Louise Beavers (March 8, 1902 – October 26, 1962) was an American film and television actress. From the 1920s until 1960, she appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows. She was most often cast in the roles of a maid, servant or

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

Early life

Beavers was born in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, to school teacher Ernestine (Monroe) Beavers and William M. Beavers, who was originally from

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. Due to her mother's illness, Louise and her parents moved to

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...

. She graduated from Pasadena High School. Imitation of Life (1934)--Louise Beavers&Claudette Colbert

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 Louise how to sing for concerts. In June 1920, she graduated from Pasadena High School. She worked as a dressing room attendant for a photographer and served as a personal maid to film star

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler, who was o ...

. Like her cousin, Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company co-founder, George Beavers, Jr., Louise Beavers was a prominent and active member of the African American community in Los Angeles. She was involved in community functions, from the People’s Independent Church, where she helped develop the theater program of the Young People’s Lyceum, to the 1939 public ceremonies celebrating development of the all-black resort, Val Verde County Park. She was in a group called the Lady Minstrels, a group of young women who staged amateur productions and appeared on stage at the Loews State Theatre. Either her career began with her performance in the Lady Minstrels or in a contest at the

Philharmonic Auditorium Hazard's Pavilion was a large auditorium in Los Angeles, California, at the intersection of Fifth and Olive Streets. Showman George "Roundhouse" Lehman had planned to construct a large theatre center on the land he purchased at this location, bu ...

, which occurred later. Charles Butler from the Central Casting Bureau, who was known for being an agent for African American actors, saw the performance and recommended that Beavers try for a role for a movie. At first she was hesitant to try out for movies because of how African Americans were portrayed in movies and how Hollywood encouraged these roles. She once said, "In all the pictures I had seen… they never used colored people for anything except savages." Despite this, she tried out for a part in the film ''

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U. ...

'' (1927), and won the part.

Career

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 in which she acted. She started to gain more attention in the acting world after she played the role of Julia in ''

Coquette A coquette is a flirtatious woman. It may refer to: * ''The Coquette'' (film), a 1917 German silent comedy film * ''Coquette'' (film), an Academy Award-winning 1929 film starring Mary Pickford * ''Coqueta '' (1949 film), a Mexican musical film * ' ...

'' (1929), which starred

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

. 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 often played roles in which she helps a white protagonist mature in the course of the movie. Louise Beavers Bobby Breen Rainbow on the River

Louise Beavers Bobby Breen Rainbow on the River

Beavers played Delilah in '' Imitation of Life'' (1934) in a dramatic role. Her character again plays a black housekeeper, 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's 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. A contributor to ''California Graphic Magazine'' wrote: "the Academy could not recognize Miss Beavers. She is black!" She played the lead role in the film ''

Reform School A reform school was a penal institution, generally for teenagers mainly operating between 1830 and 1900. In the United Kingdom and its colonies reformatories commonly called reform schools were set up from 1854 onwards for youngsters who were ...

'' (1939), once thought to be lost, in which she portrayed a professional authority figure: a forward-thinking probation officer who becomes the superintendent of a reform school and implements major changes. Life Goes On lobby card

In the motion picture ''

Holiday Inn Holiday Inn is an American chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia. and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson, who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee that year. The chain was a division ...

'' (1942), in a celebration for Lincoln's Birthday, there was a big minstrel show number, "Abraham," which featured musical performances by Beavers as Mamie and

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

as Jim Hardy (who performs in traditional blackface makeup). This number, as well as the scene itself, are sometimes cut from the film's showings on television. Louise Beavers in Reap the Wild Wind trailer

Louise Beavers in Reap the Wild Wind trailer

Beavers, who was raised in the North and in California, had to learn to speak the Southern Negro dialect. As Beavers's 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 better 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 ''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...

'', who fought for African Americans' civil rights. She supported

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

, whom she believed would help black Americans in the United States in the civil rights battle. Beavers was one of three actresses (including

Hattie McDaniel Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893October 26, 1952) was an American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. For her role as Mammy in ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, ...

and

Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her no ...

