Beah Richards

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations See more awards »

Known For

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Beloved (1998)

Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

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Filmography

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Actress (74 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

1992-1993 Hearts Afire (TV series)
Miss Lula

– Trivial Pursuit (1993) … Miss Lula

– While the Thomasons Slept (1992) … Miss Lula (credit only)

– Everyday's a Holiday (1992) … Miss Lula (credit only)

– Smithersgate (1992) … Miss Lula (credit only)

– The Fundamental Things Apply (1992) … Miss Lula (credit only)

See all 14 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)
Maddy Higgins

– Dead Card Down (1984) … Maddy Higgins

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

1976 Petrocelli (TV series)
Bessie Jones

– Jubilee Jones (1976) … Bessie Jones

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
Grecco Maid

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Self (2 titles)

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Archive Footage (3 titles)

Personal Details

Other Works:

(1975) Book: "A Black Woman Speaks". NOTE: Richards starred in a 1975 Broadway production of the book. 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:

One of her poems, "Keep Climbing, Girls", has been turned into a picture book inspiring girls' power. Published 2006 by Simon & Schuster. See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer

Beah Richards (1920–2000)

Born:

Died:

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