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)
The Facts of Life
as Gussie
(1960)
All the Fine Young Cannibals
as Rose
(1958)
The Goddess
as The Cook
(1957)
Tammy and the Bachelor
as Osia
(1957)
The Hostess with the Mostes'
as Mattie Mae
(1956)
Teenage Rebel
as Willamay
(1956)
You Can't Run Away from It
as Maid
(1956)
Good-bye, My Lady
as Bonnie Drew
(1953)
Never Wave at a WAC
as Artamesa
(1952)
Colorado Sundown
as Mattie, Jackie's Maid
(1952)
I Dream of Jeanie
as Mammy
(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)
For the Love of Mary
as Bertha
(1948)
A Southern Yankee
as Laundry Woman
(1948)
Good Sam
as Chloe
(1947)
Banjo
as Lindy
(1946)
Lover Come Back
as Martha
(1946)
Lover Come Back
as Martha, Kay's Maid
(1946)
Young Widow
as Rosie
(1945)
Delightfully Dangerous
as Hannah
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Opal
(1944)
Dixie Jamboree
as Sam the Deckhand
(1944)
South of Dixie
as Magnolia Brown / Chloe
(1944)
Barbary Coast Gent
as Bedelia
(1943)
Top Man
as Cleo
(1943)
Good Morning, Judge
as Cleo
(1943)
Du Barry Was a Lady
as Niagara
(1943)
All by Myself
as Willie
(1943)
There's Something About a Soldier
as Birdie
(1942)
Reap the Wild Wind
as Maum Maria
(1942)
The Big Street
as Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
(1942)
The Vanishing Virginian
as Aunt Emmeline
(1942)
Young America
as Pansy
(1942)
Holiday Inn
as Mamie
(1942)
Seven Sweethearts
as Petunia, the Maid
(1941)
Kisses for Breakfast
as Clotilda
(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
(1940)
Parole Fixer
as Aunt Lindy
(1940)
Primrose Path
as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
(1940)
No Time for Comedy
as Clementine
(1940)
Women Without Names
as Ivory
(1940)
I Want a Divorce
as Celestine
(1939)
The Lady's from Kentucky
as Aunt Tina
(1939)
Made for Each Other
as Lily (uncredited)
(1939)
Reform School
as Mother Barton
(1938)
Brother Rat
as Jenny
(1938)
Scandal Street
as Clairce
(1938)
Life Goes On
as Sally Weston
(1938)
The Headleys at Home
as Hyacinth
(1938)
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Cassey
(1937)
Wings Over Honolulu
as Mammy
(1937)
Love in a Bungalow
as Millie
(1937)
Make Way for Tomorrow
as Mamie
(1937)
The Last Gangster
as Gloria
(1936)
Rainbow on the River
as Toinette
(1936)
Wives Never Know
as Florabelle
(1936)
Bullets or Ballots
as Nellie LaFleur
(1936)
General Spanky
as Cornelia
(1935)
Annapolis Farewell
as Miranda
(1934)
I Give My Love
as Maid
(1934)
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
as Maid
(1934)
Palooka
as Crystal
(1934)
I've Got Your Number
as Crystal
(1934)
Bedside
as Pansy
(1934)
I Believed in You
as Prisoner
(1934)
Imitation of Life
as Delilah Johnson
(1934)
Merry Wives of Reno
as Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
(1934)
Glamour
as Millie
(1934)
The Merry Frinks
as Camille
(1934)
Dr. Monica
as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
(1934)
Cheaters
as Lily
(1934)
A Modern Hero
as Azais's Maid
(1934)
Beggar's Holiday
as Heliotrope
(1934)
The Woman Condemned
as Sally
(1934)
Gambling Lady
as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
(1934)
West of the Pecos
as Mauree
(1934)
Registered Nurse
as Flo - Sadie's Maid
(1933)
Hunting Trouble
as Lucy
(1933)
Hold Your Man
as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
(1933)
Girl Missing
as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
(1933)
42nd Street
as Pansy (uncredited)
(1933)
The Story of Temple Drake
as Minnie
(1933)
Bombshell
as Loretta
(1933)
Midnight Mary
as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
(1933)
She Done Him Wrong
as Pearl
(1933)
Notorious But Nice
as Ophelia
(1933)
Only Yesterday
as Abby (Uncredited)
(1933)
The Phantom Broadcast
as Minnie
(1933)
The Big Cage
as Mandy
(1933)
Her Bodyguard
as Margot's Maid
(1933)
A Shriek in the Night
as Maid
(1933)
The Midnight Patrol
as Maid (scenes deleted)
(1933)
Central Airport
as Hotel Maid (uncredited)
(1933)
What Price Innocence?
as Hannah
(1933)
Pick-up
as Magnolia (uncredited)
(1933)
In the Money
as Lily
(1933)
Her Splendid Folly
as Anastasia
(1932)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
as Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
(1932)
Too Busy to Work
as Mammy
(1932)
The Expert
as Lulu
(1932)
Night World
as Maid (uncredited)
(1932)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Beautician (uncredited)
(1932)
Doctor X
as Louise (Uncredited)
(1932)
What Price Hollywood?
as Mary's Maid Bonita
(1932)
The Dark Horse
as Kay's Maid Levinnia
(1932)
Young America
as Maid (Uncredited)
(1932)
Unashamed
as Amanda
(1932)
Hell's Highway
as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
(1932)
You're Telling Me
as The Maid (uncredited)
(1932)
Wild Girl
as Mammy Lou (uncredited)
(1932)
Divorce In The Family
as Rosetta
(1932)
Street of Women
as Mattie, Natalie's maid
(1932)
It's Tough to Be Famous
as Ada, Janet's Maid
(1931)
Millie
as Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
Good Sport
as September
(1931)
Reckless Living
as Maid
(1931)
(1931)
Ladies of the Big House
as Ivory
(1931)
Party Husband
as Laura's Maid
(1931)
Don't Bet on Women
as Maid (uncredited)
(1931)
Girls About Town
as Hattie
(1931)
Sundown Trail
as Auntie Jenny
(1930)
Paid
as Convict (uncredited)
(1930)
Back Pay
as Nellie - Hester's Maid
(1930)
Recaptured Love
as Maid
(1930)
True to the Navy
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Safety in Numbers
as Messalina
(1930)
Honey
as Black Revivalist
(1930)
Outside the Law
as Judy the Maid
(1930)
Wide Open
as Easter
(1930)
Manslaughter
as Rose
(1930)
(1930)
Second Choice
as Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
Our Blushing Brides
as Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
(1930)
She Couldn't Say No
as Cora
(1930)
Bright Lights
as Angela
(1929)
Barnum Was Right
as Maid
(1929)
Wall Street
as Magnolia
(1929)
Coquette
as Julia
(1929)
Glad Rag Doll
as Hannah
(1929)
Election Day
as Farina's mother
(1929)
Thunderbolt
as Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)