Frances Bay
Acting • Born 1919-01-23 – Died 2011-09-15
Biography
Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress known for playing a variety of quirky elderly women on film and television. In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. After initial success in radio and stage plays, she became "The Girlfriend to the Canadian Forces" on CBC Radio during World War II, boosting troops' spirits. Marriage and a move to the U.S. led to a hiatus, during which she studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York. Returning to acting at 60, Bay featured in Foul Play and gained recognition in various TV shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and films such as The Wedding Planner and Twins. Her versatile career spanned over 50 films and numerous TV series, earning her awards and nominations. Notably, she appeared in the final episodes of sitcoms Seinfeld, Who’s the Boss?, and Happy Days. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.
Filmography
116 credits
Inspector Gadget
Movie • 1999
Thelma
Blue Velvet
Movie • 1986
Aunt Barbara
Ring Around the Rosie
Movie • 2006
Nanna
The Wedding Planner
Movie • 2001
Dottie
In the Mouth of Madness
Movie • 1995
Mrs. Pickman
Finder's Fee
Movie • 2001
Mrs. Darmsetter
Big Top Pee-wee
Movie • 1988
Mrs. Haynes
Amos
Movie • 1985
Lydia
Twins
Movie • 1988
Mother Superior
Happy Gilmore
Movie • 1996
Grandma
Nomads
Movie • 1986
Bertril
Stranger Than Fiction
Movie • 2000
Mrs. Steiner
Bare Knuckles
Movie • 2010
Rosie Mcintyre
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Movie • 1979
Mrs. Delillo
Foul Play
Movie • 1978
Mrs. Russel
The Paperboy
Movie • 1994
Mrs. Rosemont
The Grifters
Movie • 1990
Arizona Motel Clerk
The Pit and the Pendulum
Movie • 1991
Esmeralda
Second Sight: A Love Story
Movie • 1984
Old Woman
Double Exposure
Movie • 1982
Old Woman
Rossini's Ghost
Movie • 1996
Rosalie
Class Cruise
Movie • 1989
Grandma
The Neighbor
Movie • 1993
Aunt Sylvia
Amy
Movie • 1981
Mrs. Lindey
Sparkler
Movie • 1997
Raspy
Pickin' and Grinnin'
Movie • 2010
Grandma Johnson
Topper
Movie • 1979
Mrs. Quincy
Inside Monkey Zetterland
Movie • 1992
Grandma
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
Movie • 2011
Aunt Barbara
Callie & Son
Movie • 1981
Mabel Simpson
The Karate Kid Part III
Movie • 1989
Mrs. Milo
A Whale for the Killing
Movie • 1981
Wild at Heart
Movie • 1990
Madam
The Eagle and The Bear
Movie • 1985
The Attic
Movie • 1980
Librarian
Critters 3
Movie • 1991
Mrs. Menges
Arachnophobia
Movie • 1990
Evelyn Metcalf
Edmond
Movie • 2006
Fortune Teller
Oh, Baby
Movie • 2001
Edna Winchester
Little Red Riding Hood
Movie • 1983
Granny
Annie's Point
Movie • 2005
Older Woman
Repo Chick
Movie • 2009
Granma De La Chasse
Private School
Movie • 1983
Birdie Fallmouth
Single White Female
Movie • 1992
Elderly Neighbor
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Movie • 2014
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Movie • 1992
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
Movie • 1999
Mrs. Lewis
A Rose for Emily
Movie • 1983
Miss Wyatt
Forever Love
Movie • 1998
Martha Craddock
Buddy Buddy
Movie • 1981
Female Patient
Medium Rare
Movie • 1987
Gertrude
The Karate Kid
Movie • 1984
Lady with Dog
Never Too Late
Movie • 1996
Elisabeth Kronner
Goodbye Lover
Movie • 1999
Old Woman
Honky Tonk Freeway
Movie • 1981
Mrs. Lewenowski
Movers & Shakers
Movie • 1985
Betty Gritz
Krippendorf's Tribe
Movie • 1998
Edith Proxmire
The Movie Hero
Movie • 2003
Wise Old Woman
Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
Movie • 1992
Iva Ruth McKinney
Changing Habits
Movie • 1997
Midge
Wings
Movie • 1983
Mrs. Timmins
Kiss The Bride
Movie • 2002
The Operator
Movie • 2000
Mrs. Sloan
In the Land of Milk and Money
Movie • 2004
Grandma Shallot
Presidio Med
TV • 2002
Joan Hart
Cheers
TV • 1982
Mrs. Brubaker
Family Ties
TV • 1982
Mrs. Florence Menlo
Seinfeld
TV • 1989
Mabel Choate
The Middle
TV • 2009
Aunt Ginny
Remington Steele
TV • 1982
Mother Trust
Amazing Stories
TV • 1985
Mrs Claus
T. J. Hooker
TV • 1982
Mrs. Greene
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Marian McConnell
Fame
TV • 1982
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
TV • 1994
The Golden Girls
TV • 1985
Claire
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
Twin Peaks
TV • 1990
Mrs. Tremond
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Witch
Charmed
TV • 1998
Old Phoebe
Da Vinci's Inquest
TV • 1998
The Commish
TV • 1991
Happy Days
TV • 1974
Clueless
TV • 1996
Quantum Leap
TV • 1989
Millie Reynolds
Newhart
TV • 1982
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Dorothy
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Cagney & Lacey
TV • 1982
Edna Kiss
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Granny
Sidekicks
TV • 1986
ALF
TV • 1986
Louise Beaumont
Hunter
TV • 1984
Emma Parsons
The Hughleys
TV • 1998
Mrs. Fitch
True Colors
TV • 1990
Tante Sylvia
E/R
TV • 1984
Dave's World
TV • 1993
Daisy
Bob Patterson
TV • 2001
Laurie Evans
The Oldest Rookie
TV • 1987
Hunter
TV • 1984
Mrs. Laskey
My Wife and Kids
TV • 2001
Matlock
TV • 1986
Samantha Bergstrom
ER
TV • 1994
Georgia
St. Elsewhere
TV • 1982
Mrs. Renninger
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Flower Vendor
Suddenly Susan
TV • 1996
Mrs. Tidgely
Hannah Montana
TV • 2006
Cathy
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
TV • 1997
Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift")
Pacific Station
TV • 1991
Celia Linder
Style & Substance
TV • 1998
Elizabeth Hadley
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Sarah McCoy
Happy Days
TV • 1974
Grandma Nussbaum
Hill Street Blues
TV • 1981
Elizabeth Mies
Father Dowling Mysteries
TV • 1989
Victoria's Grandmother
Matlock
TV • 1986
Rose Hayes
Alien Nation
TV • 1989
Mrs. Gillirue