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Louise Beavers

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 8, 1902
Died
October 26, 1962 (aged 60)
From
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
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.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

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

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 7
Mentor
2 of 7
Trickster
2 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
11
Romantic
10
Tense
10
Melancholic
9
Joyful
8
Other
27

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • 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).

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)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
  • The Facts of Life(1960)

    as Gussie

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • The Swamp Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Teale

  • The Goddess(1958)

    as The Cook

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

    as Mattie Mae

  • Teenage Rebel(1956)

    as Willamay

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Good-bye, My Lady(1956)

    as Bonnie Drew

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • The Danny Thomas Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 5 episodes · as Louise

  • Never Wave at a WAC(1953)

    as Artamesa

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • I Dream of Jeanie(1952)

    as Mammy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Colorado Sundown(1952)

    as Mattie, Jackie's Maid

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • The Beulah Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 39 episodes · as Beulah

  • My Blue Heaven(1950)

    as Selma

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Jackie Robinson Story(1950)

    as Jackie's Mother

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Tell It to the Judge(1949)

    as Cleo, Marsha's Maid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • For the Love of Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Bertha

  • Good Sam(1948)

    as Chloe

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • A Southern Yankee(1948)

    as Laundry Woman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Banjo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Lindy

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

    as Martha · as Martha, Kay's Maid

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

    as Rosie

  • Delightfully Dangerous(1945)

    as Hannah

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

    as Bedelia

  • Dixie Jamboree(1944)

    as Opal · as Sam the Deckhand

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

    as Magnolia Brown / Chloe

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

    as Louise Beavers (uncredited)

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

    as Birdie

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

    as Cleo

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    as Niagara

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • All by Myself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Willie

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

    as Cleo

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

    as Petunia, the Maid

  • The Big Street(1942)

    as Ruby (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Holiday Inn(1942)

    as Mamie

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Reap the Wild Wind(1942)

    as Maum Maria

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Pansy

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

    as Aunt Emmeline

  • Shadow of the Thin Man(1941)

    as Stella

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Belle Starr(1941)

    as Mammy Lou

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Kisses for Breakfast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Clotilda

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

    as Beulah

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

    as Ophelia

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

    as Celestine

  • No Time for Comedy(1940)

    as Clementine

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Primrose Path(1940)

    as Woman Talking to Police (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • Women Without Names (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Ivory

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

    as Aunt Lindy

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

    as Mother Barton

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

    as Aunt Tina

  • Made for Each Other(1939)

    as Lily (uncredited)

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

    as Cassey

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

    as Hyacinth

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

    as Jenny

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

    as Sally Weston

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

    as Clairce

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

    as Gloria

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

    as Millie

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

    as Mammy

  • Make Way for Tomorrow(1937)

    as Mamie

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Rainbow on the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Toinette

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

    as Cornelia

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

    as Florabelle

  • Bullets or Ballots(1936)

    as Nellie LaFleur

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

    as Miranda

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

    as Mauree

  • Imitation of Life(1934)

    as Delilah Johnson

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

    as Heliotrope

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

    as Maid

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

    as Sarah - Mary's Maid (uncredited)

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

    as Camille

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

    as Lily

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

    as Azais's Maid

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

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

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

    as Millie

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

    as Prisoner

  • Registered Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Flo - Sadie's Maid

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

    as Maid

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

    as Sally

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

    as Suzy - Peter's Cook (uncredited)

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

    as Crystal

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

    as Pansy

  • Palooka(1934)

    as Crystal

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • In the Money(1933)

    as Lily

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

    as Abby (Uncredited)

  • Bombshell(1933)

    as Loretta

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

    as Anastasia

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

    as Ophelia

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

    as Maid (scenes deleted)

  • Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Her Bodyguard(1933)

    as Margot's Maid

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Hold Your Man(1933)

    as Elite Club Attendant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Midnight Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mary's Maid Anna (uncredited)

  • What Price Innocence? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Hannah

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

    as Mandy

  • Central Airport(1933)

    as Hotel Maid (uncredited)

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

    as Magnolia (uncredited)

  • The Phantom Broadcast(1933)

    as Minnie

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • 42nd Street(1933)

    as Pansy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Girl Missing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Julie, Daisy's Maid (Uncredited)

  • She Done Him Wrong(1933)

    as Pearl

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Hunting Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lucy

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

    as Mammy

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

    as Mammy Lou (uncredited)

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

    as Rascal's Sweetheart at Visitor's Center (uncredited)

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

    as Rosetta

  • Doctor X(1932)

    as Louise (Uncredited)

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

    as Amanda

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

    as Mary's Maid Bonita

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

    as Kay's Maid Levinnia

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

    as Mattie, Natalie's maid

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

    as Washroom Attendant (uncredited)

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

    as Maid (uncredited)

  • Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Maid (Uncredited)

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

    as The Maid (uncredited)

  • It's Tough to Be Famous(1932)

    as Ada, Janet's Maid

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • The Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Lulu

  • The Greeks Had a Word for Them(1932)

    as Beautician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Ladies of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Ivory

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

    as September

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

    as Hattie

  • Reckless Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Maid

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

    as Auntie Jenny

  • Party Husband(1931)

    as Laura's Maid

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

    Actor

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

    as Maid (uncredited)

  • Millie(1931)

    as Maid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Paid(1930)

    as Convict (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Knights Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Actor

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

    as Angela

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

    as Judy the Maid

  • Manslaughter(1930)

    as Rose

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

    as Amelia - The Mannequins' Maid (uncredited)

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

    as Maid

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

    as Nellie - Hester's Maid

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

    as Messalina

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

    as Maid (uncredited)

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

    as Black Revivalist

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

    as Cora

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

    as Easter

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

    as Maid (uncredited)

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

    as Magnolia

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

    as Magnolia

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

    as Maid

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

    as Black Cat Cafe Patron (uncredited)

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

    as Hannah

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

    as Julia

  • Election Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Farina's mother

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.

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting153 of 153: 153 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score52nd

By decade

1920s7 · acting1930s94 · acting1940s34 · acting1950s15 · acting1960s2 · acting1970s1 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
2934

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.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 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

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles