Frances Evelyn Bay (; 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.
Early life Frances Evelyn Goffman was born January 23, 1919, in Mannville, Alberta, to Ann (née Averbach) and Max Goffman. She was from a family of Ukrainian Jews who had emigrated to Canada at the turn of the nineteenth century. She and her younger brother were raised in Dauphin, Manitoba, where her father operated a successful tailoring business. Her younger brother became famed sociologist Erving Goffman. Her niece, Alice Goffman, is also a noted sociologist.
Career Bay started her career in the 1930s as a radio actress. Before World War II she acted professionally in Winnipeg and spent the war hosting the Canadian Broadcasting Company's radio show, Everybody's Program, aimed at service members overseas. She studied acting with Uta Hagen.Michael Posner, "Seinfeld's marble rye lady honoured", Toronto Globe and Mail, September 6, 2008, pg. R4
Bay returned to acting in the 1970s while in her mid-fifties, beginning with a small part in Foul Play, a 1978 comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase. A year earlier, she appeared as Mrs. Hamilton in the Christmas television special Christmastime with Mister Rogers.
Bay's first major television appearance occurred playing the grandmother to the character of Fonzie on Happy Days. She described Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie, as "just a sweet guy. He lost his own grandmother in the Holocaust, and he wrote me a letter saying I was his virtual grandmother".
In 1983, she played the grandmother in Little Red Riding Hood in Faerie Tale Theatre for Showtime. She appeared in the final episodes of two long-running sitcom series: Happy Days, and Who's the Boss? In 1990, she appeared in the episode "When I'm 64" of the TV series ALF as the faded movie star Louise Beaumont residing in a retirement home. She appeared on many other shows including The Jeffersons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Alice, Family Ties, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Golden Girls, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, and ER. Bay played Cousin Winifred in the fourth to last episode of Road to Avonlea, a role for which she won a Gemini Award.
Bay's feature film work includes small roles in films like The Karate Kid (1984), Movers & Shakers (1985), Big Top Pee-wee (1988), Twins (1988), The Grifters (1990), The Pit and the Pendulum (1991). In 1986, Bay appeared as the doddery aunt of Kyle MacLachlan's character in David Lynch's Blue Velvet. Lynch cast her in several subsequent works, including as a foul-mouthed madam in Wild at Heart, and as Mrs. Tremond on Twin Peaks and its feature film prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
In 1994, she played Mrs. Pickman in John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness. In 1996, she played Adam Sandler's grandmother in the feature film Happy Gilmore. In 1999, she played Thelma, the head security guard at the Bradford robotics laboratory in the film Inspector Gadget. In 2003, Bay had a brief cameo in the movie Old School, during the funeral for the character “Blue”. Bay's other roles included a supporting role in "The Rye", a notable 1996 episode of Seinfeld in which she played a woman who got into a physical altercation with Jerry over a loaf of marble rye bread.Oliver, Myrna (September 17, 2011). "Frances Bay dies at 92; veteran character actress", Los Angeles Times; accessed June 27, 2017.
Bay appeared in the 2002 music video for Jimmy Fallon's comedy song "Idiot Boyfriend",Maslin Nir, Sarah (September 18, 2011). "Frances Bay, Actress Known for ‘Old Lady’ Roles, Dies at 92". The New York Times. and played the role of geriatric Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed. In 2005, she reunited with her Pit and Pendulum director Stuart Gordon to play a fortune teller in Edmond. From 2009 to 2011, Bay had a recurring role as "Aunt Ginny" on the television series The Middle. She also worked in theatre, winning both the Drama-Logue Award and Gemini Award.
Personal life and death Bay married Charles Irwin Bay (December 15, 1918 – June 18, 2002) in 1946. The couple had a son, Eli Joshua Bay who died when he was 23 in 1970.
In 2002, Bay was involved in an auto accident in Glendale, California, which required her to have her leg amputated below the knee.
Bay died at the Providence Tarzana Medical Center in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on September 15, 2011, of complications from pneumonia at the age of 92.
