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.
148 movies · 5 shows
The Facts of Life
1960·5.3
All the Fine Young Cannibals
1960·5.9
The Goddess
1958·6.0
Tammy and the Bachelor
1957·7.0
The Hostess with the Mostes'
1957·0.0
Teenage Rebel
1956·7.0
You Can't Run Away from It
1956·5.1
Good-bye, My Lady
1956·7.8
Never Wave at a WAC
1953·5.0
I Dream of Jeanie
1952·4.0
Colorado Sundown
1952·5.0
My Blue Heaven
1950·7.5
The Jackie Robinson Story
1950·6.3
Tell It to the Judge
1949·6.6
For the Love of Mary
1948·6.2
Good Sam
1948·6.3
A Southern Yankee
1948·5.5
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
1948·7.0
Banjo
1947·7.7
Lover Come Back
1946·7.1
Young Widow
1946·4.8
Delightfully Dangerous
1945·5.3
Barbary Coast Gent
1944·5.5
Dixie Jamboree
1944·5.4
South of Dixie
1944·10.0
Follow the Boys
1944·5.7
There's Something About a Soldier
1943·5.4
Top Man
1943·9.0
Du Barry Was a Lady
1943·6.5
All by Myself
1943·8.0
Good Morning, Judge
1943·10.0
Seven Sweethearts
1942·6.3
The Big Street
1942·5.8
Holiday Inn
1942·7.0
Reap the Wild Wind
1942·6.4
Young America
1942·9.0
The Vanishing Virginian
1942·7.3
Shadow of the Thin Man
1941·7.0
Belle Starr
1941·5.9
Kisses for Breakfast
1941·6.3
Sign of the Wolf
1941·7.0
Virginia
1941·9.0
I Want a Divorce
1940·10.0
No Time for Comedy
1940·5.3
Primrose Path
1940·6.7
Women Without Names
1940·4.7
Parole Fixer
1940·5.0
The Lady's from Kentucky
1939·8.0
Reform School
1939·8.0
Made for Each Other
1939·6.1
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
1938·5.4
The Headleys at Home
1938·10.0
Brother Rat
1938·6.0
Life Goes On
1938·8.0
Scandal Street
1938·8.0
The Last Gangster
1937·6.4
Love in a Bungalow
1937·10.0
Wings Over Honolulu
1937·6.4
Make Way for Tomorrow
1937·7.5
Rainbow on the River
1936·8.7
General Spanky
1936·5.7
Wives Never Know
1936·9.0
Bullets or Ballots
1936·6.6
Annapolis Farewell
1935·8.0
West of the Pecos
1934·7.0
Imitation of Life
1934·7.0
Beggar's Holiday
1934·9.0
I Give My Love
1934·7.5
Dr. Monica
1934·5.0
The Merry Frinks
1934·4.8
Cheaters
1934·10.0
A Modern Hero
1934·7.0
Merry Wives of Reno
1934·4.4
Glamour
1934·4.3
I Believed in You
1934·7.0
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
1934·0.0
Registered Nurse
1934·4.8
The Woman Condemned
1934·4.6
Gambling Lady
1934·6.2
I've Got Your Number
1934·6.8
Bedside
1934·5.6
Palooka
1934·3.6
In the Money
1933·5.7
Only Yesterday
1933·7.1
Bombshell
1933·6.5
Her Splendid Folly
1933·7.0
Notorious But Nice
1933·6.7
The Midnight Patrol
1933·6.6
A Shriek in the Night
1933·5.2
Her Bodyguard
1933·6.7
Midnight Mary
1933·6.8
Hold Your Man
1933·6.3
What Price Innocence?
1933·6.5
The Story of Temple Drake
1933·6.5
The Big Cage
1933·8.0
Central Airport
1933·6.0
Pick-up
1933·5.1
The Phantom Broadcast
1933·5.1
42nd Street
1933·6.9
Girl Missing
1933·5.2
She Done Him Wrong
1933·5.9
Hunting Trouble
1933·10.0
Too Busy to Work
1932·6.5
Wild Girl
1932·6.2
Hell's Highway
1932·6.1
Divorce In The Family
1932·6.8
Doctor X
1932·6.0
Unashamed
1932·7.3
What Price Hollywood?
1932·6.8
The Dark Horse
1932·7.4
Street of Women
1932·5.0
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
1932·6.1
Night World
1932·6.8
Young America
1932·5.5
You're Telling Me
1932·5.3
It's Tough to Be Famous
1932·6.4
The Expert
1932·7.3
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
1932·5.6
Ladies of the Big House
1931·6.0
Good Sport
1931·5.5
Girls About Town
1931·6.6
Reckless Living
1931·4.3
Sundown Trail
1931·7.8
Party Husband
1931·6.5
Six Cylinder Love
1931·9.0
Don't Bet on Women
1931·4.9
Millie
1931·5.3
Paid
1930·6.7
Knights Before Christmas
1930·8.0
Bright Lights
1930·5.2
Outside the Law
1930·5.2
Manslaughter
1930·7.0
Our Blushing Brides
1930·5.6
Recaptured Love
1930·6.0
Back Pay
1930·4.9
Safety in Numbers
1930·5.5
True to the Navy
1930·7.5
Honey
1930·5.7
She Couldn't Say No
1930·10.0
Wide Open
1930·5.6
Second Choice
1930·8.0
Wall Street
1929·7.0
Nix on Dames
1929·10.0
Barnum Was Right
1929·7.5
Thunderbolt
1929·5.7
Glad Rag Doll
1929·9.0
Coquette
1929·5.9
Election Day
1929·7.0