) to portray housekeeper Beulah on the '' Beulah''

television show A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...

. That show was the first television

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

to star a black person. She also played a maid, Louise, for the first two seasons of ''

The Danny Thomas Show ''The Danny Thomas Show'' (titled ''Make Room for Daddy'' for its first three seasons) is an American sitcom that ran from 1953 to 1957 on ABC and from 1957 to 1964 on CBS. Starring Danny Thomas as a successful night club entertainer, the show f ...

'' (1953–1955).

Marriage

Beavers married Robert Clark in 1936. He later became her manager. She not only worked in movies, but also on "twenty-week tours of theaters that she conducted annually". Beavers and Clark later divorced and remarried. Much later, in 1952, Beavers married Leroy Moore, who was either an interior designer or a chef (varying sources); they remained married until her death in 1962. She had no children.

Death

In later life, Beavers was plagued by health issues, including

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...

. She died on October 26, 1962, at the age of 60, following a heart attack, at

Cedars of Lebanon Hospital Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over ...

in Los Angeles.

Honors

Beavers was inducted into the

Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI), was founded in 1974, in Oakland, California. It supported and promoted black filmmaking, and preserved the contributions by African-American artists both before and behind the camera. It also sponso ...

in 1976. Beavers was an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, one of the four

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

sororities.

Filmography

;Features * ''

'' (1927) as Slave at Wedding (uncredited) * ''

'' (1929) as Julia * ''

Glad Rag Doll "Glad Rag Doll" is a 1928 song composed by Milton Ager and Dan Dougherty with lyrics by Jack Yellen. It was Ager and Yellen's first movie theme song, written for the motion picture of the same name (released in 1929) starring Dolores Costello. ...

'' (1929) as Hannah * ''

Gold Diggers of Broadway ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Winnie Lightner and Nick Lucas. Distributed by Warner Bros., the film is the second all-talking, all-Technicolor feature-length ...

'' (1929) as Sadie the Maid * ''

Barnum Was Right ''Barnum Was Right'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Del Lord and starring Glenn Tryon, Merna Kennedy and Basil Radford. Along with the sound version, the film was also released in a silent version for theatres not wired for sound. At ...

'' (1929) as Maid (uncredited) * '' Wall Street'' (1929) as Magnolia * ''

Nix on Dames Nix or NIX may refer to: Places * Nix, Alabama, an unincorporated community, United States * Nix, Texas, a ghost town in southwestern Lampasas County, Texas, United States * Nix (moon), a moon of Pluto People * Nix (surname), listing people with ...

'' (1929) as Magnolia * ''

Second Choice ''Second Choice'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code black-and-white film released by Warner Bros. and starring Dolores Costello and Chester Morris. The film is notable as being the first (and only film) in which Dolores Costello sang. It is a lost fi ...

'' (1930) as Maid (uncredited) * '' Wide Open'' (1930) as Easter * '' She Couldn't Say No'' (1930) as Cora * ''

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...

'' (1930) as Black Revivalist (uncredited) * ''

True to the Navy ''True to the Navy'' is a 1930 romantic comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle for Paramount Pictures. The film stars Clara Bow as a counter girl at a San Diego drugstore with a predilection for sailors. Eventually she sets her sights on Bull's Eye ...

'' (1930) as Maid (uncredited) * ''

Safety in Numbers Safety in numbers is the hypothesis that, by being part of a large physical group or mass, an individual is less likely to be the victim of a mishap, accident, attack, or other bad event. Some related theories also argue (and can show statistica ...

'' (1930) as Messalina * '' Back Pay'' (1930) as Nellie - Hester's Maid (uncredited) * ''

Recaptured Love ''Recaptured Love'' is a 1930 early talkie pre-Code musical drama film based on the play ''Misdeal'' by Basil Woon about a man who experiences a mid life crisis that results in his divorce. It stars Belle Bennett and John Halliday. Plot In this ...