Legacy Bay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame on September 6, 2008, in large part thanks to a petition with 10,000 names which was submitted on her behalf. The selection committee also received personal letters from Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, David Lynch, Henry Winkler, Monty Hall, and other celebrities.
In 1997, she won the Canadian Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series, Road To Avonlea.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role1978Foul PlayMrs. Russel1979Chilly Scenes of WinterMrs. Delillo1980 The AtticThe Librarian1981AmyMrs. LindeyHonky Tonk FreewayMrs. Lewenowski1983Private SchoolBirdie Fallmouth1984Mrs. Milo1985Movers & ShakersBetty Gritz1986NomadsBertrilBlue VelvetAunt Barbara1987Medium RareGertrude1988TwinsMother SuperiorBig Top Pee-weeMrs. Haynes1989Mrs. Milo1990Wild at HeartMadamArachnophobiaEvelyn Metcalf The GriftersMotel Clerk1991EsmeraldaCritters 3Mrs. Menges1992Single White FemaleElderly NeighborTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with MeMrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont1993Aunt Sylvia1994Mrs. RosemontIn the Mouth of MadnessMrs. Pickman1996 Happy GilmoreAnna GilmoreNever Too LateElisabeth Kronner1997Changing HabitsMidgeSparklerRaspyMitzi & JoeMitzi1998Krippendorf's TribeEdith Proxmire1999Inspector GadgetThelma2000Mrs. SloanStranger than FictionMrs. SteinerRosa2001DottieFinder's FeeMrs. Damsetter2002Kiss the BrideGrandma Julia2004In the Land of Milk and MoneyGrandma Shallot2005EdmondFortune Teller2009Repo ChickGrandma De La Chasse2010Pickin' & GrinninGrandma JohnsonBare KnucklesRosie Mcintyre2014Twin Peaks: The Missing PiecesMrs. Tremond / Mrs. Chalfont
Television Year Title Role Notes1977CHiPsRuthEpisode: "Name Your Price"1979ABC Weekend SpecialMadame ZaronaEpisode: "The Big Hex of Little Lulu"TopperMrs. QuincyTV film1981Mrs. WatsonEpisode: "My Hero"Aunt HortenseEpisode: "The Return of Hughie Hogg"Murder in TexasMyra HillTV filmCallie & SonMabel SimpsonTV film1982Father MurphyAlma HubbardEpisode: "88 Keys to Happiness"1982, 1984Happy DaysGrandma NussbaumEpisodes: "Grandma Nussbaum", "Going Steady", "Passages: Part 2"1983American PlayhouseMrs. TimminsEpisode: "Wings"Faerie Tale TheatreGrannyEpisode: "Little Red Riding Hood"Remington SteeleMother TrustEpisode: "Scene Steelers"1984AliceGranny AnnieEpisode: "Mel Spins His Wheels"Family TiesFlorence MenloEpisode: "Keaton and Son"E/RMrs. GordonEpisode: "A Cold Night in Chicago"Herbina PlumTV film1985Cagney & LaceyEdna KissEpisode: "Violation"FameGrandma GeorgeEpisode: "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"AmosLydiaTV filmAmazing StoriesMrs. Santa ClausEpisode: "Santa '85"1985, 1990Santa BarbaraMrs. McRae, Sister GabriellaEpisodes: "1.357", "1.359", "1.1405"1986CheersMrs. BrubakerEpisode: "Take My Shirt... Please?"T. J. HookerMrs. GreeneEpisode: "Taps for Officer Remy"Hill Street BluesElizabeth MiesEpisode: "Larry of Arabia"Easy StreetMrs. WalkerEpisode: "Pride Goeth Before a Cheap Hotel"Simon & SimonAgnes RichEpisode: "The Case of Don Diablo"SidekicksSarahEpisode: "Grey Belts"1987LBJ: The Early YearsEffie PattiloTV filmConvicted: A Mother's StoryMa BarkerTV filmSt. ElsewhereMrs. RenningerEpisode: "Ewe Can't Go Home Again"Mrs. ZimmerEpisode: "Ike and Son"1988ClaireEpisode: "The Days and Nights of Sophia Petrillo"Police Story: Monster ManorMaryTV film1988, 1991HunterEmma Parsons, Mrs. LaskeyEpisodes: "The Bogota Million", "Fatal Obsession: Parts 1 & 2"1989Widow KelseyEpisode: "The Cavanaugh Curse"NewhartMrs. HendersonEpisode: "Don't Worry Be Pregnant"Class Cruise Grandma TV filmDragnetSadie McGuireEpisode: "Where's Sadie?"GenerationsEmily FoberEpisodes: "1.175", "1.176", "1.178"1990Alien NationMrs. GillirueEpisode: "Spirit of '95"ALFLouise BeaumontEpisode: "When I'm 64"Equal JusticeFlorence EvansEpisode: "Sugar Blues"Twin PeaksMrs. TremondEpisode: "Coma"Over My Dead BodySister DempseyEpisode: "Pilot"True ColorsAunt SylviaEpisode: "Occasional Wife"Tales from the CryptWitchEpisode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"1991Pacific StationCelia LinderEpisode: "A Man's Best Friend"MatlockSamantha Bergstrom, Rose HayesEpisodes: "The Trial: Part 2", "The Defense"1991–1992Life Goes OnEleanor, SarahEpisodes: "Arthur", "Love Letters"1992Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop DriveIva Ruth McKinneyTV filmQuantum LeapMillie ReynoldsEpisode: "Moments to Live"Who's the Boss?CandyEpisodes: "Savor the Veal: Parts 2 & 3"L.A. LawMarian McConnellEpisode: "Silence of the Lambskins"Down the ShoreMiss SuzetteEpisode: "My Left Feet"1992–1993By Way of the StarsAnnie PyleTV miniseriesEmpty NestSylvia, AgnesEpisodes: "Charley for President", "The Fracas in Vegas"1993Street LegalPatricia PetersEpisode: "Pride and Prejudice"1994PhenomMrs. LongEpisode: "What's in a Vow?"Dave's WorldDaisyEpisode: "Lost Weekend"Aunt FrancineEpisode: "Alex, Then and N.O.W."DorothyEpisode: "Excelsis Dei"1995Platypus ManBellaEpisode: "Sweet Denial"Ardith CannonEpisode: "Off Broadway: Part 2"GertudeEpisode: "ZooTV at Night"Mrs. HendersonEpisode: "The Sugar Shack"Murder, She WroteSarah McCoyEpisode: "Home Care"CourthouseKate DowneyEpisode: "Injustice for All"1996Road to AvonleaWinifred WardEpisode: "After the Ball Is Over"Rossini's GhostRosalie (elder)TV film1996, 1998SeinfeldMabel ChoateEpisodes: "The Rye", "The Cadillac", "The Finale"1997Suddenly SusanMrs. TidgelyEpisode: "What a Card"Life with RogerAunt CharlotteEpisode: "The Boxer Rebellion"PlayersMrs. DavisEpisode: "Three of a Con"1998CluelessOpalEpisode: "Friends"C-16: FBIMiss WilsonEpisode: "The Art of War"Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionMildred GraysonEpisode: "The Gift"Style & SubstanceElizabethEpisode: "Chelsea's Ex"Forever LoveMartha CraddockTV film1998–2000Mrs. FitchRecurring role (seasons 1–2)1999Mrs. LewisTV filmDa Vinci's InquestViola McKnightEpisode: "A Nice Home in the Country"2000Port CharlesLeah CochraneGuest role2001ERGeorgiaEpisode: "Witch Hunt"Bob PattersonLaurie EvansEpisode: "Awards Bob"Bratty BabiesMaggie WinchesterTV film2002CharmedPhoebe Halliwell (old)Episode: "The Three Faces of Phoebe"Presidio MedJoan HartEpisode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly"2006Hannah MontanaCathyEpisode: "Debt It Be"2007CavemenMrs. WinstonEpisode: "Pilot"2009Grey's AnatomyAunt JoyceEpisode: "Elevator Love Letter"2009–2011Ginny FreeholdRecurring role (seasons 1–2)
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