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Louise Beavers

Louise Beavers

28 movies on Netflix

Biography

Louise Beavers was an American actress whose screen and television work spanned the 1920s through 1960, including dozens of movies and two hit television shows. She grew up in Pasadena after being born in Cincinnati, and her earliest stage experience came with the Lady Minstrels, an amateur group. An agent who represented African-American performers encouraged her to try movies, and she won a part in Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927). Early roles cast her as slaves, mothers, maids, and domestic servants. Coquette (1929) brought wider notice and helped her seek less stereotyped parts, among them Delilah in Imitation of Life (1934) and the lead in Reform School (1939). In Holiday Inn (1942) she sang in a minstrel sequence. On television she was one of three actresses to play the housekeeper Beulah, and she appeared as a maid on The Danny Thomas Show. She also did theater tours, sometimes for 20 weeks. In 1976 the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame inducted her.

62years old at death

  • Born Cincinnati
  • Died Hollywood
  • Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
  • Also credited as Louise Ellen Beavers and Louise E. Beavers

Movie Career

Films
28
Career span
31 years1929 to 1960

Genres

First and latest

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  1. A first

    Beavers was one of three actresses, along with Hattie McDaniel and Ethel Waters, to play the housekeeper Beulah on the television show Beulah, which was the first sitcom to star a black person.

  2. First role

    Beavers started acting with the Lady Minstrels, young women who put on amateur shows at the Loews State Theatre. Charles Butler, an agent for African-American actors, watched one of her early performances and told her to try out for a film role.

  3. Beyond film

    Beavers sang a song in a minstrel show scene in Holiday Inn (1942) that marked Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Bing Crosby and other performers appear in blackface in that number, which some viewers find racially offensive, so television screenings often remove it.

Louise Beavers movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Imitation of Life1934 Drama, Romanceas Delilah Johnson

    IMDb rating 7.56.3K votes

  2. Holiday Inn1942 Comedy, Drama, Musicas Mamie

    IMDb rating 7.320K votes

  3. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House1948as Gussie

    IMDb rating 7.214K votes

  4. Make Way for Tomorrow1937as Mamie

    IMDb rating 8.111K votes

  5. What Price Hollywood?1932as Mary's Maid Bonita

    IMDb rating 7.02.9K votes

  6. The Jackie Robinson Story1950as Jackie's Mother

    IMDb rating 6.41.6K votes

  7. Good Sam1948as Chloe

    IMDb rating 6.31.2K votes

  8. Coquette1929as Julia

    IMDb rating 5.42.5K votes

Most often with

Leo McCarey directed two of these films, John Cromwell two and Archie Mayo two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Irving Bacon, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Irving BaconHenry Kolker, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Henry KolkerRochelle Hudson, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Rochelle HudsonBess Flowers, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Bess FlowersCary Grant, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Cary GrantHenry O'Neill, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Henry O'NeillLeo McCareyDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Leo McCareyJohn CromwellDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by John CromwellArchie MayoDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Archie Mayo

Films together

Awards

One award and honor.

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Louise Beavers's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
1976Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (posthumous)Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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