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Beah Richards

Beah Richards

Actor · Died September 14, 2000, aged 80 · Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

Beulah Elizabeth Richardson (July 12, 1920 – September 14, 2000), known professionally as Beah Richards, was an American actress and writer. Richards was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her supporting role in the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in 1968, as well as winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for her guest roles in the television series Frank's Place in 1988 and The Practice in 2000. She also received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the 1965 production of The Amen Corner. Description above from the Wikipedia article Beah Richards, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 12, 1920
Died
September 14, 2000 (aged 80)
From
Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 64 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What are Beah Richards' films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Survival.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

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

share of theme weight
Society
29%
Survival
19%
Bonds
16%
Morality
14%
Self
14%
Power
6%
Ideas
2%
Prejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 6

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
6
Warm
4
Contemplative
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • 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 Beah Richards' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Beah Richards' 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

64 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Beloved(1998)

    as Baby Suggs

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Gertrude Turner

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 12 episodes · as Mae Benton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Out of Darkness(1994)

    as Mrs. Cooper

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma

  • Hearts Afire(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miss Lula

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • One Special Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Cora Simms

  • Capital News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Etta Mays

  • Zora is My Name! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Drugstore Cowboy(1989)

    as Drug Counselor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Family Matters(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Helen

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Homer and Eddie(1989)

    as Linda Cervi

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Big Shots(1987)

    as Miss Hanks

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 5 episodes · as Narcissa

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Frank's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Inside Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Verna

  • CBS Summer Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Katherine

  • Designing Women(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eleanor Williams

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • As Summers Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Elvira Backus

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Jordan

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Acceptable Risks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Sally Framm

  • 227(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Edna

  • And the Children Shall Lead(1985)

    as Miss Annie

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma Coop · as Ola Mae

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ella Mae Fuller · as Pockets

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Punky Brewster(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Serita

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Regina

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Sophisticated Gents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mae Porter

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • A Christmas Without Snow(1980)

    as Wendell's Grandma

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Palmerstown, U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Banjo the Woodpile Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Zazu (voice)

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cynthia Palmer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Vega$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ring of Passion(1978)

    as Lilly Brooks

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Just an Old Sweet Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Grandma

  • Mahogany(1975)

    as Florence

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Dream for Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Grandma Bessie

  • Outrage! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Thelma

  • The Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Thatcher

  • Footsteps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Jessie Blake

  • The Biscuit Eater(1972)

    as Charity Tomlin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Great White Hope(1970)

    as Mama Tiny

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose Kincaid

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mama Grant

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • It Takes a Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sister Martha Gowen

  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner(1967)

    as Mrs. Prentice

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • In the Heat of the Night(1967)

    as Mama Caleba

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hurry Sundown(1967)

    as Rose Scott

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hannah

  • Gone Are the Days! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Idella Landy

  • The Miracle Worker(1962)

    as Viney (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice

  • Take a Giant Step(1959)

    as May Scott

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Mugger(1958)

    as Grecco Maid

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 64 titles from 1958 to 1998; peak year 1966.

Biggest box office

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

$57M worldwide

Highest rated

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19581998

Peak 1966 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting64 of 64: 64 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s12 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s27 · acting1990s9 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

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.

How do Beah Richards' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th13

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

And the Children Shall Lead (1985)

85th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Miracle Worker (1962)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 51. 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.

Is Beah Richards' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 55 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Beah Richards work with?

People who share at least 2 of Beah Richards' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Danny Glover shares the most, 2.

Actors