'' (1930) as Maid (uncredited) * ''

Our Blushing Brides ''Our Blushing Brides'' is a 1930 American pre-Code society comedy/ romantic melodrama directed and produced by Harry Beaumont and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Anita Page and Dorothy Sebastian. The film follows '' Our Dancing Da ...

'' (1930) as Amelia - the Mannequins' Maid (uncredited) * ''

Manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th cen ...

'' (1930) as Rose (prison inmate) (uncredited) * '' Outside the Law'' (1930) as Judy the Maid (uncredited) * '' Bright Lights'' (1930) as Angela - the Maid (uncredited) * '' Paid'' (1930) as Black Convict (uncredited) * ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1931) * ''

Millie Millie is a feminine given name or diminutive form of various other given names, such as Emily, Millicent, Mildred, Camilla or sometimes Amelia. People with the given name Notable people with the given name include: * Millie Bailey (1918–20 ...

'' (1931) as Maid (uncredited) * ''

Don't Bet on Women ''Don't Bet on Women'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Edmund Lowe, Jeanette MacDonald and Roland Young.Turk p.359 Plot On a whim, Herbert Blake proposes a wager with Roger Fallon that ...

'' (1931) as Maid (uncredited) * '' Six Cylinder Love'' (1931) as Bit Role (uncredited) * ''

Party Husband ''Party Husband'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film produced by First National Pictures and released through their parent company Warner Bros. It was directed by Clarence G. Badger and stars Dorothy Mackaill. It is preserved at the Librar ...

'' (1931) as Laura's Maid (uncredited) * '' Annabelle's Affairs'' (1931) as Ruby * '' Sundown Trail'' (1931) as Auntie Jenny * '' Reckless Living'' (1931) as Maid * '' Girls About Town'' (1931) as Hattie * ''

Good Sport ''Good Sport'' is a 1931 American comedy film directed by Kenneth MacKenna and written by William Hurlbut. The film stars Linda Watkins, John Boles, Greta Nissen, Minna Gombell, Hedda Hopper and Alan Dinehart. The film was released on Decembe ...

'' (1931) as September * ''

Ladies of the Big House ''Ladies of the Big House'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Marion Gering and written by Ernest Booth, William Slavens McNutt and Grover Jones. The film stars Sylvia Sidney, Gene Raymond, Wynne Gibson, Earle Foxe, Rockl ...

'' (1931) as Ivory * '' The Greeks Had a Word for Them'' (1932) as Beautician (uncredited) * '' The Expert'' (1932) as Lulu * ''

It's Tough to Be Famous ''It's Tough to Be Famous'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Robert Lord. The film stars Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Mary Brian, Emma Dunn, Walter Catlett and David Landau. The film was released ...

'' (1932) as Ada, Janet's Maid * '' Young America'' (1932) as Maid (uncredited) * ''

Night World ''Night World'' is a series of nine young adult fiction, young adult fantasy novels by American author L. J. Smith (author), L. J. Smith. In the series, vampires, witches, Werewolf, werewolves, and shape-shifters live among humans without their ...

'' (1932) as Maid (uncredited) * ''

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain ''The Strange Love of Molly Louvain'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Ann Dvorak and Lee Tracy. The script was based on the play ''Tinsel Girl'' by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Plot Molly Louva ...

'' (1932) as Washroom Attendant (uncredited) * '' Street of Women'' (1932) as Mattie, Natalie's maid * '' The Dark Horse'' (1932) as Levinnia, Kay's Maid (uncredited) * ''

What Price Hollywood? ''What Price Hollywood?'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett with Lowell Sherman. The screenplay by Gene Fowler, Rowland Brown, Jane Murfin and Ben Markson is based on a story by A ...

'' (1932) as The Maid * '' Unashamed'' (1932) as Amanda Jones * ''

Divorce in the Family ''Divorce in the Family'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Delmer Daves. The film stars Jackie Cooper, Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone, Lois Wilson and Jean Parker. It was released on August 27, 1932, ...

