Frances Bay

Canadian-American actress and comedian (1919-2011)

For other uses, see Frances Bay (disambiguation).

Frances Bay

Bay in 1999

Born|

Frances Evelyn Goffman

(1919-01-23)January 23, 1919

Mannville, Alberta, Canada[1]

Died| September 15, 2011(2011-09-15) (aged 92)

Tarzana, California, U.S.

Nationality| Canadian
American
Occupation(s)| Actress, comedian
Years active| 1930s-2011
Employer| Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Spouse|

Charles Bay

(m. 1946; died 2002)​

Children| 1

Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress and comedienne.[2] In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.

## Early life

[edit]

Frances Evelyn Goffman was born January 23, 1919, in Mannville, Alberta, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant parents, Ann (née Averbach) and Max Goffman, and was raised in Dauphin, Manitoba. Her younger brother was the noted sociologist Erving Goffman.[1]

## Career

[edit]

Bay started her career in the 1930s as a radio actress.[3] Before World War II she acted professionally in Winnipeg and spent the war hosting the Canadian Broadcasting Company's radio show, Everybody's Program, aimed at service members overseas.[1] She studied acting with Uta Hagen.[4]

Bay returned to acting in the 1970s[3] while in her mid-fifties, beginning with a small part in Foul Play, a 1978 comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase. A year earlier, she appeared as Mrs. Hamilton in the Christmas television special Christmastime with Mister Rogers.

Bay's first major television appearance occurred playing the grandmother to the character of Fonzie on Happy Days. She described Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie, as "just a sweet guy. He lost his own grandmother in the Holocaust, and he wrote me a letter saying I was his virtual grandmother".[4]

In 1983, she played the grandmother in Little Red Riding Hood in Faerie Tale Theatre for Showtime. She appeared in the final episodes of two long-running sitcom series: Happy Days, and Who's the Boss?[5] In 1990, she appeared in the episode "When I'm 64" of the TV series ALF as the faded movie star Louise Beaumont residing in a retirement home. She appeared on many other shows including The Jeffersons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Alice, Family Ties, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Golden Girls, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, and ER. Bay played Cousin Winifred in the fourth to last episode of Road to Avonlea, a role for which she won a Gemini Award.

Bay's feature film work includes small roles in films like The Karate Kid (1984), Movers & Shakers (1985), Big Top Pee-wee (1988), Twins (1988), The Grifters (1990), The Pit and the Pendulum (1991).[5] In 1986, Bay appeared as the doddery aunt of Kyle MacLachlan's character in David Lynch's Blue Velvet. Lynch cast her in several subsequent works, including as a foul-mouthed madam in Wild at Heart, and as Mrs. Tremond on Twin Peaks and its feature film prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.[5]

In 1994, she played Mrs. Pickman in John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness. In 1996, she played Adam Sandler's grandmother in the feature film Happy Gilmore. In 1999, she played Thelma, the head security guard at the Bradford robotics laboratory in the film Inspector Gadget. In 2003 Bay had a brief cameo in the movie Old School, during the funeral for the character “Blue”. Bay's other roles included a supporting role in "The Rye", a notable 1996 episode of Seinfeld in which she played a woman who got into a physical altercation with Jerry over a loaf of marble rye bread.[5]

Bay appeared in the 2002 music video for Jimmy Fallon's comedy song "Idiot Boyfriend".[6] Played the role of geriatric Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed.[7] In 2005, she reunited with her The Pit and the Pendulum director Stuart Gordon to play a fortune teller in Edmond. From 2009 to 2011, Bay had a recurring role as "Aunt Ginny" on the television series The Middle.[5] She also worked in theatre, winning both the Drama-Logue Award and Gemini Award.[3][2]

## Personal life and death

[edit]

Bay married Charles Irwin Bay (December 15, 1918 – June 18, 2002) in 1946.[4] The couple had a son who died when he was 23.[5]

In 2002, Bay was involved in an auto accident in Glendale, California, which required her to have her leg amputated below the knee.[5]

