
Louise Beavers
Actor · Died October 26, 1962, aged 60 · Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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.
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Biography from TMDB.
- March 8, 1902
- October 26, 1962 (aged 60)
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Actor
- 49 on MovieCove · 153 credits in all
What are Louise Beavers' films like?
Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 25
Light 14 · Serious 13 · Dark 2
Grounded 20 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1
Gentle 11 · Charged 16 · Intense 2
A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 5
A split, not a type: Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 1
Casual 22 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 16 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 2
Resolved 29 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Ally: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.
Show the 7 rolesHide the roles
- Allyas Lily in In the Money (1933)
- Heroas Delilah Johnson in Imitation of Life (1934)
- Allyas Clementine in No Time for Comedy (1940)
- Mentoras Mammy Lou in Belle Starr (1941)
- Mentoras Mamie in Holiday Inn (1942)
- Tricksteras Gussie in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
- Tricksteras Mattie in Colorado Sundown (1952)
Moods and endings
- Happy17
- Bittersweet11
- Tragic1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Louise Beavers' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).
- Manslaughter (1930) · actor · free
- The Facts of Life (1960) · actor · free
- The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) · actor · free
- Made for Each Other (1939) · actor · free
- Paid (1930) · actor · free
- Millie (1931) · actor · free
- Colorado Sundown (1952) · actor · free
- Belle Starr (1941) · actor · free
- Never Wave at a WAC (1953) · actor · free
- Delightfully Dangerous (1945) · actor · free
- Palooka (1934) · actor · free
- I Dream of Jeanie (1952) · actor · free
- +3 more
- The Facts of Life (1960) · actor
- The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) · actor
- Made for Each Other (1939) · actor
- The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932) · actor
- Colorado Sundown (1952) · actor
- Never Wave at a WAC (1953) · actor
- Palooka (1934) · actor
- The Phantom Broadcast (1933) · actor
- I Dream of Jeanie (1952) · actor
- A Shriek in the Night (1933) · actor
- In the Money (1933) · actor
- Dixie Jamboree (1944) · actor
- IndieFlix, show their 7 titles on IndieFlix
- Great American Pure Flix, show their 5 titles on Great American Pure Flix
- Best Westerns Ever, show their title on Best Westerns Ever
- Dove Channel, show their title on Dove Channel
- ScreenPix, show their title on ScreenPix
- Shout! TV, show their title on Shout! TV
- UP Faith & Family, show their title on UP Faith & Family
Subscription and free streaming for Louise Beavers' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
153 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page.

Make Room for Granddaddy(1970)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
The Facts of Life(1960)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Swamp Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

The Goddess(1958)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Tammy and the Bachelor(1957)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
The Hostess with the Mostes' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Teenage Rebel(1956)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Good-bye, My Lady(1956)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
The Danny Thomas Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Never Wave at a WAC(1953)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
I Dream of Jeanie(1952)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Colorado Sundown(1952)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all filmsThe Beulah Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

My Blue Heaven(1950)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Tell It to the Judge(1949)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
For the Love of Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Good Sam(1948)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
A Southern Yankee(1948)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Banjo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

Lover Come Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Young Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Delightfully Dangerous(1945)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Barbary Coast Gent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Dixie Jamboree(1944)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
South of Dixie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Follow the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

There's Something About a Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Top Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
All by Myself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Good Morning, Judge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Seven Sweethearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

The Big Street(1942)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Holiday Inn(1942)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Reap the Wild Wind(1942)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

The Vanishing Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Shadow of the Thin Man(1941)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Belle Starr(1941)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Kisses for Breakfast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Sign of the Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Virginia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

I Want a Divorce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

No Time for Comedy(1940)
Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
Primrose Path(1940)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Women Without Names (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Parole Fixer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Reform School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

The Lady's from Kentucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

Made for Each Other(1939)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

The Headleys at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Brother Rat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Life Goes On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Scandal Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

The Last Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Love in a Bungalow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Wings Over Honolulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Make Way for Tomorrow(1937)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Rainbow on the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

General Spanky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Wives Never Know (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Bullets or Ballots(1936)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Annapolis Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

West of the Pecos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Imitation of Life(1934)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Beggar's Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

I Give My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Dr. Monica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

The Merry Frinks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Cheaters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

A Modern Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Merry Wives of Reno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Glamour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

