Person Details

Birthday: 1902-03-08 00:06:05

Death: 1962-10-26 00:06:05

Aliases: Louise Beaver

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 76

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

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.

Most Famous Work

Make Way for Tomorrow
Average
8

Make Way for Tomorrow

(1937) Mamie
Imitation of Life
Average
7

Imitation of Life

(1934) Delilah Johnson
Reap the Wild Wind
Average
7

Reap the Wild Wind

(1942) Maum Maria
The Big Street
Average
7

The Big Street

(1942) Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
Coquette
Average
6

Coquette

(1929) Julia
The Last Gangster
Average
6

The Last Gangster

(1937) Gloria
Bullets or Ballots
Average
7

Bullets or Ballots

(1936) Nellie LaFleur
Our Blushing Brides
Average
6

Our Blushing Brides

(1930) Amelia the Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1970 N/A
1960 Gussie
Rose
1959 N/A
N/A
1958 The Cook
1957 Osia
1956 Willamay
Maid
Bonnie Drew
1953 Louise
Artamesa
1952 Mammy
Mattie, Jackie's Maid
1950 Beulah
Selma
Jackie's Mother
1949 Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
1948 Chloe
Bertha
Laundry Woman
Gussie
1947 Lindy
1946 Martha
Rosie
1945 Hannah
1944 Bedelia
Sam the Deckhand
Opal
Magnolia Brown / Chloe
1943 Birdie
Cleo
Niagara
Willie
Cleo
1942 Petunia, the Maid
Ruby, Gloria's Maid (Uncredited)
Mamie
Maum Maria
Pansy
Aunt Emmeline
1941 Stella
Mammy Lou
Clotilda
Beulah
Ophelia
1940 Celestine
Clementine
Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Ivory
Aunt Lindy
1939 Aunt Tina
Mother Barton
Lily (uncredited)
1938 Cassey
Hyacinth
Jenny
Clairce
1937 Gloria
Millie
Mammy
Mamie
1936 Toinette
Cornelia
Florabelle
Nellie LaFleur
1935 Miranda
1934 Mauree
Delilah Johnson
Maid
Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Camille
Lily
Azais's Maid
Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Millie
Flo - Sadie's Maid
Maid
Sally
Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
Crystal
Pansy
Crystal
1933 Lily
Abby (Uncredited)
Loretta
Anastasia
Ophelia
Maid (scenes deleted)
Maid
Margot's Maid
Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Hannah
Minnie
Mandy
Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Magnolia (uncredited)
Minnie
Pansy (uncredited)
Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
Pearl
Lucy
1932 Mammy
Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Rosetta
Louise (Uncredited)
Amanda
Mary's Maid Bonita
Kay's Maid Levinnia
Mattie, Natalie's maid
Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
Maid (uncredited)
Maid (Uncredited)
The Maid (uncredited)
Ada, Janet's Maid
Lulu
Beautician (uncredited)
1931 Ivory
September
Hattie
Maid
Auntie Jenny
Laura's Maid
Maid (uncredited)
Maid (uncredited)
1930 Convict (uncredited)
N/A
Angela
Judy the Maid
Rose
Amelia the Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Nellie - Hester's Maid
Messalina
Maid (uncredited)
Black Revivalist
N/A
Easter
Maid (uncredited)
1929 Magnolia
Maid
Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Hannah
Julia
Farina's mother
Year Character Movie/Tv

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