Bay died in Tarzana, California, on September 15, 2011, of complications from pneumonia at the age of 92.[8]

## Legacy

[edit]

Bay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame on September 6, 2008,[9] in large part thanks to a petition with 10,000 names which was submitted on her behalf. The selection committee also received personal letters from Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, David Lynch, Henry Winkler, Monty Hall, and other celebrities.[10][4]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role

|
|

1978  | Foul Play | Mrs. Russel
1979  | Chilly Scenes of Winter | Mrs. Delillo
1980  | The Attic | The Librarian
1981  | Amy | Mrs. Lindey
1981  | Honky Tonk Freeway | Mrs. Lewenowski
1983  | Private School | Birdie Fallmouth
1984  | The Karate Kid | Mrs. Milo
1985  | Movers & Shakers | Betty Gritz
1986  | Nomads | Bertril
1986  | Blue Velvet | Aunt Barbara
1987  | Medium Rare | Gertrude
1988  | Twins | Mother Superior
1988  | Big Top Pee-wee | Mrs. Haynes
1989  | The Karate Kid Part III | Mrs. Milo
1990  | Wild at Heart | Madam
1990  | Arachnophobia | Evelyn Metcalf
1991  | The Pit and the Pendulum | Esmeralda
1991  | Critters 3 | Mrs. Menges
1992  | Single White Female | Elderly Neighbor
1992  | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Mrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont
1993  | The Neighbor | Aunt Sylvia
1994  | The Paperboy | Mrs. Rosemont
1994  | In the Mouth of Madness | Mrs. Pickman
1996  | Happy Gilmore | Grandma Gilmore
1996  | Never Too Late | Elisabeth Kronner
1997  | Changing Habits | Midge
1997  | Sparkler | Raspy
1997  | Mitzi & Joe | Mitzi
1998  | Krippendorf's Tribe | Edith Proxmire
1999  | Inspector Gadget | Thelma
2000  | The Operator | Mrs. Sloan
2000  | Stranger than Fiction | Mrs. Steiner
2000  | A Day in the Life | Rosa
2001  | The Wedding Planner | Dottie
2001  | Finder's Fee | Mrs. Damsetter
2002  | Kiss the Bride | Grandma Julia
2004  | In the Land of Milk and Money | Grandma Shallot
2005  | Edmond | Fortune Teller
2009  | Repo Chick | Grandma De La Chasse
2010  | Pickin' & Grinnin | Grandma Johnson
2010  | Bare Knuckles | Rosie Mcintyre

