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