Louise Beavers
Louise Beavers was an American film and television actress who appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows from the 1920s to 1960. She played a prominent role in advancing the lives of black Americans through her work and collaborated with fellow advocates to improve the social standing and media image of the black community.
Early life
Beavers was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to school teacher Ernestine Beavers and William M. Beavers, who was originally from Georgia. Her mother's illness caused the family to move to Pasadena, California.In Pasadena, she attended school and engaged in several after-school activities, such as basketball and church choir. Her mother also worked as a voice teacher and taught her how to sing. In 1920, Beavers graduated from Pasadena High School. She then worked as a dressing-room attendant for a photographer and served as a personal maid to film star Leatrice Joy.
Career
Beavers's acting career began as a member of the Lady Minstrels, a group of young women who staged amateur productions and appeared on stage at the Loews State Theatre. Charles Butler, an agent for African-American actors, saw one of her early performances and recommended that she audition for a film role.Beavers was initially hesitant to audition for film roles because of the negative portrayal of blacks in film. She once said, "In all the pictures I had seen… they never used colored people for anything except savages." However, she won a role in the film Uncle Tom’s Cabin and went on to play stereotypical black roles such as those of a slave, a mother figure, a maid or domestic servant.
After playing the role of Julia, the maid and mother figure to a young white woman, in Coquette, Beavers gained more attention for her work and was able to transition to less stereotypical roles. Beavers played Delilah in Imitation of Life, again in the role of a housekeeper, but, instead of the usual stereotypical comedic or purely functional role, Delilah's storyline constitutes a secondary parallel plot in which her problems are given considerable emotional gravity. Some in the media recognized the unfairness of Hollywood's double standard regarding race. A contributor to California Graphic Magazine wrote: "the Academy could not recognize Miss Beavers. She is black!"
Beavers played the lead role in the film Reform School, once thought to be a lost film, as a forward-thinking probation officer who becomes the superintendent of a reform school and implements major changes.
In the film Holiday Inn, Beavers performed a song during a minstrel show number celebrating Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Because the number features Bing Crosby and others in blackface, some consider it racially offensive and it is often excised from television screenings of the film.
Beavers was one of three actresses to portray housekeeper Beulah on the Beulah television show, the first television sitcom to star a black person. She also played a maid for the first two seasons of The Danny Thomas Show.
In addition to her film work, Beavers conducted theater tours as long as 20 weeks each year.
As Beavers's career grew, some criticized her for the roles that she accepted, alleging that such roles institutionalized the view that blacks were subservient to whites. Beavers dismissed the criticism, acknowledging the limited opportunities available but saying: "I am only playing the parts. I don't live them." As she became more widely known, Beavers began to speak against Hollywood's portrayal and treatment of African Americans, both during production and after promoting the films. Beavers became active in public life, seeking to help support African Americans. She endorsed Robert S. Abbott, the editor of The Chicago Defender, who fought for African-Americans' civil rights. She supported Richard Nixon, who she believed would help black Americans in the struggle for civil rights.
Personal life
Beavers's cousin George Beavers, Jr. was a cofounder of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.She became a prominent and active member of the black community in Los Angeles. She was involved in community functions, including those at the People’s Independent Church, where she helped develop the theater program of the Young People’s Lyceum. She was also involved in the 1939 public ceremonies celebrating development of the all-black resort Val Verde County Park.
In 1936, Beavers married Robert Clark, who later became her manager. Beavers and Clark later divorced and remarried.
In 1952, Beavers married Leroy Moore, with whom she remained until her death in 1962. She had no children.
In later life, Beavers was plagued by health issues, including diabetes. She died on October 26, 1962, at the age of 62, following a heart attack, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles.
Honors
Beavers was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1976.She was an honorary member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, one of the four historically African-American sororities and a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also referred to as the Divine 9.
