Frances Bay
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1919-01-23
Day of Death
2011-09-15 (92 years old)
Place of Birth
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Frances Bay
Biography
Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress known for playing a variety of quirky elderly women on film and television. In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. After initial success in radio and stage plays, she became "The Girlfriend to the Canadian Forces" on CBC Radio during World War II, boosting troops' spirits. Marriage and a move to the U.S. led to a hiatus, during which she studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York. Returning to acting at 60, Bay featured in Foul Play and gained recognition in various TV shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and films such as The Wedding Planner and Twins. Her versatile career spanned over 50 films and numerous TV series, earning her awards and nominations. Notably, she appeared in the final episodes of sitcoms Seinfeld, Who’s the Boss?, and Happy Days. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.
Known For
Acting
(2025)
Happy Gilmore 2
as Grandma (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2014)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
(2011)
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
as Aunt Barbara
(2010)
Bare Knuckles
as Rosie Mcintyre
(2010)
Pickin' and Grinnin'
as Grandma Johnson
(2009)
Repo Chick
as Granma De La Chasse
(2006)
Ring Around the Rosie
as Nanna
(2005)
Annie's Point
as Older Woman
(2005)
Edmond
as Fortune Teller
(2003)
The Movie Hero
as Wise Old Woman
(2002)
(2001)
The Wedding Planner
as Dottie
(2001)
Oh, Baby
as Edna Winchester
(2001)
Finder's Fee
as Mrs. Darmsetter
(2000)
The Operator
as Mrs. Sloan
(2000)
Stranger Than Fiction
as Mrs. Steiner
(1999)
Inspector Gadget
as Thelma
(1999)
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
as Mrs. Lewis
(1999)
Goodbye Lover
as Old Woman
(1998)
Krippendorf's Tribe
as Edith Proxmire
(1998)
Forever Love
as Martha Craddock
(1997)
Changing Habits
as Midge
(1997)
Sparkler
as Raspy
(1996)
Happy Gilmore
as Grandma
(1996)
Never Too Late
as Elisabeth Kronner
(1996)
Rossini's Ghost
as Rosalie
(1995)
In the Mouth of Madness
as Mrs. Pickman
(1994)
The Paperboy
as Mrs. Rosemont
(1993)
The Neighbor
as Aunt Sylvia
(1992)
Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
as Iva Ruth McKinney
(1992)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
(1992)
Single White Female
as Elderly Neighbor
(1992)
Inside Monkey Zetterland
as Grandma
(1991)
Critters 3
as Mrs. Menges
(1991)
The Pit and the Pendulum
as Esmeralda
(1990)
Wild at Heart
as Madam
(1990)
Arachnophobia
as Evelyn Metcalf
(1990)
The Grifters
as Arizona Motel Clerk
(1989)
The Karate Kid Part III
as Mrs. Milo
(1989)
Class Cruise
as Grandma
(1988)
Twins
as Mother Superior
(1988)
Big Top Pee-wee
as Mrs. Haynes
(1987)
Medium Rare
as Gertrude
(1986)
Blue Velvet
as Aunt Barbara
(1986)
Nomads
as Bertril
(1985)
Amos
as Lydia
(1985)
Movers & Shakers
as Betty Gritz
(1985)
(1984)
The Karate Kid
as Lady with Dog
(1984)
Second Sight: A Love Story
as Old Woman
(1983)
Private School
as Birdie Fallmouth
(1983)
A Rose for Emily
as Miss Wyatt
(1983)
Wings
as Mrs. Timmins
(1983)
Little Red Riding Hood
as Granny
(1982)
Double Exposure
as Old Woman
(1981)
Callie & Son
as Mabel Simpson
(1981)
Honky Tonk Freeway
as Mrs. Lewenowski
(1981)
Amy
as Mrs. Lindey
(1981)
(1981)
Buddy Buddy
as Female Patient
(1980)
The Attic
as Librarian
(1979)
Topper
as Mrs. Quincy
(1979)
Chilly Scenes of Winter
as Mrs. Delillo
(1978)
Foul Play
as Mrs. Russel