Louise Beavers

Louise Beavers

  • Birthday: 1902-03-08
  • Deathday: 1962-10-26
  • Place of birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
  • Also know as: Louise Beaver

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

Reform School

1939

As Mother Barton

Love in a Bungalow

1937

As Millie

The Jackie Robinson Story

1950

As Jackie's Mother

Hunting Trouble

1933

As Lucy

Imitation of Life

1934

As Delilah Johnson

Sign of the Wolf

1941

As Beulah

Banjo

1947

As Lindy

Good Morning, Judge

1943

As Cleo

Good Sam

1948

As Chloe

The Lady's from Kentucky

1939

As Aunt Tina

Holiday Inn

1942

As Mamie

Lover Come Back

1946

As Martha

Too Busy to Work

1932

As Mammy

Good-bye, My Lady

1956

As Bonnie Drew

All by Myself

1943

As Willie

Manslaughter

1930

As Rose

West of the Pecos

1934

As Mauree

What Price Hollywood?

1932

As Mary's Maid Bonita

What Price Innocence?

1933

As Hannah

Beggar's Holiday

1934

As Heliotrope

Belle Starr

1941

As Mammy Lou

Teenage Rebel

1956

As Willamay

No Time for Comedy

1940

As Clementine

Young Widow

1946

As Rosie

The Expert

1932

As Lulu

Wide Open

1930

As Easter

I Want a Divorce

1940

As Celestine

Women Without Names

1940

As Ivory

Rainbow on the River

1936

As Toinette

Annapolis Farewell

1935

As Miranda

Wives Never Know

1936

As Florabelle

Outside the Law

1930

As Judy the Maid

You're Telling Me

1932

As The Maid (uncredited)

Cheaters

1934

As Lily

Coquette

1929

As Julia

Colorado Sundown

1952

As Mattie, Jackie's Maid

Election Day

1929

As Farina's mother

My Blue Heaven

1950

As Selma

Back Pay

1930

As Nellie - Hester's Maid

Good Sport

1931

As September

The Merry Frinks

1934

As Camille

Street of Women

1932

As Mattie, Natalie's maid

Don't Bet on Women

1931

As Maid (uncredited)

Her Bodyguard

1933

As Margot's Maid

Delightfully Dangerous

1945

As Hannah

The Headleys at Home

1938

As Hyacinth

Made for Each Other

1939

As Lily (uncredited)

It's Tough to Be Famous

1932

As Ada, Janet's Maid

The Woman Condemned

1934

As Sally

In the Money

1933

As Lily

Her Splendid Folly

1933

As Anastasia

Glamour

1934

As Millie

Sundown Trail

1931

As Auntie Jenny

Central Airport

1933

As Hotel Maid (uncredited)

Party Husband

1931

As Laura's Maid

Barnum Was Right

1929

As Maid

Young America

1942

As Pansy

Top Man

1943

As Cleo

The Greeks Had a Word for Them

1932

As Beautician (uncredited)

Du Barry was a Lady

1943

As Niagara

Bombshell

1933

As Loretta

Reap the Wild Wind

1942

As Maum Maria

Virginia

1941

As Ophelia

Make Way for Tomorrow

1937

As Mamie

Merry Wives of Reno

1934

As Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)

Wings Over Honolulu

1937

As Mammy

Dixie Jamboree

1944

As Opal

Notorious But Nice

1933

As Ophelia

Honey

1930

As Black Revivalist

Hell's Highway

1932

As Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)

South of Dixie

1944

As Magnolia Brown / Chloe

I Give My Love

1934

As Maid

The Phantom Broadcast

1933

As Minnie

Young America

1932

As Maid (Uncredited)

A Southern Yankee

1948

As Laundry Woman

Girls About Town

1931

As Hattie

Unashamed

1932

As Amanda

Palooka

1934

As Crystal

Safety in Numbers

1930

As Messalina

Divorce In The Family

1932

As Rosetta

Dixie Jamboree

1944

As Sam the Deckhand

Girl Missing

1933

As Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)

Primrose Path

1940

As Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)

General Spanky

1936

As Cornelia

Tell It to the Judge

1949

As Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)

Second Choice

1930

As Maid (uncredited)

The Last Gangster

1937

As Gloria

The Facts of Life

1960

As Gussie

The Dark Horse

1932

As Kay's Maid Levinnia

Kisses for Breakfast

1941

As Clotilda

Bright Lights

1930

As Angela

True to the Navy

1930

As Maid (uncredited)

Parole Fixer

1940

As Aunt Lindy

Dr. Monica

1934

As Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)

Hold Your Man

1933

As Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)

Pick-up

1933

As Magnolia (uncredited)

Barbary Coast Gent

1944

As Bedelia

Never Wave at a WAC

1953

As Artamesa

The Vanishing Virginian

1942

As Aunt Emmeline

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

1932

As Washroom Attendant (uncredited)

The Big Cage

1933

As Mandy

The Goddess

1958

As The Cook

Shadow of the Thin Man

1941

As Stella

Bedside

1934

As Pansy

The Big Street

1942

As Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)

Paid

1930

As Convict (uncredited)

I Dream of Jeanie

1952

As Mammy

Bullets or Ballots

1936

As Nellie LaFleur

She Done Him Wrong

1933

As Pearl

The Midnight Patrol

1933

As Maid (scenes deleted)

I've Got Your Number

1934

As Crystal

For the Love of Mary

1948

As Bertha

Brother Rat

1938

As Jenny

Gambling Lady

1934

As Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)

Glad Rag Doll

1929

As Hannah

Reckless Living

1931

As Maid

42nd Street

1933

As Pansy (uncredited)

A Modern Hero

1934

As Azais's Maid

Thunderbolt

1929

As Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Scandal Street

1938

As Clairce

Wall Street

1929

As Magnolia

Midnight Mary

1933

As Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)

Millie

1931

As Maid (uncredited)

Night World

1932

As Maid (uncredited)

Wild Girl

1932

As Mammy Lou (uncredited)

Registered Nurse

1934

As Flo - Sadie's Maid

Only Yesterday

1933

As Abby (Uncredited)

Seven Sweethearts

1942

As Petunia, the Maid

Doctor X

1932

As Louise (Uncredited)

Our Blushing Brides

1930

As Amelia the Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)

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