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