Louise Beavers
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1902-03-08
Day of Death
1962-10-26 (60 years old)
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Louise Beavers
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.
Known For
Acting
(1960)
All the Fine Young Cannibals
as Rose
(1960)
The Facts of Life
as Gussie
(1958)
The Goddess
as The Cook
(1957)
Tammy and the Bachelor
as Osia
(1956)
You Can't Run Away from It
as Maid
(1956)
Good-bye, My Lady
as Bonnie Drew
(1956)
Teenage Rebel
as Willamay
(1953)
Never Wave at a WAC
as Artamesa
(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
(1948)
For the Love of Mary
as Bertha
(1947)
Banjo
as Lindy
(1946)
Young Widow
as Rosie
(1946)
Lover Come Back
as Martha
(1946)
Lover Come Back
as Martha, Kay's Maid
(1945)
Delightfully Dangerous
as Hannah
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Opal
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Sam the Deckhand
(1944)
Barbary Coast Gent
as Bedelia
(1944)
South of Dixie
as Magnolia Brown / Chloe
(1943)
Du Barry Was a Lady
as Niagara
(1943)
Top Man
as Cleo
(1943)
There's Something About a Soldier
as Birdie
(1943)
All by Myself
as Willie
(1943)
Good Morning, Judge
as Cleo
(1942)
Reap the Wild Wind
as Maum Maria
(1942)
Holiday Inn
as Mamie
(1942)
The Big Street
as Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
(1942)
Seven Sweethearts
as Petunia, the Maid
(1942)
Young America
as Pansy
(1942)
The Vanishing Virginian
as Aunt Emmeline
(1941)
Shadow of the Thin Man
as Stella
(1941)
Belle Starr
as Mammy Lou
(1941)
Sign of the Wolf
as Beulah
(1941)
Virginia
as Ophelia
(1941)
Kisses for Breakfast
as Clotilda
(1940)
Primrose Path
as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
(1940)
Parole Fixer
as Aunt Lindy
(1940)
Women Without Names
as Ivory
(1940)
No Time for Comedy
as Clementine
(1940)
I Want a Divorce
as Celestine
(1939)
Made for Each Other
as Lily (uncredited)
(1939)
Reform School
as Mother Barton
(1939)
The Lady's from Kentucky
as Aunt Tina
(1938)
Brother Rat
as Jenny
(1938)
Scandal Street
as Clairce
(1938)
The Headleys at Home
as Hyacinth
(1938)
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Cassey
(1938)
Life Goes On
as Sally Weston
(1937)
Make Way for Tomorrow
as Mamie
(1937)
The Last Gangster
as Gloria
(1937)
Wings Over Honolulu
as Mammy
(1937)
Love in a Bungalow
as Millie
(1936)
General Spanky
as Cornelia
(1936)
Bullets or Ballots
as Nellie LaFleur
(1936)
Wives Never Know
as Florabelle
(1936)
Rainbow on the River
as Toinette
(1935)
Annapolis Farewell
as Miranda
(1934)
Gambling Lady
as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
(1934)
Imitation of Life
as Delilah Johnson
(1934)
Palooka
as Crystal
(1934)
I've Got Your Number
as Crystal
(1934)
Glamour
as Millie
(1934)
I Believed in You
as Prisoner
(1934)
Registered Nurse
as Flo - Sadie's Maid
(1934)
Bedside
as Pansy
(1934)
The Merry Frinks
as Camille
(1934)
Dr. Monica
as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
(1934)
The Woman Condemned
as Sally
(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)
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
as Maid
(1934)
Cheaters
as Lily
(1934)
West of the Pecos
as Mauree
(1934)
I Give My Love
as Maid
(1934)
Beggar's Holiday
as Heliotrope
(1933)
42nd Street
as Pansy (uncredited)
(1933)
She Done Him Wrong
as Pearl
(1933)
The Story of Temple Drake
as Minnie
(1933)
Hold Your Man
as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
(1933)
Bombshell
as Loretta
(1933)
Midnight Mary
as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
(1933)
A Shriek in the Night
as Maid
(1933)
Only Yesterday
as Abby (Uncredited)
(1933)
Central Airport
as Hotel Maid (uncredited)
(1933)
The Big Cage
as Mandy
(1933)
Pick-up
as Magnolia (uncredited)
(1933)
The Midnight Patrol
as Maid (scenes deleted)
(1933)
Girl Missing
as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
(1933)
Her Bodyguard
as Margot's Maid
(1933)
Notorious But Nice
as Ophelia
(1933)
What Price Innocence?
as Hannah
(1933)
The Phantom Broadcast
as Minnie
(1933)
Hunting Trouble
as Lucy
(1933)
In the Money
as Lily
(1933)
Her Splendid Folly
as Anastasia
(1932)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
as Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
(1932)
Doctor X
as Louise (Uncredited)
(1932)
What Price Hollywood?
as Mary's Maid Bonita
(1932)
Young America
as Maid (Uncredited)
(1932)
The Expert
as Lulu
(1932)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Beautician (uncredited)
(1932)
The Dark Horse
as Kay's Maid Levinnia
(1932)
Night World
as Maid (uncredited)
(1932)
Divorce In The Family
as Rosetta
(1932)
Unashamed
as Amanda
(1932)
Wild Girl
as Mammy Lou (uncredited)
(1932)
Too Busy to Work
as Mammy
(1932)
You're Telling Me
as The Maid (uncredited)
(1932)
It's Tough to Be Famous
as Ada, Janet's Maid
(1932)
Hell's Highway
as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
(1932)
Street of Women
as Mattie, Natalie's maid
(1931)
Millie
as Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
Reckless Living
as Maid
(1931)
(1931)
Girls About Town
as Hattie
(1931)
Ladies of the Big House
as Ivory
(1931)
Party Husband
as Laura's Maid
(1931)
Sundown Trail
as Auntie Jenny
(1931)
Good Sport
as September
(1931)
Don't Bet on Women
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Paid
as Convict (uncredited)
(1930)
Wide Open
as Easter
(1930)
Recaptured Love
as Maid
(1930)
Our Blushing Brides
as Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Outside the Law
as Judy the Maid
(1930)
Honey
as Black Revivalist
(1930)
Safety in Numbers
as Messalina
(1930)
Bright Lights
as Angela
(1930)
Manslaughter
as Rose
(1930)
True to the Navy
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
She Couldn't Say No
as Cora
(1930)
Back Pay
as Nellie - Hester's Maid
(1930)
Second Choice
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
(1929)
Thunderbolt
as Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
(1929)
Coquette
as Julia
(1929)
Wall Street
as Magnolia
(1929)
Election Day
as Farina's mother
(1929)
Glad Rag Doll
as Hannah
(1929)
Barnum Was Right
as Maid