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1977  | CHiPs | Ruth  | Episode: "Name Your Price"
1979  | ABC Weekend Special | Madame Zarona  | Episode: "The Big Hex of Little Lulu"
1979  | Topper | Mrs. Quincy  | TV film
1981  | The Jeffersons | Mrs. Watson  | Episode: "My Hero"
1981  | The Dukes of Hazzard | Aunt Hortense  | Episode: "The Return of Hughie Hogg"
1981  | Murder in Texas | Myra Hill  | TV film
1981  | Callie & Son | Mabel Simpson  | TV film
1982  | Father Murphy | Alma Hubbard  | Episode: "88 Keys to Happiness"
1982, 1984  | Happy Days | Grandma Nussbaum  | Episodes: "Grandma Nussbaum", "Going Steady", "Passages: Part 2"
1983  | American Playhouse | Mrs. Timmins  | Episode: "Wings"
1983  | Faerie Tale Theatre | Granny  | Episode: "Little Red Riding Hood"
1983  | Remington Steele | Mother Trust  | Episode: "Scene Steelers"
1984  | Alice | Granny Annie  | Episode: "Mel Spins His Wheels"
1984  | Family Ties | Florence Menlo  | Episode: "Keaton and Son"
1984  | E/R | Mrs. Gordon  | Episode: "A Cold Night in Chicago"
1984  | The President of Love | Herbina Plum  | TV film
1985  | Cagney & Lacey | Edna Kiss  | Episode: "Violation"
1985  | Fame | Grandma George  | Episode: "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"
1985  | Amos | Lydia  | TV film
1985  | Amazing Stories | Mrs. Santa Claus  | Episode: "Santa '85"
1985, 1990  | Santa Barbara | Mrs. McRae, Sister Gabriella  | Episodes: "1.357", "1.359", "1.1405"
1986  | Cheers | Mrs. Brubaker  | Episode: "Take My Shirt... Please?"
1986  | T. J. Hooker | Mrs. Greene  | Episode: "Taps for Officer Remy"
1986  | Hill Street Blues | Elizabeth Mies  | Episode: "Larry of Arabia"
1986  | Easy Street | Mrs. Walker  | Episode: "Pride Goeth Before a Cheap Hotel"
1986  | Simon & Simon | Agnes Rich  | Episode: "The Case of Don Diablo"
1986  | Sidekicks | Sarah  | Episode: "Grey Belts"
1987  | LBJ: The Early Years | Effie Pattilo  | TV film
1987  | Convicted: A Mother's Story | Ma Barker  | TV film
1987  | St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Renninger  | Episode: "Ewe Can't Go Home Again"
1987  | The Oldest Rookie | Mrs. Zimmer  | Episode: "Ike and Son"
1988  | The Golden Girls | Claire  | Episode: "The Days and Nights of Sophia Petrillo"
1988  | Police Story: Monster Manor | Mary  | TV film
1988, 1991  | Hunter | Emma Parsons, Mrs. Laskey  | Episodes: "The Bogota Million", "Fatal Obsession: Parts 1 & 2"
1989  | The Cavanaughs | Widow Kelsey  | Episode: "The Cavanaugh Curse"
1989  | Newhart | Mrs. Henderson  | Episode: "Don't Worry Be Pregnant"
1989  | Class Cruise | Grandma  | TV film
1989  | Dragnet | Sadie McGuire  | Episode: "Where's Sadie?"
1989  | Generations | Emily Fober  | Episodes: "1.175", "1.176", "1.178"
1990  | Alien Nation | Mrs. Gillirue  | Episode: "Spirit of '95"
1990  | ALF | Louise Beaumont  | Episode: "When I'm 64"
1990  | Equal Justice | Florence Evans  | Episode: "Sugar Blues"
1990  | Twin Peaks | Mrs. Tremond  | Episode: "Coma"
1990  | Over My Dead Body | Sister Dempsey  | Episode: "Pilot"
1990  | True Colors | Aunt Sylvia  | Episode: "Occasional Wife"
1990  | Tales from the Crypt | Witch  | Episode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"
1991  | Pacific Station | Celia Linder  | Episode: "A Man's Best Friend"
1991  | Matlock | Samantha Bergstrom, Rose Hayes  | Episodes: "The Trial: Part 2", "The Defense"
1991–1992  | Life Goes On | Eleanor, Sarah  | Episodes: "Arthur", "Love Letters"
1992  | Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive | Iva Ruth McKinney  | TV film
1992  | Quantum Leap | Millie Reynolds  | Episode: "Moments to Live"
1992  | Who's the Boss? | Candy  | Episodes: "Savor the Veal: Parts 2 & 3"
1992  | L.A. Law | Marian McConnell  | Episode: "Silence of the Lambskins"
1992  | Down the Shore | Miss Suzette  | Episode: "My Left Feet"
1992–1993  | By Way of the Stars | Annie Pyle  | TV miniseries
