Louise Beavers
Acting • Born 1902-03-08 – Died 1962-10-26
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.
Filmography
155 credits
42nd Street
Movie • 1933
Pansy (uncredited)
The Goddess
Movie • 1958
The Cook
A Shriek in the Night
Movie • 1933
Maid
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Movie • 1948
Gussie
Holiday Inn
Movie • 1942
Mamie
Bullets or Ballots
Movie • 1936
Nellie LaFleur
The Story of Temple Drake
Movie • 1933
Minnie
The Last Gangster
Movie • 1937
Gloria
Shadow of the Thin Man
Movie • 1941
Stella
The Jackie Robinson Story
Movie • 1950
Jackie's Mother
Du Barry Was a Lady
Movie • 1943
Niagara
She Done Him Wrong
Movie • 1933
Pearl
Bombshell
Movie • 1933
Loretta
A Southern Yankee
Movie • 1948
Laundry Woman
Reap the Wild Wind
Movie • 1942
Maum Maria
The Facts of Life
Movie • 1960
Gussie
The Midnight Patrol
Movie • 1933
Maid (scenes deleted)
Imitation of Life
Movie • 1934
Delilah Johnson
Made for Each Other
Movie • 1939
Lily (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
Movie • 1933
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Belle Starr
Movie • 1941
Mammy Lou
Night World
Movie • 1932
Maid (uncredited)
What Price Hollywood?
Movie • 1932
Mary's Maid Bonita
Coquette
Movie • 1929
Julia
Teenage Rebel
Movie • 1956
Willamay
The Dark Horse
Movie • 1932
Kay's Maid Levinnia
Girls About Town
Movie • 1931
Hattie
Bedside
Movie • 1934
Pansy
Colorado Sundown
Movie • 1952
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
Millie
Movie • 1931
Maid (uncredited)
No Time for Comedy
Movie • 1940
Clementine
Wild Girl
Movie • 1932
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Reckless Living
Movie • 1931
Maid
Sign of the Wolf
Movie • 1941
Beulah
She Couldn't Say No
Movie • 1930
Cora
Girl Missing
Movie • 1933
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
Young Widow
Movie • 1946
Rosie
The Expert
Movie • 1932
Lulu
Kisses for Breakfast
Movie • 1941
Clotilda
It's Tough to Be Famous
Movie • 1932
Ada, Janet's Maid
Wide Open
Movie • 1930
Easter
The Woman Condemned
Movie • 1934
Sally
Election Day
Movie • 1929
Farina's mother
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Movie • 1938
Cassey
In the Money
Movie • 1933
Lily
I Want a Divorce
Movie • 1940
Celestine
Lover Come Back
Movie • 1946
Martha
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Movie • 1934
Maid
Virginia
Movie • 1941
Ophelia
Unashamed
Movie • 1932
Amanda
Women Without Names
Movie • 1940
Ivory
Cheaters
Movie • 1934
Lily
Knights Before Christmas
Movie • 1930
Banjo
Movie • 1947
Lindy
Beggar's Holiday
Movie • 1934
Heliotrope
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Movie • 1932
Beautician (uncredited)
Back Pay
Movie • 1930
Nellie - Hester's Maid
My Blue Heaven
Movie • 1950
Selma
I've Got Your Number
Movie • 1934
Crystal
Love in a Bungalow
Movie • 1937
Millie
Good Sport
Movie • 1931
September
For the Love of Mary
Movie • 1948
Bertha
Ladies of the Big House
Movie • 1931
Ivory
Her Splendid Folly
Movie • 1933
Anastasia
Make Way for Tomorrow
Movie • 1937
Mamie
Palooka
Movie • 1934
Crystal
Too Busy to Work
Movie • 1932
Mammy
Good-bye, My Lady
Movie • 1956
Bonnie Drew
Safety in Numbers
Movie • 1930
Messalina
Brother Rat
Movie • 1938
Jenny
Bright Lights
Movie • 1930
Angela
Glamour
Movie • 1934
Millie
The Merry Frinks
Movie • 1934
Camille
True to the Navy
Movie • 1930
Maid (uncredited)
Registered Nurse
Movie • 1934
Flo - Sadie's Maid
Divorce In The Family
Movie • 1932
Rosetta
Parole Fixer
Movie • 1940
Aunt Lindy
Our Blushing Brides
Movie • 1930
Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Merry Wives of Reno
Movie • 1934
