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