'' (1932) as Rosetta * '' Hell's Highway'' (1932) as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited) * '' Wild Girl'' (1932) as Mammy Lou (uncredited) * ''

Too Busy To Work Too Busy to Work may refer to: * ''Too Busy to Work'' (1932 film), an American drama film * ''Too Busy to Work'' (1939 film), an American comedy film {{disambiguation ...

'' (1932) as Mammy * ''

She Done Him Wrong ''She Done Him Wrong'' is a 1933 pre-Code American crime/comedy film starring Mae West and Cary Grant. The plot includes melodramatic and musical elements, with a supporting cast featuring Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery Sr., Rochelle Hu ...

'' (1933) as Pearl * ''

Her Splendid Folly Her is the objective and possessive form of the English-language feminine pronoun she. Her, HER or H.E.R. may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Music * H.E.R. (born 1997), American singer ** ''H.E.R.'' (album), 2017 * HIM (Finnis ...

'' (1933) as Anastasia * '' 42nd Street'' (1933) as Pansy - Dorothy's Maid (uncredited) * ''

Girl Missing ''Girl Missing'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film starring Glenda Farrell, Ben Lyon and Mary Brian. It was directed by Robert Florey and released by Warner Bros. on March 4, 1933. Two women stranded in Palm Beach become involved in ...

'' (1933) as Julie - Daisy's Maid (uncredited) * ''

The Phantom Broadcast ''The Phantom Broadcast'' is a 1933 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Ralph Forbes, Vivienne Osborne and Gail Patrick.Bradley p.169 It was based on a story by Tristram Tupper entitled ''Phantom of the Air''. An arrogant ...

'' (1933) as Penny (uncredited) * '' Pick-Up'' (1933) as Magnolia (uncredited) * '' Central Airport'' (1933) as Hotel Maid (uncredited) * ''

The Big Cage ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1933) as Mandy (uncredited) * ''

The Story of Temple Drake ''The Story of Temple Drake'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stephen Roberts and starring Miriam Hopkins and Jack La Rue. It tells the story of Temple Drake, a reckless woman in the American South who falls into the hands of ...

'' (1933) as Minnie * '' What Price Innocence?'' (1933) as Hannah * ''

Hold Your Man ''Hold Your Man '' is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by an uncredited Sam Wood and starring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, the third of their six films together.Landazuri, Margarit"Hold Your Man" (TCM article)/ref> The scre ...

'' (1933) as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited) * ''

Midnight Mary ''Midnight Mary'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone. Plot The very scary story begins with an indifferent Mary Martin (Young) sitting in a ...

'' (1933) as Anna - Mary's Maid (uncredited) * ''

Her Bodyguard ''Her Bodyguard'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Edmund Lowe, Wynne Gibson and Edward Arnold.Marshall p.315-16 Cast * Edmund Lowe as Casey McCarthy * Wynne Gibson as Margot Brienne * Edwa ...

'' (1933) as Margot's Maid * ''

A Shriek in the Night ''A Shriek in the Night'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery crime film with elements of romance directed by Albert Ray and starring Ginger Rogers, Lyle Talbot, and Harvey Clark. It was produced by the independent studio Allied Pictures, and ...

'' (1933) as Maid * ''

Notorious But Nice ''Notorious but Nice'' is a 1933 pre-Code American sound film drama directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Marian Marsh, Betty Compson and Don Dillaway. It was produced and distributed by B movie studio Chesterfield Motion Pictures. The film ...

'' (1933) as Ophelia (uncredited) * '' Bombshell'' (1933) as Loretta * '' Only Yesterday'' (1933) as Abby, the Emerson's Maid (uncredited) * ''

In the Money In finance, moneyness is the relative position of the current price (or future price) of an underlying asset (e.g., a stock) with respect to the strike price of a derivative, most commonly a call option or a put option. Moneyness is firstly a thr ...

