Louise Beavers
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.
Known For
Pansy (uncredited)
42nd Street
The Cook
The Goddess
Maid
A Shriek in the Night
Gussie
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Mamie
Holiday Inn
Nellie LaFleur
Bullets or Ballots
Minnie
The Story of Temple Drake
Gloria
The Last Gangster
Stella
Shadow of the Thin Man
Jackie's Mother
The Jackie Robinson Story
Niagara
Du Barry Was a Lady
Pearl
She Done Him Wrong
Loretta
Bombshell
Laundry Woman
A Southern Yankee
Maum Maria
Reap the Wild Wind
Gussie
The Facts of Life
Maid (scenes deleted)
The Midnight Patrol
Delilah Johnson
Imitation of Life
Lily (uncredited)
Made for Each Other
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
Mammy Lou
Belle Starr
Maid (uncredited)
Night World
Mary's Maid Bonita
What Price Hollywood?
Julia
Coquette
Willamay
Teenage Rebel
Kay's Maid Levinnia
The Dark Horse
Hattie
Girls About Town
Pansy
Bedside
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
Colorado Sundown
Maid (uncredited)
Millie
Clementine
No Time for Comedy
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Wild Girl
Maid
Reckless Living
Beulah
Sign of the Wolf
Cora
She Couldn't Say No
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
Girl Missing
Rosie
Young Widow
Lulu
The Expert
Clotilda
Kisses for Breakfast
Ada, Janet's Maid
It's Tough to Be Famous
Easter
Wide Open
Sally
The Woman Condemned
Farina's mother
Election Day
Cassey
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Lily
In the Money
Celestine
I Want a Divorce
Martha
Lover Come Back
Maid
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Ophelia
Virginia
Amanda
Unashamed
Ivory
Women Without Names
Lily
Cheaters
Knights Before Christmas
Lindy
Banjo
Heliotrope
Beggar's Holiday
Beautician (uncredited)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Nellie - Hester's Maid
Back Pay
Selma
My Blue Heaven
Crystal
I've Got Your Number
Millie
Love in a Bungalow
September
Good Sport
Bertha
For the Love of Mary
Ivory
Ladies of the Big House
Anastasia
Her Splendid Folly
Mamie
Make Way for Tomorrow
Crystal
Palooka
Mammy
Too Busy to Work
Bonnie Drew
Good-bye, My Lady
Messalina
Safety in Numbers
Jenny
Brother Rat
Angela
Bright Lights
Millie
Glamour
Camille
The Merry Frinks
Maid (uncredited)
True to the Navy
Flo - Sadie's Maid
Registered Nurse
Rosetta
Divorce In The Family
Aunt Lindy
Parole Fixer
Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Our Blushing Brides
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Merry Wives of Reno
Mattie, Natalie's maid
Street of Women
Six Cylinder Love
Mammy
Wings Over Honolulu
Opal
Dixie Jamboree
Sam the Deckhand
Dixie Jamboree
Toinette
Rainbow on the River
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Primrose Path
Maid (uncredited)
Don't Bet on Women
Azais's Maid
A Modern Hero
Auntie Jenny
Sundown Trail
Cleo
Good Morning, Judge
Willie
All by Myself
Ophelia
Notorious But Nice
Cornelia
General Spanky
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
The Big Street
Sally Weston
Life Goes On
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Gambling Lady
Black Revivalist
Honey
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Thunderbolt
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Dr. Monica
Convict (uncredited)
Paid
Rose
Manslaughter
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Central Airport
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Hold Your Man
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Hell's Highway
Magnolia (uncredited)
Pick-up
Mauree
West of the Pecos
Birdie
There's Something About a Soldier
Osia
Tammy and the Bachelor
Chloe
Good Sam
Hannah
Glad Rag Doll
Lucy
Hunting Trouble
Bedelia
Barbary Coast Gent
Laura's Maid
Party Husband
Aunt Tina
The Lady's from Kentucky
Artamesa
Never Wave at a WAC
Aunt Emmeline
The Vanishing Virginian
Hannah
What Price Innocence?
Clairce
Scandal Street
Rose
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Miranda
Annapolis Farewell
Margot's Maid
Her Bodyguard
Maid
Barnum Was Right
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Florabelle
Wives Never Know
Pansy
Young America
Cleo
Top Man
Judy the Maid
Outside the Law
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
South of Dixie
Maid
I Give My Love
Abby (Uncredited)
Only Yesterday
Hannah
Delightfully Dangerous
Minnie
The Phantom Broadcast
Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
Tell It to the Judge
Mother Barton
Reform School
Petunia, the Maid
Seven Sweethearts
The Maid (uncredited)
You're Telling Me
Louise (Uncredited)
Doctor X
Magnolia
Wall Street
Maid (uncredited)
Second Choice
Maid
You Can't Run Away from It
Mandy
The Big Cage
Maid (Uncredited)
Young America
Hyacinth
The Headleys at Home
Mammy
I Dream of Jeanie
Maid
Recaptured Love
Martha, Kay's Maid
Lover Come Back
Prisoner
I Believed in You
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
147
Gender
Female
Birthday
1902-03-08
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Also Known As
Louise Beaver