1992–1993  | Empty Nest | Sylvia, Agnes  | Episodes: "Charley for President", "The Fracas in Vegas"
1993  | Street Legal | Patricia Peters  | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice"
1994  | Phenom | Mrs. Long  | Episode: "What's in a Vow?"
1994  | Dave's World | Daisy  | Episode: "Lost Weekend"
1994  | The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | Aunt Francine  | Episode: "Alex, Then and N.O.W."
1994  | The X-Files | Dorothy  | Episode: "Excelsis Dei"
1995  | Platypus Man | Bella  | Episode: "Sweet Denial"
1995  | The Commish | Ardith Cannon  | Episode: "Off Broadway: Part 2"
1995  | The Ben Stiller Show | Gertude  | Episode: "ZooTV at Night"
1995  | The Crew | Mrs. Henderson  | Episode: "The Sugar Shack"
1995  | Murder, She Wrote | Sarah McCoy  | Episode: "Home Care"
1995  | Courthouse | Kate Downey  | Episode: "Injustice for All"
1996  | Road to Avonlea | Winifred Ward  | Episode: "After the Ball Is Over"
1996  | Rossini's Ghost | Rosalie (elder)  | TV film
1996, 1998  | Seinfeld | Mabel Choate  | Episodes: "The Rye", "The Cadillac", "The Finale"
1997  | Suddenly Susan | Mrs. Tidgely  | Episode: "What a Card"
1997  | Life with Roger | Aunt Charlotte  | Episode: "The Boxer Rebellion"
1997  | Players | Mrs. Davis  | Episode: "Three of a Con"
1998  | Clueless | Opal  | Episode: "Friends"
1998  | C-16: FBI | Miss Wilson  | Episode: "The Art of War"
1998  | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Mildred Grayson  | Episode: "The Gift"
1998  | Style & Substance | Elizabeth  | Episode: "Chelsea's Ex"
1998  | Forever Love | Martha Craddock  | TV film
1998–2000  | The Hughleys | Mrs. Fitch  | Recurring role (seasons 1–2)
1999  | The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn | Mrs. Lewis  | TV film
1999  | Da Vinci's Inquest | Viola McKnight  | Episode: "A Nice Home in the Country"
2000  | Port Charles | Leah Cochrane  | Guest role
2001  | ER | Georgia  | Episode: "Witch Hunt"
2001  | Bob Patterson | Laurie Evans  | Episode: "Awards Bob"
2001  | Bratty Babies | Maggie Winchester  | TV film
2002  | Charmed | Phoebe Halliwell (old)  | Episode: "The Three Faces of Phoebe"
2002  | Presidio Med | Joan Hart  | Episode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly"
2006  | Hannah Montana | Cathy  | Episode: "Debt It Be"
2007  | Cavemen | Mrs. Winston  | Episode: "Pilot"
2009  | Grey's Anatomy | Aunt Joyce  | Episode: "Elevator Love Letter"
2009–2011  | The Middle | Ginny Freehold  | Recurring role (seasons 1–2)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Cavan, Sherri (July 2011). "When Erving Goffman was a Boy". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. p. 4.
2. ^ a b Noland, Claire (September 16, 2011). "Character actress Frances Bay dies at 92". Los Angeles Times.
3. ^ a b c Zakarin, Jordan (September 18, 2011). "Frances Bay Dead: 'Happy Gilmore', 'Seinfeld' Actress Passes Away At 92". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
4. ^ a b c d Michael Posner, "Seinfeld's marble rye lady honoured", Toronto Globe and Mail, September 6, 2008, pg. R4
5. ^ a b c d e f g Oliver, Myrna (September 17, 2011). "Frances Bay dies at 92; veteran character actress", Los Angeles Times; accessed June 27, 2017.
6. ^ Maslin Nir, Sarah (September 18, 2011). "Frances Bay, Actress Known for ‘Old Lady’ Roles, Dies at 92". The New York Times.
7. ^ "Phoebe Halliwell". IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
8. ^ Nir, Sarah Maslin (19 September 2011). "Frances Bay, Actress Known for 'Old Lady' Roles, Dies at 92". The New York Times.
9. ^ "Canada's Walk of Fame Inducts Frances Bay". Canada's Walk of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
10. ^ "Steve Nash, kd lang among new Walk of Fame inductees". CTV News. June 3, 2008. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Frances Bay at IMDb

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data

*[m.]: married