'' (1933) as Lily * ''

Jimmy and Sally ''Jimmy and Sally'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by James Tinling and written by Paul Schofield and Marguerite Roberts with additional dialogue by William Conselman. Starring James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Harvey Stephen ...

'' (1933) as Maid (uncredited) * '' Palooka'' (1934) as Crystal * ''

Bedside ''Bedside'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film starring Warren William, Jean Muir and Allen Jenkins. Plot A man passes himself off as a doctor. Cast * Warren William as Bob Brown * Jean Muir as Caroline Grant * Allen Jenkins as Sam Sparks ...

'' (1934) as Pansy * '' I've Got Your Number'' (1934) as Crystal * '' Gambling Lady'' (1934) as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited) * ''

A Modern Hero ''A Modern Hero'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romance drama film starring Richard Barthelmess and directed by G. W. Pabst. It is based on the novel with the same title by Louis Bromfield. It was Pabst's only American talking film and the next ...

'' (1934) as Azais' Maid (uncredited) * ''

The Woman Condemned ''The Woman Condemned'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Dorothy Davenport, best known as a silent actress and the wife of actor Wallace Reid. Plot A radio star takes a vacation and is later found murdered. Barbara Hammond is ac ...

'' (1934) as Sally - Jane's Maid * '' Registered Nurse'' (1934) as Flo - Sadie's Maid (uncredited) * '' Glamour'' (1934) as Millie * ''

I Believed in You ''I Believed in You'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Irving Cummings and written by William M. Conselman. The film stars Rosemary Ames, John Boles, Victor Jory, Gertrude Michael, George Meeker and Leslie Fenton. The film was ...

'' (1934) as Prisoner (uncredited) * ''

Merry Wives of Reno ''Merry Wives of Reno'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell, Donald Woods, Margaret Lindsay, Hugh Herbert, Frank McHugh and Ruth Donnelly. The film was released by War ...

'' (1934) as Derwent's Client - Black Mother of 12 Wanting a Divorce (uncredited) * ''

Cheaters Cheater or Cheaters may refer to: Arts and entertainment Films * ''The Cheaters'' (1930 film), an Australian silent film * ''Cheaters'' (1934 film), an American film directed by Phil Rosent * ''The Cheaters'' (1945 film), directed by Joseph Ka ...

'' (1934) as Lily * ''

The Merry Frinks ''The Merry Frinks'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee and Hugh Herbert. It is also known by the alternative title of ''Happy Family''. Synopsis A put-upon mother inherits a fortu ...

'' (1934) as Camille, Hattie's Maid * ''

Dr. Monica ''Dr. Monica'' is a 1934 American pre-Code melodrama film produced by Warner Bros. starring Kay Francis, Warren William, and Jean Muir. An obstetrician, who is unable to have children, discovers that the baby she is about to deliver was fathe ...

'' (1934) as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited) * ''

I Give My Love ''I Give My Love'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Karl Freund and written by Doris Anderson and Milton Krims. The film stars Paul Lukas, Wynne Gibson, Eric Linden, Anita Louise, John Darrow and Dorothy Appleby. The film was released ...

'' (1934) as Maid * ''

Beggar's Holiday ''Beggar's Holiday'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by John La Touche and music by Duke Ellington. History and background The project originated with black scenic designer Perry Watkins, who envisioned a jazz-driven adaptation of John G ...

'' (1934) as Heliotrope * '' Imitation of Life'' (1934) as Delilah Johnson * '' West of the Pecos'' (1934) as Mauree * '' Million Dollar Baby'' (1934) as Black Mother * ''

Annapolis Farewell ''Annapolis Farewell'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Frank Craven and Jack Wagner. The film stars Guy Standing, Rosalind Keith, Tom Brown, Richard Cromwell, John Howard and Benny Baker. The film was re ...

'' (1935) as Miranda * ''

Bullets or Ballots ''Bullets or Ballots'' is a 1936 American gangster film starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane, and Humphrey Bogart. Robinson plays a police detective who infiltrates a crime gang. This is the first of several films featuri ...

