Frances Bay
- Acting
- January 23, 1919 · Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
- September 15, 2011
Biography
Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress known for playing a variety of quirky elderly women on film and television. In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. After initial success in radio and stage plays, she became "The Girlfriend to the Canadian Forces" on CBC Radio during World War II, boosting troops' spirits. Marriage and a move to the U.S. led to a hiatus, during which she studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York. Returning to acting at 60, Bay featured in Foul Play and gained recognition in various TV shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and films such as The Wedding Planner and Twins. Her versatile career spanned over 50 films and numerous TV series, earning her awards and nominations. Notably, she appeared in the final episodes of sitcoms Seinfeld, Who’s the Boss?, and Happy Days. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.
Known for
Filmography
- Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces · Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
- Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage · Aunt Barbara
- Pickin' and Grinnin' · Grandma Johnson
- Bare Knuckles · Rosie Mcintyre
- The Middle · Aunt Ginny
- Repo Chick · Granma De La Chasse
- Edmond · Fortune Teller
- Hannah Montana · Cathy
- Ring Around the Rosie · Nanna
- Annie's Point · Older Woman
- In the Land of Milk and Money · Grandma Shallot
- The Movie Hero · Wise Old Woman
- Kiss The Bride
- Presidio Med · Joan Hart
- Bob Patterson · Laurie Evans
- Oh, Baby · Edna Winchester
- Finder's Fee · Mrs. Darmsetter
- My Wife and Kids
- The Wedding Planner · Dottie
- Stranger Than Fiction · Mrs. Steiner
- The Operator · Mrs. Sloan
- Inspector Gadget · Thelma
- The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn · Mrs. Lewis
- Goodbye Lover · Old Woman
- Charmed · Old Phoebe
- Da Vinci's Inquest
- Forever Love · Martha Craddock
- The Hughleys · Mrs. Fitch
- Krippendorf's Tribe · Edith Proxmire
- Style & Substance · Elizabeth Hadley
- Sparkler · Raspy
- Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction · Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift")
- Changing Habits · Midge
- Clueless
- Suddenly Susan · Mrs. Tidgely
- Never Too Late · Elisabeth Kronner
- Happy Gilmore · Grandma
- Rossini's Ghost · Rosalie
- In the Mouth of Madness · Mrs. Pickman
- The Paperboy · Mrs. Rosemont
- The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
- ER · Georgia
- The Neighbor · Aunt Sylvia
- Dave's World · Daisy
- The X-Files · Dorothy
- Inside Monkey Zetterland · Grandma
- Single White Female · Elderly Neighbor
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me · Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
- Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive · Iva Ruth McKinney
- Critters 3 · Mrs. Menges
- The Commish
- Pacific Station · Celia Linder
- The Pit and the Pendulum · Esmeralda
- Amazing Stories: The Movie II · Mrs. Santa Claus
- True Colors · Tante Sylvia
- Wild at Heart · Madam
- The Grifters · Arizona Motel Clerk
- Arachnophobia · Evelyn Metcalf
- Twin Peaks · Mrs. Tremond
- Class Cruise · Grandma
- Alien Nation · Mrs. Gillirue
- Seinfeld · Mabel Choate
- The Karate Kid Part III · Mrs. Milo
- Tales from the Crypt · Witch
- Quantum Leap · Millie Reynolds
- Father Dowling Mysteries · Victoria's Grandmother
- Twins · Mother Superior
- Police Story · Mary
- Big Top Pee-wee · Mrs. Haynes
- The Oldest Rookie
- Medium Rare · Gertrude
- Sidekicks
- ALF · Louise Beaumont
- Blue Velvet · Aunt Barbara
- L.A. Law · Marian McConnell
- Nomads · Bertril
- Matlock · Samantha Bergstrom, Rose Hayes
- Amos · Lydia
- Amazing Stories · Mrs Claus
- The Golden Girls · Claire