I Believed in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Registered Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Strictly Fresh Yeggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

The Woman Condemned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Gambling Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

I've Got Your Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Bedside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Palooka(1934)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
In the Money(1933)
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Only Yesterday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Bombshell(1933)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Her Splendid Folly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Notorious But Nice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Midnight Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

A Shriek in the Night(1933)
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
Her Bodyguard(1933)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Hold Your Man(1933)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Midnight Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

What Price Innocence? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
The Big Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Central Airport(1933)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Pick-up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Phantom Broadcast(1933)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
42nd Street(1933)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Girl Missing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

She Done Him Wrong(1933)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all filmsHunting Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Too Busy to Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Wild Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Hell's Highway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Divorce In The Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Doctor X(1932)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Unashamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

What Price Hollywood? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Dark Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Street of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Night World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
You're Telling Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

It's Tough to Be Famous(1932)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
The Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Ladies of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Good Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Girls About Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Reckless Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Sundown Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Party Husband(1931)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Six Cylinder Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Don't Bet on Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Millie(1931)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Paid(1930)
Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all filmsKnights Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Bright Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Outside the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Manslaughter(1930)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Our Blushing Brides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Recaptured Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Back Pay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Safety in Numbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

True to the Navy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Honey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

She Couldn't Say No (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Wide Open (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Second Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Wall Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Nix on Dames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Barnum Was Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Thunderbolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Glad Rag Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Coquette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Election Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Career shape
Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 153 titles from 1929 to 1970.

Biggest box office
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)

Highest rated
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)

Most popular right now
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Film career
Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.
- 1929Screen debut· Coquette
- 1934Career best· Imitation of Life
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.
How do Louise Beavers' films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 48; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up12
- 50th to 74th15
- 25th to 49th15
- Below 25th7
Shape of the crowd
22 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved3
- Crowd Pleaser22
- Broadly Agreed12
- Mixed12
Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Louise Beavers work with?
People who share at least 2 of Louise Beavers' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alfred E. Green shares the most, 3.
Directors
- Alfred E. GreenShared titles: The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Central Airport (1933), It's Tough to Be Famous (1932)See all 3 shared titles with Alfred E. Green

- William A. WellmanShared titles: Good-bye, My Lady (1956), Central Airport (1933)See all 2 shared titles with William A. Wellman

- Leo McCareyShared titles: Good Sam (1948), Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)See all 2 shared titles with Leo McCarey

Writers
- Claude BinyonShared titles: My Blue Heaven (1950), Holiday Inn (1942)See all 2 shared titles with Claude Binyon
- Lamar TrottiShared titles: My Blue Heaven (1950), Belle Starr (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Lamar Trotti

- Lawrence TaylorShared titles: The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Dixie Jamboree (1944)See all 2 shared titles with Lawrence Taylor
- Walter DeLeonShared titles: Delightfully Dangerous (1945), Her Bodyguard (1933)See all 2 shared titles with Walter DeLeon
Actors
- Mildred NatwickShared titles: Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), Teenage Rebel (1956)See all 2 shared titles with Mildred Natwick

- Walter BrennanShared titles: Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), Good-bye, My Lady (1956)See all 2 shared titles with Walter Brennan

- Ginger RogersShared titles: Teenage Rebel (1956), A Shriek in the Night (1933)See all 2 shared titles with Ginger Rogers

- Betty GrableShared titles: My Blue Heaven (1950), The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)See all 2 shared titles with Betty Grable

Composers and cinematographers
- Arthur E. ArlingShared titles: Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), My Blue Heaven (1950)See all 2 shared titles with Arthur E. Arling
- Leigh HarlineShared titles: Teenage Rebel (1956), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)See all 2 shared titles with Leigh Harline

- George BarnesShared titles: Good Sam (1948), The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932)See all 2 shared titles with George Barnes

- Robert Emmett DolanShared titles: Good Sam (1948), Holiday Inn (1942)See all 2 shared titles with Robert Emmett Dolan
Producers
- Hal B. WallisShared titles: No Time for Comedy (1940), Central Airport (1933)See all 2 shared titles with Hal B. Wallis

Mixed roles
- John WayneShared titles: Good-bye, My Lady (1956), Reap the Wild Wind (1942)See all 2 shared titles with John Wayne

- Robert LordShared titles: No Time for Comedy (1940), It's Tough to Be Famous (1932)See all 2 shared titles with Robert Lord