'' (1936) as Nellie LaFleur * '' Wives Never Know'' (1936) as Florabelle * ''

General Spanky ''General Spanky'' is a 1936 American comedy film produced by Hal Roach. A spin-off of Roach's popular ''Our Gang'' short subjects, the film stars George McFarland, Phillips Holmes, Rosina Lawrence, Billie Thomas and Carl Switzer. Directed by F ...

'' (1936) as Cornelia * '' Rainbow on the River'' (1936) as Toinette * '' Make Way for Tomorrow'' (1937) as Mamie * '' Wings Over Honolulu'' (1937) as Mammy * ''

Love in a Bungalow ''Love in a Bungalow'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Austin Parker, Karen DeWolf and James Mulhauser. The film stars Nan Grey, Kent Taylor, Louise Beavers, J. Scott Smart, Minerva Urecal and Hobart Cavanaug ...

'' (1937) as Millie * ''

The Last Gangster ''The Last Gangster'' (also called ''Another Public Enemy'') is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Edward G. Robinson and James Stewart. The supporting cast features Rose Stradner, Lionel Stander and John C ...

'' (1937) as Gloria * '' Scandal Street'' (1938) as Clairce * '' Life Goes On'' (1938) as Sally Weston * ''

Brother Rat ''Brother Rat'' is a 1938 American comedy drama film about cadets at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, directed by William Keighley, and starring Ronald Reagan, Priscilla Lane, Eddie Albert (in his film debut), Jane Wyman, and ...

'' (1938) as Jenny * ''

The Headleys at Home ''The Headleys at Home'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Chris Beute and starring Evelyn Venable, Grant Mitchell (actor), Grant Mitchell and Vince Barnett.Goble p.670 Cast * Evelyn Venable as Pamela Headley * Grant Mitchell (actor), Gr ...

'' (1938) as Hyacinth * ''

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus ''Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, based on the book of the same name by George W. Peck, one of his stories of Peck's Bad Boy. Plot summary Bill Peck receives ten dollars from his ...

'' (1938) as Cassey * '' Made for Each Other'' (1939) as Lily - Cook #3 (uncredited) * ''

The Lady's from Kentucky ''The Lady's from Kentucky'' is a 1939 film directed by Alexander Hall and starring George Raft and Ellen Drew. It was written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan from a story by Rowland Brown. The screenplay involves a failing bookie (Raft) who becomes hal ...

'' (1939) as Aunt Tina * ''

'' (1939) as Mother Barton * ''

Parole Fixer ''Parole Fixer'' is a 1940 American crime film directed by Robert Florey. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover is credited for the source material, the 1938 book called ''Persons in Hiding'', a purported expose of corruptio ...

'' (1940) as Aunt Lindy * ''

Women Without Names ''Women Without Names'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Robert Florey. Plot Cast * Ellen Drew as Joyce King * Robert Paige as Fred MacNeil * Judith Barrett as Peggy Athens * John Miljan as District Attorney John Marlin * ...

'' (1940) as Ivory * '' Primrose Path'' (1940) as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited) * ''

I Want a Divorce ''I Want a Divorce'' is a 1940 Paramount film directed by Ralph Murphy. The screenplay was written by Frank Butler (based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns). The film starred then-married actors Joan Blondell and Dick Powell, who would later ...

'' (1940) as Celestine * ''

No Time for Comedy ''No Time for Comedy'' is a 1940 American comedy-drama film based on the play of the same name by S. N. Behrman, starring James Stewart, Rosalind Russell, Genevieve Tobin and Charlie Ruggles. Plot summary Gaylord Esterbrook (Stewart), a reporte ...

'' (1940) as Clementine * ''

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

'' (1941) as Ophelia * ''

Sign of the Wolf ''Sign of the Wolf'' is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Elizabeth Sutphin and Edmond Kelso. The film stars Michael Whalen, Grace Bradley, Darryl Hickman, Mantan Moreland, Louise Beavers and Wade Cros ...

