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Beah Richards (1920–2000)

Actress

Beah Richards left her native Vicksburg, Mississippi, for New York City in 1950. She would not acquire a significant role on stage until 1955, when she appeared in the off-Broadway show "Take A Giant Step" convincingly portraying an 84-year-old grandmother without using theatrical makeup. In 1962 she... See full bio »

Born:

Beulah Richardson
in Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

Died:

(age 80) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Still of Beah Richards in Beloved
2 photos | 10 videos | 4 news articles »

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Related News

On DVD – “Beah: A Black Woman Speaks”
30 March 2011 1:24 PM, PDT | ShadowAndAct
Today’s Birthdays 3/25/11
25 March 2011 12:13 PM, PDT | ShadowAndAct
“Beah: A Black Woman Speaks” To Air On Documentary Channel Next Week
25 March 2011 12:10 PM, PDT | ShadowAndAct
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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (73 titles)
2000 The Practice (TV series)
Gertrude Turner
– Till Death Do Us Part (2000) … Gertrude Turner
 
1998 Beloved
Baby Suggs, aka Grandma Baby
 
1994-1995 ER (TV series)
Mae Benton
– Motherhood (1995) … Mae Benton
– House of Cards (1995) … Mae Benton
– Full Moon, Saturday Night (1995) … Mae Benton
– Love's Labor Lost (1995) … Mae Benton
– Sleepless in Chicago (1995) … Mae Benton
See all 8 episodes »
 
1994 Out of Darkness (TV movie)
Mrs. Cooper
 
1993 The John Larroquette Show (TV series)
Gene's Momma
– Amends (1993) … Gene's Momma
 
1993 Matlock (TV series)
Martha Jordan
– The Diner (1993) … Martha Jordan
 
1990-1993 Designing Women (TV series)
Minnie / Mrs. Bouvier
– Wedding Redux (1993) … Mrs. Bouvier
– The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century: Part 1 (1990) … Minnie
– The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century: Part 2 (1990) … Minnie
 
1992 Hearts Afire (TV series)
Miss Lula
– While the Thomasons Slept (1992) … Miss Lula
– Everyday's a Holiday (1992) … Miss Lula
– Smithersgate (1992) … Miss Lula
– The Fundamental Things Apply (1992) … Miss Lula
– Conversations with My Shrink (1992) … Miss Lula
See all 13 episodes »
 
1991 One Special Victory (TV movie)
Cora Simms
 
1988-1991 Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
Emma Coop / Ola Mae
– Judge Not (1991) … Emma Coop
– Mourning Among the Wisterias (1988) … Ola Mae
 
1991 Family Matters (TV series)
Helen
– I Should Have Done Something (1991) … Helen
 
1990 Brewster Place (TV series)
Bernice Sands
– Bernice Sands Comes Home (1990) … Bernice Sands
– One Small Step at a Time (1990) … Bernice Sands
 
1986-1990 227 (TV series)
Carolyn Hurley
– The Class of '90 (1990) … Carolyn Hurley
– Happy Twentieth (1987) … Carolyn Hurley
– Fifty Big Ones (1986) … Carolyn Hurley
 
1990 Capital News (TV movie)
 
1990 Equal Justice (TV series)
Mrs. Davis
– Balancing Act (1990) … Mrs. Davis
 
1989-1990 L.A. Law (TV series)
Alberta Williams
– Blood, Sweat and Fears (1990) … Alberta Williams
– Placenta Claus Is Coming to Town (1989) … Alberta Williams
 
1990 American Playhouse (TV series)
– Zora Is My Name! (1990)
 
1989 Drugstore Cowboy
Drug Counselor
 
1989 Homer and Eddie
Linda Cervi
 
1987-1989 Beauty and the Beast (TV series)
Narcissa
– Ceremony of Innocence (1989) … Narcissa
– When the Blue Bird Sings (1989) … Narcissa
– Dead of Winter (1988) … Narcissa
– To Reign in Hell (1988) … Narcissa
– Dark Spirit (1987) … Narcissa
 
1988 The Facts of Life (TV series)
Grandmother
– Present Imperfect (1988) … Grandmother
 
1987 Frank's Place (TV series)
Olive Varden
– The Bridge (1987) … Olive Varden
 
1986-1987 Hunter (TV series)
Ella Mae Fuller / Pockets
– Not Just Another John Doe (1987) … Pockets/Ella Mae Fuller
– Saturday Night Special (1986) … Pockets/Ella Mae Fuller
 
