Frances Bay
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:08:09 PM Wikipedia source
Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian and American character actress and comedian. In a career that spanned 80 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. Bay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.
Infobox
Born
Frances Evelyn Goffman(1919-01-23)January 23, 1919Mannville, Alberta, Canada
Died
September 15, 2011(2011-09-15) (aged 92)Tarzana, California, U.S.
Resting place
Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation(s)
Actress, comedian
Years active
1930s–2011
Spouse
mw- Charles Bay (m. 1946; died 2002)
Children
Eli Joshua Bay (d. 1970)
Family
Erving Goffman (brother) Alice Goffman (niece)
Occupations
Actress, comedian
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1987
Medium Rare
Role(s)
Gertrude
1990
1992
Role(s)
Elderly Neighbor
Role(s)
Mrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont
2000
Role(s)
Mrs. Sloan
Role(s)
Mrs. Steiner
A Day in the Life
Role(s)
Rosa
2004
In the Land of Milk and Money
Role(s)
Grandma Shallot
2010
Pickin' & Grinnin
Role(s)
Grandma Johnson
Bare Knuckles
Role(s)
Rosie Mcintyre
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1978 | Foul Play | Mrs. Russel |
| 1979 | Chilly Scenes of Winter | Mrs. Delillo |
| 1980 | The Attic | The Librarian |
| 1981 | Amy | Mrs. Lindey |
| Honky Tonk Freeway | Mrs. Lewenowski | |
| 1983 | Private School | Birdie Fallmouth |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Mrs. Milo |
| 1985 | Movers & Shakers | Betty Gritz |
| 1986 | Nomads | Bertril |
| Blue Velvet | Aunt Barbara | |
| 1987 | Medium Rare | Gertrude |
| 1988 | Twins | Mother Superior |
| Big Top Pee-wee | Mrs. Haynes | |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | Mrs. Milo |
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | Madam |
| Arachnophobia | Evelyn Metcalf | |
| The Grifters | Motel Clerk | |
| 1991 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Esmeralda |
| Critters 3 | Mrs. Menges | |
| 1992 | Single White Female | Elderly Neighbor |
| Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Mrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont | |
| 1993 | The Neighbor | Aunt Sylvia |
| 1994 | The Paperboy | Mrs. Rosemont |
| In the Mouth of Madness | Mrs. Pickman | |
| 1996 | Happy Gilmore | Anna Gilmore |
| Never Too Late | Elisabeth Kronner | |
| 1997 | Changing Habits | Midge |
| Sparkler | Raspy | |
| Mitzi & Joe | Mitzi | |
| 1998 | Krippendorf's Tribe | Edith Proxmire |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget | Thelma |
| 2000 | The Operator | Mrs. Sloan |
| Stranger than Fiction | Mrs. Steiner | |
| A Day in the Life | Rosa | |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Dottie |
| 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 |
| Bare Knuckles | Rosie Mcintyre | |
| 2014 | Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces | Mrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont |
· Filmography › Television
1979
Topper
Role(s)
Mrs. Quincy
Notes
TV film
1981
Callie & Son
Role(s)
Mabel Simpson
Notes
TV film
1982
1982, 1984
Role(s)
Happy Days
Notes
Grandma Nussbaum
1983
1984
The President of Love
Role(s)
Herbina Plum
Notes
TV film
1985
1985, 1990
Role(s)
Santa Barbara
Notes
Mrs. McRae, Sister Gabriella
1986
1987
Convicted: A Mother's Story
Role(s)
Ma Barker
Notes
TV film
1988
Police Story: Monster Manor
Role(s)
Mary
Notes
TV film
1988, 1991
Role(s)
Hunter
Notes
Emma Parsons, Mrs. Laskey
1989
1990
1991
1991–1992
Role(s)
Life Goes On
Notes
Eleanor, Sarah
1992
1992–1993
Role(s)
By Way of the Stars
Notes
Annie Pyle
1994
1995
1996
1996, 1998
Role(s)
Seinfeld
Notes
Mabel Choate
1997
1998
1998–2000
Role(s)
The Hughleys
Notes
Mrs. Fitch
1999
2001
Bratty Babies
Role(s)
Maggie Winchester
Notes
TV film
2002
2009
2009–2011
Role(s)
The Middle
Notes
Ginny Freehold
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | CHiPs | Ruth | Episode: "Name Your Price" |
| 1979 | ABC Weekend Special | Madame Zarona | Episode: "The Big Hex of Little Lulu" |
| Topper | Mrs. Quincy | TV film | |
| 1981 | The Jeffersons | Mrs. Watson | Episode: "My Hero" |
| The Dukes of Hazzard | Aunt Hortense | Episode: "The Return of Hughie Hogg" | |