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Street of Women
Movie • 1932
Mattie, Natalie's maid
Six Cylinder Love
Movie • 1931
Wings Over Honolulu
Movie • 1937
Mammy
Dixie Jamboree
Movie • 1944
Opal
Dixie Jamboree
Movie • 1944
Sam the Deckhand
Rainbow on the River
Movie • 1936
Toinette
Primrose Path
Movie • 1940
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Don't Bet on Women
Movie • 1931
Maid (uncredited)
A Modern Hero
Movie • 1934
Azais's Maid
Sundown Trail
Movie • 1931
Auntie Jenny
Good Morning, Judge
Movie • 1943
Cleo
All by Myself
Movie • 1943
Willie
Notorious But Nice
Movie • 1933
Ophelia
General Spanky
Movie • 1936
Cornelia
The Big Street
Movie • 1942
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (uncredited)
Life Goes On
Movie • 1938
Sally Weston
Gambling Lady
Movie • 1934
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Honey
Movie • 1930
Black Revivalist
Thunderbolt
Movie • 1929
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Dr. Monica
Movie • 1934
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Paid
Movie • 1930
Convict (uncredited)
Manslaughter
Movie • 1930
Rose
Central Airport
Movie • 1933
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Hold Your Man
Movie • 1933
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Hell's Highway
Movie • 1932
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Pick-up
Movie • 1933
Magnolia (uncredited)
West of the Pecos
Movie • 1934
Mauree
There's Something About a Soldier
Movie • 1943
Birdie
Tammy and the Bachelor
Movie • 1957
Osia
Good Sam
Movie • 1948
Chloe
Glad Rag Doll
Movie • 1929
Hannah
Hunting Trouble
Movie • 1933
Lucy
Barbary Coast Gent
Movie • 1944
Bedelia
Party Husband
Movie • 1931
Laura's Maid
The Lady's from Kentucky
Movie • 1939
Aunt Tina
Never Wave at a WAC
Movie • 1953
Artamesa
The Vanishing Virginian
Movie • 1942
Aunt Emmeline
What Price Innocence?
Movie • 1933
Hannah
Scandal Street
Movie • 1938
Clairce
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Movie • 1960
Rose
Annapolis Farewell
Movie • 1935
Miranda
Her Bodyguard
Movie • 1933
Margot's Maid
Barnum Was Right
Movie • 1929
Maid
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Movie • 1932
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
Wives Never Know
Movie • 1936
Florabelle
Young America
Movie • 1942
Pansy
Top Man
Movie • 1943
Cleo
Outside the Law
Movie • 1930
Judy the Maid
South of Dixie
Movie • 1944
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
I Give My Love
Movie • 1934
Maid
Only Yesterday
Movie • 1933
Abby (Uncredited)
Delightfully Dangerous
Movie • 1945
Hannah
The Phantom Broadcast
Movie • 1933
Minnie
Tell It to the Judge
Movie • 1949
Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
Reform School
Movie • 1939
Mother Barton
Seven Sweethearts
Movie • 1942
Petunia, the Maid
You're Telling Me
Movie • 1932
The Maid (uncredited)
Doctor X
Movie • 1932
Louise (Uncredited)
Wall Street
Movie • 1929
Magnolia
Second Choice
Movie • 1930
Maid (uncredited)
You Can't Run Away from It
Movie • 1956
Maid
The Big Cage
Movie • 1933
Mandy
Young America
Movie • 1932
Maid (Uncredited)
The Headleys at Home
Movie • 1938
Hyacinth
I Dream of Jeanie
Movie • 1952
Mammy
Recaptured Love
Movie • 1930
Maid
Lover Come Back
Movie • 1946
Martha, Kay's Maid
I Believed in You
Movie • 1934
Prisoner
The Hostess with the Mostes'
Movie • 1957
Mattie Mae
Nix on Dames
Movie • 1929
Magnolia
Follow the Boys
Movie • 1944
Louise Beavers (uncredited)
Bourbon Street Beat
TV • 1959
Mrs. Teale
The Danny Thomas Show
TV • 1953
Louise
The Beulah Show
TV • 1950
Beulah
Make Room for Granddaddy
TV • 1970
The Swamp Fox
TV • 1959