CineScope
Louise Beavers picture

Louise Beavers

Acting
Known For

60 Years Old

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.

Born

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA on 8th March 1902

Died

26th October 1962

All Credits

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