Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
January 23, 1919
Place of Birth:
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Social Media
Frances Bay
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
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces | Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont) |
| 2011 | Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage | Aunt Barbara |
| 2010 | Bare Knuckles | Rosie Mcintyre |
| 2010 | Pickin' and Grinnin' | Grandma Johnson |
| 2009 | Repo Chick | Granma De La Chasse |
| 2006 | Ring Around the Rosie | Nanna |
| 2005 | Edmond | Fortune Teller |
| 2005 | Annie's Point | Older Woman |
| 2003 | The Movie Hero | Wise Old Woman |
| 2002 | Kiss The Bride | |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Dottie |
| 2001 | Finder's Fee | Mrs. Darmsetter |
| 2001 | Oh, Baby | Edna Winchester |
| 2000 | Stranger Than Fiction | Mrs. Steiner |
| 2000 | The Operator | Mrs. Sloan |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget | Thelma |
| 1999 | The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn | Mrs. Lewis |
| 1999 | Goodbye Lover | Old Woman |
| 1998 | Forever Love | Martha Craddock |
| 1998 | Krippendorf's Tribe | Edith Proxmire |
| 1997 | Sparkler | Raspy |
| 1997 | Changing Habits | Midge |
| 1996 | Happy Gilmore | Grandma |
| 1996 | Rossini's Ghost | Rosalie |
| 1996 | Never Too Late | Elisabeth Kronner |
| 1995 | In the Mouth of Madness | Mrs. Pickman |
| 1994 | The Paperboy | Mrs. Rosemont |
| 1993 | The Neighbor | Aunt Sylvia |
| 1992 | Inside Monkey Zetterland | Grandma |
| 1992 | Single White Female | Elderly Neighbor |
| 1992 | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont) |
| 1992 | Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive | Iva Ruth McKinney |
| 1991 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Esmeralda |
| 1991 | Critters 3 | Mrs. Menges |
| 1990 | The Grifters | Arizona Motel Clerk |
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | Madam |
| 1990 | Arachnophobia | Evelyn Metcalf |
| 1989 | Class Cruise | Grandma |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | Mrs. Milo |
| 1988 | Big Top Pee-wee | Mrs. Haynes |
| 1988 | Twins | Mother Superior |
| 1987 | Medium Rare | Gertrude |
| 1986 | Blue Velvet | Aunt Barbara |
| 1986 | Nomads | Bertril |
| 1985 | Amos | Lydia |
| 1985 | The Eagle and The Bear | |
| 1985 | Movers & Shakers | Betty Gritz |
| 1984 | Second Sight: A Love Story | Old Woman |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Lady with Dog |
| 1983 | Little Red Riding Hood | Granny |
| 1983 | Private School | Birdie Fallmouth |
| 1983 | A Rose for Emily | Miss Wyatt |
| 1983 | Wings | Mrs. Timmins |
| 1982 | Double Exposure | Old Woman |
| 1981 | Amy | Mrs. Lindey |
| 1981 | Callie & Son | Mabel Simpson |
| 1981 | A Whale for the Killing | |
| 1981 | Buddy Buddy | Female Patient |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Mrs. Lewenowski |
| 1980 | The Attic | Librarian |
| 1979 | Chilly Scenes of Winter | Mrs. Delillo |
| 1979 | Topper | Mrs. Quincy |
| 1978 | Foul Play | Mrs. Russel |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Middle | Aunt Ginny |
| 2006 | Hannah Montana | Cathy |
| 2002 | Presidio Med | |
| 2001 | Bob Patterson | Laurie Evans |
| 2001 | My Wife and Kids | |
| 1998 | Charmed | Old Phoebe |
| 1998 | Da Vinci's Inquest | |
| 1998 | The Hughleys | |
| 1998 | Style & Substance | Elizabeth Hadley |
| 1997 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift") |
| 1996 | Clueless | |
| 1996 | Suddenly Susan | Mrs. Tidgely |
| 1994 | The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | |
| 1994 | ER | Georgia |
| 1993 | The X-Files | Dorothy |
| 1993 | Dave's World | Daisy |
| 1991 | The Commish | |
| 1991 | Pacific Station | Celia Linder |
| 1990 | Twin Peaks | Mrs. Tremond |
| 1990 | True Colors | Tante Sylvia |
| 1989 | Seinfeld | Mabel Choate |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Witch |
| 1989 | Quantum Leap | Millie Reynolds |
| 1989 | Alien Nation | |
| 1989 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Victoria's Grandmother |
| 1987 | The Oldest Rookie | |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Marian McConnell |
| 1986 | Sidekicks | |
| 1986 | ALF | Louise Beaumont |
| 1986 | Matlock | Samantha Bergstrom |
| 1985 | Amazing Stories | Mrs Claus |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls | Claire |
| 1984 | Hunter | Emma Parsons |
| 1984 | E/R | |
| 1984 | Hunter | Mrs. Laskey |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote | Sarah McCoy |
| 1982 | Family Ties | Mrs. Florence Menlo |
| 1982 | Cheers | Mrs. Brubaker |
| 1982 | Remington Steele | Mother Trust |
| 1982 | T. J. Hooker | Mrs. Greene |
| 1982 | Fame | |
| 1982 | Newhart | |
| 1982 | Cagney & Lacey | |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Granny |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Renninger |
| 1981 | Simon & Simon | |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues | Elizabeth Mies |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart | |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart | Flower Vendor |
| 1974 | Happy Days | |
| 1974 | Happy Days | Grandma Nussbaum |