Biography for
Frances Bay More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

23 January 1919, Mannville, Alberta, Canada

Date of Death

15 September 2011, Tarzana, California, USA

Birth Name

Frances Goffman

Height

5' (1.52 m)

Mini Biography

Cute, tiny, and prolific little old lady character actress Frances Bay worked constantly in both films and TV shows alike after making her debut at a very late age in life with a small part in the comedy Foul Play (1978) in 1978. She frequently portrayed eccentric elderly women and good-hearted grandmothers in all kinds of pictures and television programs. Frances acted several times for David Lynch: she's 'Kyle MacLachlan''s sweet doddery aunt in Blue Velvet (1986)," a gruff, profane whorehouse madam in _Wild at Heart_," and the spooky Mrs. Tremond in the cult TV series "Twin Peaks" (1990) and its spin-off feature Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)." Frances popped up in two movies for director Stuart Gordon: she's a kindly witch in The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)" and a fortune teller in _Edmond_." Other notable film roles include a snippy librarian in _The Attic_," a mysterious blind nun in the offbeat Nomads (1986)," another librarian in In the Mouth of Madness (1994), and Adam Sandler's loving grandmother in the hit comedy Happy Gilmore (1996)." Frances had the unique distinction of guesting on the final episodes of the TV shows _Happy Days_, "Who's the Boss?" (1984), and "Seinfeld" (1990). Among the many TV series Bay had guest spots on are "Charmed" (1998), "ER" (1994), "Matlock" (1986), "The X-Files" (1993), "Murder, She Wrote" (1984), "The Commish" (1991), "L.A. Law" (1986), "Hill Street Blues" (1981), "Touched by an Angel" (1994), "The Golden Girls" (1985), and "Amazing Stories" (1985). She won a Gemini Award for her performance in the Disney TV program "Avonlea" (1990). Frances was also in the music video for Jimmy Fallon's "Idiot Boyfriend." In addition to her substantial movie and TV credits, Bay also acted in both Off-Broadway stage productions and regional theater; these plays include "Finnegan's Wake," "Grease," "Genuis," "The Caucasion Chalk Circle," "Number Our Days," "Uncommon Women," "Sarcophagus," and "The Pleasure of His Company." Frances won two DramaLogue Awards and was nominated for a Los Angeles Dramatic Critics' Award. In 2002 Bay was the unfortunate victim of an automobile accident which resulted in having part of her right leg amputated. Her husband Charles sadly died in 2002 as well. In real life Frances Bay was a very practical and unassuming woman with an avid love for jazz music.

IMDb Mini Biography By: woodyanders

Spouse

Charles Bay

(1946 - 18 June 2002) (his death) 1 child

Trivia

Hospitalized as the result of being struck by a car in Glendale California on November 21st, 2002. As a result of the accident, she has had part of her right leg amputated and now walks with a prosthetic right leg.

Sister of renowned sociologist, Erving Goffman (1922 - 1982), the author of 'The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.'.

Inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.

Her son, Eli Joshua Bay, passed away at the age of 23. Born in Canada on March 14, 1947, he died in Duval County Florida on June 6, 1970.

Studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York City.

In keeping with her Jewish faith, Bay was buried within 24 hours at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

She began her career as a radio actress but took a long break from the business after marrying and having a son, who died in his 20s.

Personal Quotes

I always wanted to be an actress. And it wasn't ego. I felt so little about myself, considered myself such a sparrow. Not just my size. I thought I was so plain ... I did plays not to show off but because if I did that -- I didn't realize it at the time -- I would be somebody other than this person I didn't really approve of. I think that's true of a lot of actors.