Frances Bay
Acting
Born: January 23, 1919 · Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Died: September 15, 2011 (aged 92)
Highest Rated
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
The Karate Kid
1984
Blue Velvet
1986
The X-Files
1993
Happy Gilmore
1996
Twin Peaks
1990
Twins
1988
Charmed
1998
Seinfeld
1989
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
1992
In the Mouth of Madness
1995
Wild at Heart
1990
The Karate Kid Part III
1989
Photos (3)
Movies (62)
The Karate Kid
Lady with Dog
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
Happy Gilmore
Grandma
Blue Velvet
Aunt Barbara
Twins
Mother Superior
The Karate Kid Part III
Mrs. Milo
In the Mouth of Madness
Mrs. Pickman
The Wedding Planner
Dottie
Wild at Heart
Madam
Inspector Gadget
Thelma
The Pit and the Pendulum
Esmeralda
Foul Play
Mrs. Russel
Critters 3
Mrs. Menges
The Grifters
Arizona Motel Clerk
Arachnophobia
Evelyn Metcalf
Private School
Birdie Fallmouth
Edmond
Fortune Teller
Single White Female
Elderly Neighbor
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
Finder's Fee
Mrs. Darmsetter
Big Top Pee-wee
Mrs. Haynes
Goodbye Lover
Old Woman
Buddy Buddy
Female Patient
Nomads
Bertril
Krippendorf's Tribe
Edith Proxmire
Honky Tonk Freeway
Mrs. Lewenowski
Ring Around the Rosie
Nanna
Kiss The Bride
2002
Forever Love
Martha Craddock
Double Exposure
Old Woman
Bare Knuckles
Rosie Mcintyre
The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
Mrs. Lewis
Callie & Son
Mabel Simpson
Movers & Shakers
Betty Gritz
The Movie Hero
Wise Old Woman
Stranger Than Fiction
Mrs. Steiner
Amy
Mrs. Lindey
A Whale for the Killing
1981
The Neighbor
Aunt Sylvia
Repo Chick
Granma De La Chasse
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Mrs. Delillo
The Paperboy
Mrs. Rosemont
Never Too Late
Elisabeth Kronner
Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
Iva Ruth McKinney
Annie's Point
Older Woman
Little Red Riding Hood
Granny
Inside Monkey Zetterland
Grandma
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
Aunt Barbara
The Attic
Librarian
Topper
Mrs. Quincy
Changing Habits
Midge
Amazing Stories: The Movie II
Mrs. Santa Claus
Second Sight: A Love Story
Old Woman
Medium Rare
Gertrude
Wings
Mrs. Timmins
The Operator
Mrs. Sloan
Amos
Lydia
A Rose for Emily
Miss Wyatt
Sparkler
Raspy
Class Cruise
Grandma
In the Land of Milk and Money
Grandma Shallot
Rossini's Ghost
Rosalie
TV Shows (53)
The X-Files
Dorothy · 1 eps
Charmed
Old Phoebe · 1 eps
Seinfeld
Mabel Choate · 5 eps
The Middle
Aunt Ginny · 11 eps
Cheers
Mrs. Brubaker · 1 eps
Murder, She Wrote
Sarah McCoy · 1 eps
Twin Peaks
Mrs. Tremond · 1 eps
ER
Georgia · 1 eps
Quantum Leap
Millie Reynolds · 1 eps
American Playhouse
Mrs. Timmins · 1 eps
The Golden Girls
Claire · 1 eps
St. Elsewhere
Mrs. Renninger · 1 eps
Hart to Hart
1 eps
Hart to Hart
Flower Vendor · 1 eps
Simon & Simon
2 eps
Hannah Montana
Cathy · 1 eps
Newhart
1 eps
Hill Street Blues
Elizabeth Mies · 1 eps
Happy Days
2 eps
Happy Days
Grandma Nussbaum · 1 eps
L.A. Law
Marian McConnell · 1 eps
T. J. Hooker
Mrs. Greene · 1 eps
Hunter
Emma Parsons · 1 eps
Hunter
Mrs. Laskey · 2 eps
Family Ties
Mrs. Florence Menlo · 1 eps
Matlock
Samantha Bergstrom · 1 eps
Matlock
Rose Hayes · 1 eps
Cagney & Lacey
Edna Kiss · 1 eps
Tales from the Crypt
Witch · 1 eps
ALF
Louise Beaumont · 1 eps
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift") · 1 eps
Fame
1 eps
Remington Steele
Mother Trust · 1 eps
The Hughleys
Mrs. Fitch · 9 eps
Amazing Stories
Mrs Claus · 1 eps
My Wife and Kids
1 eps
The Commish
1 eps
Clueless
1 eps
Faerie Tale Theatre
Granny · 1 eps
Da Vinci's Inquest
1 eps
Dave's World
Daisy · 1 eps
Suddenly Susan
Mrs. Tidgely · 1 eps
Alien Nation
Mrs. Gillirue · 1 eps
Father Dowling Mysteries
Victoria's Grandmother · 1 eps
True Colors
Tante Sylvia · 1 eps
Presidio Med
Joan Hart · 1 eps
E/R
1 eps
Sidekicks
1 eps
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
1 eps
Style & Substance
Elizabeth Hadley · 1 eps
The Oldest Rookie
1 eps
Bob Patterson
Laurie Evans · 1 eps
Pacific Station
Celia Linder · 1 eps