Louise Beavers
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.
Fotos
Filme (148)
The Facts of Life
1960 · Gussie
All the Fine Young Cannibals
1960 · Rose
The Goddess
1958 · The Cook
Tammy and the Bachelor
1957 · Osia
The Hostess with the Mostes'
1957 · Mattie Mae
Teenage Rebel
1956 · Willamay
You Can't Run Away from It
1956 · Maid
Good-bye, My Lady
1956 · Bonnie Drew
Never Wave at a WAC
1953 · Artamesa
I Dream of Jeanie
1952 · Mammy
Colorado Sundown
1952 · Mattie, Jackie's Maid
My Blue Heaven
1950 · Selma
The Jackie Robinson Story
1950 · Jackie's Mother
Tell It to the Judge
1949 · Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)
For the Love of Mary
1948 · Bertha
Good Sam
1948 · Chloe
A Southern Yankee
1948 · Laundry Woman
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
1948 · Gussie
Banjo
1947 · Aunt Lindy
Lover Come Back
1946 · Martha, Martha, Kay's Maid
Young Widow
1946 · Rosie
Delightfully Dangerous
1945 · Hannah
Barbary Coast Gent
1944 · Bedelia
Dixie Jamboree
1944 · Opal, Sam the Deckhand
South of Dixie
1944 · Magnolia Brown / Chloe
Follow the Boys
1944 · Louise Beavers (uncredited)
There's Something About a Soldier
1943 · Birdie
Top Man
1943 · Cleo
Du Barry Was a Lady
1943 · Niagara
All by Myself
1943 · Willie
Good Morning, Judge
1943 · Cleo
Seven Sweethearts
1942 · Petunia, the Maid
The Big Street
1942 · Ruby (uncredited)
Holiday Inn
1942 · Mamie
Reap the Wild Wind
1942 · Maum Maria
Young America
1942 · Pansy
The Vanishing Virginian
1942 · Aunt Emmeline
Shadow of the Thin Man
1941 · Stella
Belle Starr
1941 · Mammy Lou
Kisses for Breakfast
1941 · Clotilda
Sign of the Wolf
1941 · Beulah
Virginia
1941 · Ophelia
I Want a Divorce
1940 · Celestine
No Time for Comedy
1940 · Clementine
Primrose Path
1940 · Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)
Women Without Names
1940 · Ivory
Parole Fixer
1940 · Aunt Lindy
The Lady's from Kentucky
1939 · Aunt Tina
Reform School
1939 · Mother Barton
Made for Each Other
1939 · Lily (uncredited)
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
1938 · Cassey
The Headleys at Home
1938 · Hyacinth
Brother Rat
1938 · Jenny
Life Goes On
1938 · Sally Weston
Scandal Street
1938 · Clairce
The Last Gangster
1937 · Gloria
Love in a Bungalow
1937 · Millie
Wings Over Honolulu
1937 · Mammy
Make Way for Tomorrow
1937 · Mamie
Rainbow on the River
1936 · Toinette
General Spanky
1936 · Cornelia
Wives Never Know
1936 · Florabelle
Bullets or Ballots
1936 · Nellie LaFleur
Annapolis Farewell
1935 · Miranda
West of the Pecos
1934 · Mauree
Imitation of Life
1934 · Delilah Johnson
Beggar's Holiday
1934 · Heliotrope
I Give My Love
1934 · Maid
Dr. Monica
1934 · Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
The Merry Frinks
1934 · Camille
Cheaters
1934 · Lily
A Modern Hero
1934 · Azais's Maid
Merry Wives of Reno
1934 · Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited)
Glamour
1934 · Millie
I Believed in You
1934 · Prisoner
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
1934 · Maid
Registered Nurse
1934 · Flo - Sadie's Maid
The Woman Condemned
1934 · Sally
Gambling Lady
1934 · Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)
I've Got Your Number
1934 · Crystal
Bedside
1934 · Pansy
Palooka
1934 · Crystal
In the Money
1933 · Lily
Only Yesterday
1933 · Abby (Uncredited)
Bombshell
1933 · Loretta
Her Splendid Folly
1933 · Anastasia
Notorious But Nice
1933 · Ophelia
The Midnight Patrol
1933 · Maid (scenes deleted)
A Shriek in the Night
1933 · Maid
Her Bodyguard
1933 · Margot's Maid
Midnight Mary
1933 · Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)
Hold Your Man
1933 · Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)
What Price Innocence?
1933 · Hannah
The Story of Temple Drake
1933 · Minnie
The Big Cage
1933 · Mandy
Central Airport
1933 · Hotel Maid (uncredited)
Pick-up
1933 · Magnolia (uncredited)
The Phantom Broadcast
1933 · Minnie
42nd Street
1933 · Pansy (uncredited)
Girl Missing
1933 · Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)
She Done Him Wrong
1933 · Pearl
Hunting Trouble
1933 · Lucy
Too Busy to Work
1932 · Mammy
Wild Girl
1932 · Mammy Lou (uncredited)
Hell's Highway
1932 · Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)
Divorce In The Family
1932 · Rosetta
Doctor X
1932 · Louise (Uncredited)
Unashamed
1932 · Amanda
What Price Hollywood?
1932 · Mary's Maid Bonita
The Dark Horse
1932 · Kay's Maid Levinnia
Street of Women
1932 · Mattie, Natalie's maid
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
1932 · Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
Night World
1932 · Maid (uncredited)
Young America
1932 · Maid (Uncredited)
You're Telling Me
1932 · The Maid (uncredited)
It's Tough to Be Famous
1932 · Ada, Janet's Maid
The Expert
1932 · Lulu
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
1932 · Beautician (uncredited)
Ladies of the Big House
1931 · Ivory
Good Sport
1931 · September
Girls About Town
1931 · Hattie
Reckless Living
1931 · Maid
Sundown Trail
1931 · Auntie Jenny
Party Husband
1931 · Laura's Maid
Six Cylinder Love
1931
Don't Bet on Women
1931 · Maid (uncredited)
Millie
1931 · Maid (uncredited)
Paid
1930 · Convict (uncredited)
Knights Before Christmas
1930
Bright Lights
1930 · Angela
Outside the Law
1930 · Judy the Maid
Manslaughter
1930 · Rose
Our Blushing Brides
1930 · Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)
Recaptured Love
1930 · Maid
Back Pay
1930 · Nellie - Hester's Maid
Safety in Numbers
1930 · Messalina
True to the Navy
1930 · Maid (uncredited)
Honey
1930 · Black Revivalist
She Couldn't Say No
1930 · Cora
Wide Open
1930 · Easter
Second Choice
1930 · Maid (uncredited)
Wall Street
1929 · Magnolia
Nix on Dames
1929 · Magnolia
Barnum Was Right
1929 · Maid
Thunderbolt
1929 · Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Glad Rag Doll
1929 · Hannah
Coquette
1929 · Julia
Election Day
1929 · Farina's mother