'' (1941) as Beulah * '' Kisses for Breakfast'' (1941) as Clotilda * ''

Belle Starr Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr (February 5, 1848 – February 3, 1889), better known as Belle Starr, was an American outlaw who gained national notoriety after her violent death. She associated with the James–Younger Gang and other outlaws ...

'' (1941) as Mammy Lou * ''

Shadow of the Thin Man ''Shadow of the Thin Man'' is the fourth of six ''The Thin Man'' murder mystery comedy films. It was released by MGM in 1941 and was directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. Also, in this fil ...

'' (1941) as Stella * ''

The Vanishing Virginian ''The Vanishing Virginian'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Frank Morgan and Kathryn Grayson. It is based on the memoirs of Rebecca Yancey Williams and set in Lynchburg, Virginia, from 1913 to 1929. Synopsis ...

'' (1942) as Aunt Emmeline * '' Young America'' (1942) as Pansy * ''

Reap the Wild Wind ''Reap the Wild Wind'' is a 1942 American adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Ray Milland, John Wayne, and Paulette Goddard, with a supporting cast featuring Raymond Massey, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman, Sus ...

'' (1942) as Maum Maria * ''

'' (1942) as Mamie * ''

The Big Street ''The Big Street'' is a 1942 American drama film starring Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball, based on the 1940 short story "Little Pinks" by Damon Runyon, who also produced it. It was directed by Irving Reis from a screenplay by Leonard Spigelgass. ...

'' (1942) as Ruby - Gloria's Maid (uncredited) * '' Seven Sweethearts'' (1942) as Petunia, the Maid * ''

Tennessee Johnson ''Tennessee Johnson'' is a 1942 American film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by William Dieterle and written by Milton Gunzburg, Alvin Meyers, John Balderston, and We ...

'' (1942) as Addie (uncredited) * '' Good Morning, Judge'' (1943) as Cleo * ''

DuBarry Was a Lady ''Du Barry Was a Lady'' is a Broadway musical, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and the book by Herbert Fields and Buddy DeSylva.

'' (1943) as Niagara * ''

All by Myself "All by Myself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen released in 1975. The verse is based on the second movement (''Adagio sostenuto'') of Sergei Rachmaninoff's circa 1900–1901 '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Opus 18. The ...

'' (1943) as Willie * '' Top Man'' (1943) as Cleo - the Warrens' Maid * ''

Jack London John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...

'' (1943) as Mammy Jenny * '' There's Something About a Soldier'' (1943) as Birdie (uncredited) * '' Follow the Boys'' (1944) as Louise Beavers (uncredited) * ''

South of Dixie ''South of Dixie'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Clyde Bruckman. The film stars Anne Gwynne, David Bruce, Jerome Cowan, Ella Mae Morse, Joe Sawyer and Samuel S. Hinds. The film was released om June 23 ...

'' (1944) as Magnolia Brown / Chloe * '' Dixie Jamboree'' (1944) as Opal * ''

Barbary Coast Gent ''Barbary Coast Gent'' is a 1944 American Western comedy film set in 1880s San Francisco's Barbary Coast and Nevada starring Wallace Beery. The movie was directed by Roy Del Ruth and features Binnie Barnes, Beery's brother Noah Beery, Sr., Joh ...

'' (1944) as Bedelia * ''

Delightfully Dangerous ''Delightfully Dangerous'' is a 1945 American musical film directed by Arthur Lubin showcasing teenage singer Jane Powell—in her second film on loan out to United Artists from MGM—and orchestra leader Morton Gould. The working titles of thi ...

'' (1945) as Hannah * ''

Young Widow ''Young Widow'' is a 1946 drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Jane Russell and Louis Hayward. It focuses on Joan Kenwood, a young journalist who cannot get over her husband's death in World War II. Kenwood is reminded in large ways ...