Filmography
;FeaturesUncle Tom's Cabin as Slave at Wedding Coquette as JuliaGlad Rag Doll as HannahGold Diggers of Broadway as Sadie, the MaidBarnum Was Right as Maid Wall Street as MagnoliaNix on Dames as MagnoliaSecond Choice as Maid Wide Open as EasterShe Couldn't Say No as CoraHoney as Black Revivalist True to the Navy as Maid Safety in Numbers as MessalinaBack Pay as Nellie, Hester's Maid Recaptured Love as Maid Our Blushing Brides as Amelia, the Mannequins' Maid Manslaughter as Rose Outside the Law as Judy the Maid Bright Lights as Angela - the Maid Paid as Black Convict Scandal Sheet Millie as Maid Don't Bet on Women as Maid Six Cylinder Love Party Husband as Laura's Maid Annabelle's Affairs as RubySundown Trail as Auntie JennyReckless Living as MaidGirls About Town as HattieGood Sport as SeptemberLadies of the Big House as IvoryThe Greeks Had a Word for Them as Beautician The Expert as LuluIt's Tough to Be Famous as Ada, Janet's MaidYoung America as Maid Night World as Maid The Strange Love of Molly Louvain as Washroom Attendant Street of Women as Mattie, Natalie's maidThe Dark Horse as Levinnia, Kay's Maid What Price Hollywood? as The MaidUnashamed as Amanda JonesDivorce in the Family as RosettaHell's Highway as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor Center Wild Girl as Mammy Lou Too Busy to Work as MammyShe Done Him Wrong as PearlHer Splendid Folly as Anastasia42nd Street as Pansy, Dorothy's Maid Girl Missing as Julie - Daisy's Maid The Phantom Broadcast as Penny Pick-Up as Magnolia Central Airport as Hotel Maid The Big Cage as Mandy The Story of Temple Drake as MinnieWhat Price Innocence? as HannahHold Your Man as Elite Club Attendant Midnight Mary as Anna, Mary's Maid Her Bodyguard as Margot's MaidA Shriek in the Night as MaidNotorious But Nice as Ophelia Bombshell as LorettaOnly Yesterday as Abby, the Emerson's Maid In the Money as LilyJimmy and Sally as Maid Palooka as CrystalBedside as PansyI've Got Your Number as CrystalGambling Lady as Suzy - Peter's Cook A Modern Hero as Azais' Maid The Woman Condemned as Sally - Jane's MaidRegistered Nurse as Flo, Sadie's Maid Glamour as MillieI Believed in You as Prisoner Merry Wives of Reno as Derwent's Client, Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce Cheaters as LilyThe Merry Frinks as Camille, Hattie's MaidDr. Monica as Sarah - Mary's Maid I Give My Love as MaidBeggar's Holiday as HeliotropeImitation of Life as Delilah JohnsonWest of the Pecos as MaureeMillion Dollar Baby as Black MotherAnnapolis Farewell as MirandaBullets or Ballots as Nellie LaFleurWives Never Know as FlorabelleGeneral Spanky as CorneliaRainbow on the River as ToinetteMake Way for Tomorrow as MamieWings Over Honolulu as MammyLove in a Bungalow as MillieThe Last Gangster as GloriaScandal Street as ClairceLife Goes On as Sally WestonBrother Rat as JennyThe Headleys at Home as HyacinthPeck's Bad Boy with the Circus as CasseyMade for Each Other as Lily, Cook #3 The Lady's from Kentucky as Aunt TinaReform School as Mother BartonParole Fixer as Aunt LindyWomen Without Names as IvoryPrimrose Path as Woman Talking to Police I Want a Divorce as CelestineNo Time for Comedy as ClementineVirginia as OpheliaSign of the Wolf as BeulahKisses for Breakfast as ClotildaBelle Starr as Mammy LouShadow of the Thin Man as StellaThe Vanishing Virginian as Aunt EmmelineYoung America as PansyReap the Wild Wind as Maum MariaHoliday Inn as MamieThe Big Street as Ruby - Gloria's Maid Seven Sweethearts as Petunia, the MaidTennessee Johnson as Addie Good Morning, Judge as CleoDuBarry Was a Lady as NiagaraAll by Myself as WillieTop Man as Cleo - the Warrens' MaidJack London as Mammy JennyThere's Something About a Soldier as Birdie Follow the Boys as Louise Beavers South of Dixie as Magnolia Brown / ChloeDixie Jamboree as OpalBarbary Coast Gent as BedeliaDelightfully Dangerous as HannahYoung Widow as Rosie, the Cook Lover Come Back as Martha, Kay's MaidBanjo as LindyMr. Blandings Builds His Dream House as GussieA Southern Yankee as Laundry Woman For the Love of Mary as BerthaGood Sam as ChloeTell It to the Judge as Cleo, Marsha's Maid Girls' School as HattieThe Jackie Robinson Story as Jackie's MotherMy Blue Heaven as SelmaColorado Sundown as Mattie - Jackie's MaidI Dream of Jeanie as MammyNever Wave at a WAC as Artamesa, Jo's MaidGood-bye, My Lady as Bonnie DrewYou Can't Run Away from It as MaidTeenage Rebel as WillamayTammy and the Bachelor as OsiaThe Goddess as The CookAll the Fine Young Cannibals as RoseThe Facts of Life as Gussie;Short subjectsOriental Hugs Election Day as Farina's MotherKnights Before Christmas You're Telling Me as The Maid Hesitating Love The Midnight Patrol
- ''Grin and Bear It''