
Reckless Living

Reckless Living (1931)

Movie
Auntie Jenny
Sundown Trail

Sundown Trail (1931)

Movie
Laura's Maid
Party Husband

Party Husband (1931)

Movie
Six Cylinder Love

Six Cylinder Love (1931)

Movie
Maid (uncredited)
Don't Bet on Women

Don't Bet on Women (1931)

Movie
Maid (uncredited)
Millie

Millie (1931)

Movie
Convict (uncredited)
Paid

Paid (1930)

Movie
Actress
Knights Before Christmas

Knights Before Christmas (1930)

Movie
Angela
Bright Lights

Bright Lights (1930)

Movie
Judy the Maid
Outside the Law

Outside the Law (1930)

Movie
Rose
Manslaughter

Manslaughter (1930)

Movie
Amelia the Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Our Blushing Brides

Our Blushing Brides (1930)

Movie
3.5
Nellie - Hester's Maid
Back Pay

Back Pay (1930)

Movie
Messalina
Safety in Numbers

Safety in Numbers (1930)

Movie
Maid (uncredited)
True to the Navy

True to the Navy (1930)

Movie
Black Revivalist
Honey

Honey (1930)

Movie
She Couldn't Say No

She Couldn't Say No (1930)

Movie
Easter
Wide Open

Wide Open (1930)

Movie
Maid (uncredited)
Second Choice

Second Choice (1930)

Movie
Magnolia
Wall Street

Wall Street (1929)

Movie
Maid
Barnum Was Right

Barnum Was Right (1929)

Movie
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt (1929)

Movie
Hannah
Glad Rag Doll

Glad Rag Doll (1929)

Movie
Julia
Coquette

Coquette (1929)

Movie
6
Farina's mother
Election Day

Election Day (1929)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.26
Based on 153 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1929
1932
1934
1932
1998
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Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Female

Birthday
1902-03-08

Deathday
1962-10-26 (60 years old)

Birth Place
Cincinnati, United States of America

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Louise Beaver

Awards
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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