'' (1946) as Rosie, the Cook (uncredited) * '' Lover Come Back'' (1946) as Martha, Kay's Maid * '' Banjo'' (1947) as Lindy * ''

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House ''Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas. Written and produced by the team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, it was an adaptation ...

'' (1948) as Gussie * ''

A Southern Yankee ''A Southern Yankee'' is a 1948 American comedy western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy and Arlene Dahl. The film is loosely based on Buster Keaton's '' The General'' (1926). Skelton plays a Union soldi ...

'' (1948) as Laundry Woman (uncredited) * ''

For the Love of Mary ''For the Love of Mary'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova and starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Don Taylor, and Jeffrey Lynn. Written by Oscar Brodney, the film is about a young woman who takes a jo ...

'' (1948) as Bertha * '' Good Sam'' (1948) as Chloe * '' Tell It to the Judge'' (1949) as Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited) * ''

Girls' School Single-sex education, also known as single-gender education and gender-isolated education, is the practice of conducting education with male and female students attending separate classes, perhaps in separate buildings or schools. The practice of ...

'' (1950) as Hattie * ''

The Jackie Robinson Story ''The Jackie Robinson Story'' is a 1950 biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green (who had directed ''The Jolson Story'', "one of the biggest hits of the 40s") and starring Jackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle ...

'' (1950) as Jackie's Mother * '' My Blue Heaven'' (1950) as Selma * ''

Colorado Sundown ''Colorado Sundown'' is a black and white 1952 American Western film directed by William Witney. It mixes genres: western, musical, crime story and comedy. Interspersed during the action are musical selections sung by The Republic Rhythm Riders ...

'' (1952) as Mattie - Jackie's Maid * '' I Dream of Jeanie'' (1952) as Mammy * '' Never Wave at a WAC'' (1953) as Artamesa, Jo's Maid * '' Good-bye, My Lady'' (1956) as Bonnie Drew * ''

You Can't Run Away from It ''You Can't Run Away from It'' is a 1956 musical comedy directed and produced by Dick Powell and starring June Allyson and Jack Lemmon. The film is a remake of the 1934 Academy Award-winning film ''It Happened One Night''. The supporting cast ...

'' (1956) as Maid * ''

Teenage Rebel ''Teenage Rebel'' is a 1956 American drama film directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Ginger Rogers and Michael Rennie. It was nominated for two Academy Awards; Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction ( Lyle R. Wheeler, Jack Martin Smith ...

'' (1956) as Willamay * ''

Tammy and the Bachelor ''Tammy and the Bachelor'' is a 1957 romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Debbie Reynolds as Tambrey "Tammy" Tyree, Walter Brennan as Grandpa Dinwitty and Leslie Nielsen as Peter Brent. It is the first of the four Tammy fil ...

'' (1957) as Osia * '' The Goddess'' (1958) as The Cook * ''

All the Fine Young Cannibals ''All the Fine Young Cannibals'' is a 1960 American film directed by Michael Anderson, based on the novel by Rosamond Marshall, starring Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, Susan Kohner, George Hamilton and Pearl Bailey. Hamilton said that the film ...

'' (1960) as Rose * '' The Facts of Life'' (1960) as Gussie ;Short subjects * ''Oriental Hugs'' (1928) * ''

Election Day Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections a ...

'' (1929) as Farina's Mother * ''Knights Before Christmas'' (1930) * '' You're Telling Me'' (1932) as The Maid (uncredited) * ''Hesitating Love'' (1932) * ''

The Midnight Patrol ''The Midnight Patrol'' is a short American pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy released August 3, 1933. Plot Laurel and Hardy play two policemen on night patrol, hence the title. They are given instructions to investigate a reporte ...

'' (1933) (scenes deleted) * ''Grin and Bear It'' (1933)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Beavers, Louise 1900 births 1962 deaths Actresses from Cincinnati African-American actresses American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Pasadena, California American television actresses American film actresses Burials at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles Ohio Republicans Pasadena High School (California) alumni 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people