Acting
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.
Filmography
Make Room for Granddaddy
Series · 1970
The Facts of Life
Film · 1960
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Film · 1960
Bourbon Street Beat
Series · 1959
The Swamp Fox
Series · 1959
The Goddess
Film · 1958
Tammy and the Bachelor
Film · 1957
The Hostess with the Mostes'
Film · 1957
Teenage Rebel
Film · 1956
Good-bye, My Lady
Film · 1956
You Can't Run Away from It
Film · 1956
Never Wave at a WAC
Film · 1953
The Danny Thomas Show
Series · 1953
Colorado Sundown
Film · 1952
I Dream of Jeanie
Film · 1952
The Jackie Robinson Story
Film · 1950
My Blue Heaven
Film · 1950
The Beulah Show
Series · 1950
Tell It to the Judge
Film · 1949
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Film · 1948
A Southern Yankee
Film · 1948
For the Love of Mary
Film · 1948
Good Sam
Film · 1948
Banjo
Film · 1947
Young Widow
Film · 1946
Lover Come Back
Film · 1946
Lover Come Back
Film · 1946
Delightfully Dangerous
Film · 1945
Dixie Jamboree
Film · 1944
Dixie Jamboree
Film · 1944
Barbary Coast Gent
Film · 1944
South of Dixie
Film · 1944
Follow the Boys
Film · 1944
Du Barry Was a Lady
Film · 1943
Good Morning, Judge
Film · 1943
All by Myself
Film · 1943
There's Something About a Soldier
Film · 1943
Top Man
Film · 1943
Holiday Inn
Film · 1942
Reap the Wild Wind
Film · 1942
The Big Street
Film · 1942
The Vanishing Virginian
Film · 1942
Young America
Film · 1942
Seven Sweethearts
Film · 1942
Shadow of the Thin Man
Film · 1941
Belle Starr
Film · 1941
Sign of the Wolf
Film · 1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Film · 1941
Virginia
Film · 1941
No Time for Comedy
Film · 1940
I Want a Divorce
Film · 1940
Women Without Names
Film · 1940
Parole Fixer
Film · 1940
Primrose Path
Film · 1940
Made for Each Other
Film · 1939
The Lady's from Kentucky
Film · 1939
Reform School
Film · 1939
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Film · 1938
Brother Rat
Film · 1938
Life Goes On
Film · 1938
Scandal Street
Film · 1938
The Headleys at Home
Film · 1938
The Last Gangster
Film · 1937
Love in a Bungalow
Film · 1937
Make Way for Tomorrow
Film · 1937
Wings Over Honolulu
Film · 1937
Bullets or Ballots
Film · 1936
Rainbow on the River
Film · 1936
General Spanky
Film · 1936
Wives Never Know
Film · 1936
Annapolis Farewell
Film · 1935
Imitation of Life
Film · 1934
Bedside
Film · 1934
The Woman Condemned
Film · 1934
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
Film · 1934
Cheaters
Film · 1934
Beggar's Holiday
Film · 1934
I've Got Your Number
Film · 1934
Palooka
Film · 1934
Glamour
Film · 1934
The Merry Frinks
Film · 1934
Registered Nurse
Film · 1934
Merry Wives of Reno
Film · 1934
A Modern Hero
Film · 1934
Gambling Lady
Film · 1934
Dr. Monica
Film · 1934
West of the Pecos
Film · 1934
I Give My Love
Film · 1934
I Believed in You
Film · 1934
42nd Street
Film · 1933
A Shriek in the Night
Film · 1933
The Story of Temple Drake
Film · 1933
She Done Him Wrong
Film · 1933
Bombshell
Film · 1933
The Midnight Patrol
Film · 1933
Midnight Mary
Film · 1933
Girl Missing
Film · 1933
In the Money
Film · 1933
Her Splendid Folly
Film · 1933
Notorious But Nice
Film · 1933
Central Airport
Film · 1933
Hold Your Man
Film · 1933
Pick-up
Film · 1933
Hunting Trouble
Film · 1933
What Price Innocence?
Film · 1933
Her Bodyguard
Film · 1933
Only Yesterday
Film · 1933
The Phantom Broadcast
Film · 1933
The Big Cage
Film · 1933
Night World
Film · 1932
What Price Hollywood?
Film · 1932
The Dark Horse
Film · 1932
Wild Girl
Film · 1932
The Expert
Film · 1932
It's Tough to Be Famous
Film · 1932
Unashamed
Film · 1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Film · 1932
Too Busy to Work
Film · 1932
Divorce In The Family
Film · 1932
Street of Women
Film · 1932
Hell's Highway
Film · 1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Film · 1932
You're Telling Me
Film · 1932
Doctor X
Film · 1932
Young America
Film · 1932
Girls About Town
Film · 1931
Millie
Film · 1931
Reckless Living
Film · 1931
Good Sport
Film · 1931
Ladies of the Big House
Film · 1931
Six Cylinder Love
Film · 1931
Don't Bet on Women
Film · 1931
Sundown Trail
Film · 1931
Party Husband
Film · 1931
She Couldn't Say No
Film · 1930
Wide Open
Film · 1930
Knights Before Christmas
Film · 1930
Back Pay
Film · 1930
Safety in Numbers
Film · 1930
Bright Lights
Film · 1930
True to the Navy
Film · 1930
Our Blushing Brides
Film · 1930
Honey
Film · 1930
Paid
Film · 1930
Manslaughter
Film · 1930
Outside the Law
Film · 1930
Second Choice
Film · 1930
Recaptured Love
Film · 1930
Coquette
Film · 1929
Election Day
Film · 1929
Thunderbolt
Film · 1929
Glad Rag Doll
Film · 1929
Barnum Was Right
Film · 1929
Wall Street
Film · 1929
Nix on Dames
Film · 1929