1987 Big Shots
Miss Hanks
 
1987 CBS Summer Playhouse (TV series)
Katherine
– Barrington (1987) … Katherine
 
1987 Time Out for Dad (TV movie)
Miss Aldrich
 
1986 Capitol (TV series)
Therese
 
1986 Inside Out
Verna
 
1986 As Summers Die (TV movie)
Elvira Backus
 
1986 Acceptable Risks (TV movie)
Sally Framm
 
1986 The Hitchhiker (TV series)
Serita
– The Curse (1986) … Serita
 
1986 Hill Street Blues (TV series)
Aunt Feeney
– Scales of Justice (1986) … Aunt Feeney
– Das Blues (1986) … Aunt Feeney
 
1985 Generation (TV movie)
Edna
 
1985 Punky Brewster (TV series)
Mrs. Carney
– I Love You, Brandon (1985) … Mrs. Carney
 
1985 Highway to Heaven (TV series)
Mrs. Baldwin
– As Difficult as ABC (1985) … Mrs. Baldwin
 
1985 And the Children Shall Lead (TV movie)
Miss Annie
 
1981-1984 Benson (TV series)
Benson's Mother / Mrs. DuBois
– Home for Christmas (1984) … Mrs. DuBois
– No Sad Songs (1981) … Benson's Mother
 
1984 St. Elsewhere (TV series)
Regina
– Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1984) … Regina
 
1984 The New Mike Hammer (TV series)
– Dead Card Down (1984)
 
1983 Bay City Blues (TV series)
– Beautiful Peoples (1983)
 
1981 The Sophisticated Gents (TV movie)
Mae Porter
 
1980 A Christmas Without Snow (TV movie)
Wendell's Grandma
 
1980 Palmerstown, U.S.A. (TV series)
Grandma Jenny
– The Old Sister (1980) … Grandma Jenny
 
1980 Vega$ (TV series)
Mom
– The Hunter Hunted (1980) … Mom
 
1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat (TV short)
Zazu (voice)
 
1979 Roots: The Next Generations (TV mini-series)
Cynthia Palmer
– Episode #1.6 (1979) … Cynthia Palmer
– Episode #1.5 (1979) … Cynthia Palmer
 
1978 Ring of Passion (TV movie)
Lilly Brooks
 
1976 Just an Old Sweet Song (TV movie)
Grandma
 
1975 Mahogany
Florence
 
1974 Apple's Way (TV series)
Mrs. Thaxter
– The Witness (1974) … Mrs. Thaxter
 
1973 A Dream for Christmas (TV movie)
Grandma Bessie
 
1973 Outrage (TV movie)
Thelma
 
1973 The Magician (TV series)
Mrs. Thatcher
– Lightning on a Dry Day (1973) … Mrs. Thatcher
 
1972 Sanford and Son (TV series)
Aunt Ethel
– The Light Housekeeper (1972) … Aunt Ethel
– By the Numbers (1972) … Aunt Ethel
 
1972 Footsteps (TV movie)
Jessie Blake
 
1972 The Biscuit Eater
Charity Tomlin
 
1970-1971 The Bill Cosby Show (TV series)
Rose Kincaid / Chet's Mom
– The Generation Gap (1971) … Rose Kincaid
– The Lincoln Letter (1970) … Chet's Mom
– There Must Be a Party (1970) … Rose Kincaid
 
1970 The Great White Hope
Mama Tiny
 
1970 It Takes a Thief (TV series)
Sister Martha Gowen
– To Sing a Song of Murder (1970) … Sister Martha Gowen
 
1970 To Confuse the Angel (TV movie)
 
1969 Room 222 (TV series)
Mrs. Moore
– Arizona State Loves You (1969) … Mrs. Moore
 
1969 Ironside (TV series)
Aunt Ruby
– Alias Mr. Braithwaite (1969) … Aunt Ruby
 
1969 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Mama Grant
– Once Upon a Time: Part II (1969) … Mama Grant
 
1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Mrs. Prentice
 
1967 In the Heat of the Night
Mama Caleba
 
1967 I Spy (TV series)
Mother
– Cops and Robbers (1967) … Mother (as Bea Richards)
 
1967 Hurry Sundown
Rose Scott
 
1965-1966 The Big Valley (TV series)
Hannah James
– The Lost Treasure (1966) … Hannah James
– Boots with My Father's Name (1965) … Hannah James
 
1966 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Alice
– Adrift in a Sea of Confusion (1966) … Alice
– Gratitude Won't Pay the Bills (1966) … Alice
 
1963 Gone Are the Days!
Idella Landy
 
1962 The Miracle Worker
Viney - Keller Maid (uncredited)
 
1959 Take a Giant Step
May Scott
 
1958 The Mugger
Maid
 
Show ShowSelf (2 titles)
1968 The 40th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
 
1965 Today (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 4 May 1965 (1965) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (3 titles)
2003 Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (documentary)
Herself
 
2001 The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself (Memorial Tribute)
 
1976 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared in "Take a Giant Step" off-Broadway, 1955. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie  | 2 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Bea Richards
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[quoted in "I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America"] There are a lot of movies out there that I would hate to be paid to do, some real demeaning, real woman-denigrating stuff. It is up to women to change their roles. They are going to have to write the stuff and do it. And they will. See more »

Trivia:

1948: Graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans. See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer