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)
Teenage Rebel
as Willamay
(1956)
Good-bye, My Lady
as Bonnie Drew
(1953)
Never Wave at a WAC
as Artamesa
(1952)
I Dream of Jeanie
as Mammy
(1952)
Colorado Sundown
as Mattie, Jackie's Maid
(1950)
My Blue Heaven
as Selma
(1950)
The Jackie Robinson Story
as Jackie's Mother
(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)
Barbary Coast Gent
as Bedelia
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Opal
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Sam the Deckhand
(1944)
South of Dixie
as Magnolia Brown / Chloe
(1943)
Du Barry Was a Lady
as Niagara
(1943)
All by Myself
as Willie
(1943)
Top Man
as Cleo
(1943)
There's Something About a Soldier
as Birdie
(1943)
Good Morning, Judge
as Cleo
(1942)
Holiday Inn
as Mamie
(1942)
Reap the Wild Wind
as Maum Maria
(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)
Kisses for Breakfast
as Clotilda
(1941)
Virginia
as Ophelia
(1941)
Sign of the Wolf
as Beulah
(1940)
Primrose Path
as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
(1940)
No Time for Comedy
as Clementine
(1940)
Parole Fixer
as Aunt Lindy
(1940)
Women Without Names
as Ivory
(1940)
I Want a Divorce
as Celestine
(1939)
Made for Each Other
as Lily (uncredited)
(1939)
The Lady's from Kentucky
as Aunt Tina
(1939)
Reform School
as Mother Barton
(1938)
Brother Rat
as Jenny
(1938)
Scandal Street
as Clairce
(1938)
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Cassey
(1938)
The Headleys at Home
as Hyacinth
(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)
Bullets or Ballots
as Nellie LaFleur
(1936)
Wives Never Know
as Florabelle
(1936)
General Spanky
as Cornelia
(1936)
Rainbow on the River
as Toinette
(1935)
Annapolis Farewell
as Miranda
(1934)
Imitation of Life
as Delilah Johnson
(1934)
Gambling Lady
as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
(1934)
Merry Wives of Reno
as Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
(1934)
Palooka
as Crystal
(1934)
Registered Nurse
as Flo - Sadie's Maid
(1934)
I Believed in You
as Prisoner
(1934)
The Merry Frinks
as Camille
(1934)
Glamour
as Millie
(1934)
A Modern Hero
as Azais's Maid
(1934)
West of the Pecos
as Mauree
(1934)
I've Got Your Number
as Crystal
(1934)
I Give My Love
as Maid
(1934)
Bedside
as Pansy
(1934)
Cheaters
as Lily
(1934)
Dr. Monica
as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
(1934)
The Woman Condemned
as Sally
(1934)
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
as Maid
(1934)
Beggar's Holiday
as Heliotrope
(1933)
42nd Street
as Pansy (uncredited)
(1933)
Bombshell
as Loretta
(1933)
She Done Him Wrong
as Pearl
(1933)
The Story of Temple Drake
as Minnie
(1933)
Only Yesterday
as Abby (Uncredited)
(1933)
Hold Your Man
as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
(1933)
Midnight Mary
as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
(1933)
Pick-up
as Magnolia (uncredited)
(1933)
Central Airport
as Hotel Maid (uncredited)
(1933)
A Shriek in the Night
as Maid
(1933)
In the Money
as Lily
(1933)
The Midnight Patrol
as Maid (scenes deleted)
(1933)
The Big Cage
as Mandy
(1933)
Notorious But Nice
as Ophelia
(1933)
What Price Innocence?
as Hannah
(1933)
Girl Missing
as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
(1933)
Her Splendid Folly
as Anastasia
(1933)
Her Bodyguard
as Margot's Maid
(1933)
The Phantom Broadcast
as Minnie
(1933)
Hunting Trouble
as Lucy
(1932)
What Price Hollywood?
as Mary's Maid Bonita
(1932)
Doctor X
as Louise (Uncredited)
(1932)
The Dark Horse
as Kay's Maid Levinnia
(1932)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Beautician (uncredited)
(1932)
Wild Girl
as Mammy Lou (uncredited)
(1932)
Divorce In The Family
as Rosetta
(1932)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
as Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
(1932)
Night World
as Maid (uncredited)
(1932)
Young America
as Maid (Uncredited)
(1932)
The Expert
as Lulu
(1932)
Unashamed
as Amanda
(1932)
Too Busy to Work
as Mammy
(1932)
Hell's Highway
as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
(1932)
Street of Women
as Mattie, Natalie's maid
(1932)
It's Tough to Be Famous
as Ada, Janet's Maid
(1932)
You're Telling Me
as The Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
Millie
as Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
(1931)
Party Husband
as Laura's Maid
(1931)
Ladies of the Big House
as Ivory
(1931)
Good Sport
as September
(1931)
Sundown Trail
as Auntie Jenny
(1931)
Girls About Town
as Hattie
(1931)
Don't Bet on Women
as Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
Reckless Living
as Maid
(1930)
Manslaughter
as Rose
(1930)
True to the Navy
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Paid
as Convict (uncredited)
(1930)
Back Pay
as Nellie - Hester's 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)
Wide Open
as Easter
(1930)
Second Choice
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Recaptured Love
as Maid
(1930)
(1930)
She Couldn't Say No
as Cora
(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