| Murder in Texas | Myra Hill | TV film | |
| 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" |
| Faerie Tale Theatre | Granny | Episode: "Little Red Riding Hood" | |
| Remington Steele | Mother Trust | Episode: "Scene Steelers" | |
| 1984 | Alice | Granny Annie | Episode: "Mel Spins His Wheels" |
| Family Ties | Florence Menlo | Episode: "Keaton and Son" | |
| E/R | Mrs. Gordon | Episode: "A Cold Night in Chicago" | |
| The President of Love | Herbina Plum | TV film | |
| 1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Edna Kiss | Episode: "Violation" |
| Fame | Grandma George | Episode: "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" | |
| Amos | Lydia | TV film | |
| 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?" |
| T. J. Hooker | Mrs. Greene | Episode: "Taps for Officer Remy" | |
| Hill Street Blues | Elizabeth Mies | Episode: "Larry of Arabia" | |
| Easy Street | Mrs. Walker | Episode: "Pride Goeth Before a Cheap Hotel" | |
| Simon & Simon | Agnes Rich | Episode: "The Case of Don Diablo" | |
| Sidekicks | Sarah | Episode: "Grey Belts" | |
| 1987 | LBJ: The Early Years | Effie Pattilo | TV film |
| Convicted: A Mother's Story | Ma Barker | TV film | |
| St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Renninger | Episode: "Ewe Can't Go Home Again" | |
| The Oldest Rookie | Mrs. Zimmer | Episode: "Ike and Son" | |
| 1988 | The Golden Girls | Claire | Episode: "The Days and Nights of Sophia Petrillo" |
| 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" |
| Newhart | Mrs. Henderson | Episode: "Don't Worry Be Pregnant" | |
| Class Cruise | Grandma | TV film | |
| Dragnet | Sadie McGuire | Episode: "Where's Sadie?" | |
| Generations | Emily Fober | Episodes: "1.175", "1.176", "1.178" | |
| 1990 | Alien Nation | Mrs. Gillirue | Episode: "Spirit of '95" |
| ALF | Louise Beaumont | Episode: "When I'm 64" | |
| Equal Justice | Florence Evans | Episode: "Sugar Blues" | |
| Twin Peaks | Mrs. Tremond | Episode: "Coma" | |
| Over My Dead Body | Sister Dempsey | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| True Colors | Aunt Sylvia | Episode: "Occasional Wife" | |
| Tales from the Crypt | Witch | Episode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today" | |
| 1991 | Pacific Station | Celia Linder | Episode: "A Man's Best Friend" |
| Matlock | Samantha Bergstrom, Rose Hayes | Episodes: "The Trial: Part 2", "The Defense" | |
| 1991–1992 | Life Goes On | Eleanor, Sarah | Episodes: "Arthur", "Love Letters" |
References
- Cavan, Sherri (July 2011). "When Erving Goffman was a Boy". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. p. 4.http://cdclv.unlv.edu/ega/articles/cavan_eg_boyhood.pdf
- Los Angeles Timeshttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/character-actress-frances-bay-dies-at-92.html
- Goffman and Social Organization: Studies of a Sociological Legacyhttps://books.google.com/books?id=kxB8yh-p8AgC&pg=PA22
- Burns (2002), p.9.
- Fine and Manning (2003), p. 35.
- Huffington Posthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/18/frances-bay-dead-dies_n_968338.html
- Michael Posner, "Seinfeld's marble rye lady honoured", Toronto Globe and Mail, September 6, 2008, pg. R4
- Oliver, Myrna (September 17, 2011). "Frances Bay dies at 92; veteran character actress", Los Angeles Times; accessed Junhttps://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-frances-bay-20110917-story.html
- Maslin Nir, Sarah (September 18, 2011). "Frances Bay, Actress Known for ‘Old Lady’ Roles, Dies at 92". The New York Timehttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/arts/television/frances-bay-actress-known-for-old-lady-roles-dies-at-92.html?mcubz=2
- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539460/characters/nm0062844
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/arts/television/frances-bay-actress-known-for-old-lady-roles-dies-at-92.html
- "Canada's Walk of Fame Inducts Frances Bay"http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/2008/frances-bay
- "Steve Nash, kd lang among new Walk of Fame inductees"https://web.archive.org/web/20080604075102/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080603/walk_fame_080603/20080603?hub=TopStories