Frances Bay

Acting

1919-01-23 · Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada

Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress known for playing a variety of quirky elderly women on film and television. In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. After initial success in radio and stage plays, she became "The Girlfriend to the Canadian Forces" on CBC Radio during World War II, boosting troops' spirits. Marriage and a move to the U.S. led to a hiatus, during which she studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York. Returning to acting at 60, Bay featured in Foul Play and gained recognition in various TV shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and films such as The Wedding Planner and Twins. Her versatile career spanned over 50 films and numerous TV series, earning her awards and nominations. Notably, she appeared in the final episodes of sitcoms Seinfeld, Who’s the Boss?, and Happy Days. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.

Filmography

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

2014 · Movie

Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

2011 · Movie

Pickin' and Grinnin'

2010 · Movie

Bare Knuckles

2010 · Movie

The Middle

2009 · Series

Repo Chick

2009 · Movie

Edmond

2006 · Movie

Hannah Montana

2006 · Series

Ring Around the Rosie

2006 · Movie

Annie's Point

2005 · Movie

In the Land of Milk and Money

2004 · Movie

The Movie Hero

2003 · Movie

Kiss The Bride

2002 · Movie

Presidio Med

2002 · Series

Bob Patterson

2001 · Series

Oh, Baby

2001 · Movie

Finder's Fee

2001 · Movie

My Wife and Kids

2001 · Series

The Wedding Planner

2001 · Movie

Stranger Than Fiction

2000 · Movie

The Operator

2000 · Movie

Inspector Gadget

1999 · Movie

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

1999 · Movie

Goodbye Lover

1999 · Movie

Charmed

1998 · Series

Da Vinci's Inquest

1998 · Series

Forever Love

1998 · Movie

The Hughleys

1998 · Series

Krippendorf's Tribe

1998 · Movie

Style & Substance

1998 · Series

Sparkler

1997 · Movie

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

1997 · Series

Changing Habits

1997 · Movie

Clueless

1996 · Series

Suddenly Susan

1996 · Series

Never Too Late

1996 · Movie

Happy Gilmore

1996 · Movie

Rossini's Ghost

1996 · Movie

In the Mouth of Madness

1995 · Movie

The Paperboy

1994 · Movie

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

1994 · Series

The Neighbor

1993 · Movie

Dave's World

1993 · Series

The X-Files

1993 · Series

Inside Monkey Zetterland

1992 · Movie

Single White Female

1992 · Movie

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

1992 · Movie

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

1992 · Movie

Critters 3

1991 · Movie

The Commish

1991 · Series

Pacific Station

1991 · Series

The Pit and the Pendulum

1991 · Movie

Amazing Stories: The Movie II

1990 · Movie

True Colors

1990 · Series

Wild at Heart

1990 · Movie

The Grifters

1990 · Movie

Arachnophobia

1990 · Movie

Twin Peaks

1990 · Series

Class Cruise

1989 · Movie

Alien Nation

1989 · Series

Seinfeld

1989 · Series

The Karate Kid Part III

1989 · Movie

Tales from the Crypt

1989 · Series

Quantum Leap

1989 · Series

Father Dowling Mysteries

1989 · Series

Twins

1988 · Movie

Police Story

1988 · Series

Big Top Pee-wee

1988 · Movie

The Oldest Rookie

1987 · Series

Medium Rare

1987 · Movie

Sidekicks

1986 · Series

ALF

1986 · Series

Blue Velvet

1986 · Movie

L.A. Law

1986 · Series

Nomads

1986 · Movie

Matlock

1986 · Series

Amazing Stories

1985 · Series

Amos

1985 · Movie

The Golden Girls

1985 · Series

Movers & Shakers

1985 · Movie

The Eagle and The Bear

1985 · Movie

Murder, She Wrote

1984 · Series

Hunter

1984 · Series

E/R

1984 · Series

The Karate Kid

1984 · Movie

Second Sight: A Love Story

1984 · Movie

Little Red Riding Hood

1983 · Movie

A Rose for Emily

1983 · Movie

Private School

1983 · Movie

Wings

1983 · Movie

St. Elsewhere

1982 · Series

Newhart

1982 · Series

Remington Steele

1982 · Series

Cheers

1982 · Series

Family Ties

1982 · Series

Faerie Tale Theatre

1982 · Series

Double Exposure

1982 · Movie

Cagney & Lacey

1982 · Series

T. J. Hooker

1982 · Series

American Playhouse

1982 · Series

Fame

1982 · Series

Simon & Simon

1981 · Series

Honky Tonk Freeway

1981 · Movie

Buddy Buddy

1981 · Movie

Amy

1981 · Movie

A Whale for the Killing

1981 · Movie

Hill Street Blues

1981 · Series

Callie & Son

1981 · Movie

The Attic

1980 · Movie

Topper

1979 · Movie

Chilly Scenes of Winter

1979 · Movie

Hart to Hart

1979 · Series

Foul Play

1978 · Movie

Happy Days

1974 · Series