
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