Frances Bay
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.
Known For
Thelma
Inspector Gadget
Aunt Barbara
Blue Velvet
Nanna
Ring Around the Rosie
Dottie
The Wedding Planner
Mrs. Pickman
In the Mouth of Madness
Mrs. Darmsetter
Finder's Fee
Mrs. Haynes
Big Top Pee-wee
Lydia
Amos
Mother Superior
Twins
Grandma
Happy Gilmore
Bertril
Nomads
Mrs. Steiner
Stranger Than Fiction
Rosie Mcintyre
Bare Knuckles
Mrs. Delillo
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Mrs. Russel
Foul Play
Mrs. Rosemont
The Paperboy
Arizona Motel Clerk
The Grifters
Esmeralda
The Pit and the Pendulum
Old Woman
Second Sight: A Love Story
Old Woman
Double Exposure
Rosalie
Rossini's Ghost
Grandma
Class Cruise
Aunt Sylvia
The Neighbor
Mrs. Lindey
Amy
Raspy
Sparkler
Grandma Johnson
Pickin' and Grinnin'
Mrs. Quincy
Topper
Grandma
Inside Monkey Zetterland
Aunt Barbara
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
Mabel Simpson
Callie & Son
Mrs. Milo
The Karate Kid Part III
A Whale for the Killing
Madam
Wild at Heart
The Eagle and The Bear
Librarian
The Attic
Mrs. Menges
Critters 3
Evelyn Metcalf
Arachnophobia
Fortune Teller
Edmond
Edna Winchester
Oh, Baby
Granny
Little Red Riding Hood
Older Woman
Annie's Point
Granma De La Chasse
Repo Chick
Birdie Fallmouth
Private School
Elderly Neighbor
Single White Female
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Mrs. Lewis
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
Miss Wyatt
A Rose for Emily
Martha Craddock
Forever Love
Female Patient
Buddy Buddy
Gertrude
Medium Rare
Lady with Dog
The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Kronner
Never Too Late
Old Woman
Goodbye Lover
Mrs. Lewenowski
Honky Tonk Freeway
Betty Gritz
Movers & Shakers
Edith Proxmire
Krippendorf's Tribe
Wise Old Woman
The Movie Hero
Iva Ruth McKinney
Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
Midge
Changing Habits
Mrs. Timmins
Wings
Kiss The Bride
Mrs. Sloan
The Operator
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
63
Gender
Female
Birthday
1919-01-23
Place of Birth
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Also Known As