Frances Bay

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

116

Gender

Female

Birthday

1919-01-23

Day of death

2011-09-15 (92 years old)

Place of Birth

Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada

Frances Bay

Biography

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.

Known For

  • Seinfeld

    Seinfeld

  • The X-Files

    The X-Files

  • Charmed

    Charmed

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • ER

    ER

  • The Middle

    The Middle

  • Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks

  • Cheers

    Cheers

  • Quantum Leap

    Quantum Leap

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • ALF

    ALF

  • The Golden Girls

    The Golden Girls

  • Family Ties

    Family Ties

  • Matlock

    Matlock

  • Matlock

    Matlock

  • L.A. Law

    L.A. Law

  • Hill Street Blues

    Hill Street Blues

  • Remington Steele

    Remington Steele

  • Hannah Montana

    Hannah Montana

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    Faerie Tale Theatre

  • T. J. Hooker

    T. J. Hooker

  • St. Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere

  • My Wife and Kids

    My Wife and Kids

  • Newhart

    Newhart

  • Tales from the Crypt

    Tales from the Crypt

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

  • Cagney & Lacey

    Cagney & Lacey

  • Amazing Stories

    Amazing Stories

  • The Commish

    The Commish

  • The Karate Kid

    The Karate Kid

  • Fame

    Fame

  • Happy Gilmore

    Happy Gilmore

  • Da Vinci's Inquest

    Da Vinci's Inquest

  • A Whale for the Killing

    A Whale for the Killing

  • Dave's World

    Dave's World

  • Clueless

    Clueless

  • Twins

    Twins

  • Class Cruise

    Class Cruise

  • Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

    Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

  • Alien Nation

    Alien Nation

  • Blue Velvet

    Blue Velvet

  • The Hughleys

    The Hughleys

  • Private School

    Private School

  • Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

    Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

  • The Paperboy

    The Paperboy

  • Inspector Gadget

    Inspector Gadget

  • Changing Habits

    Changing Habits

  • Edmond

    Edmond

  • Foul Play

    Foul Play

  • Sparkler

    Sparkler

  • Amy

    Amy

  • The Karate Kid Part III

    The Karate Kid Part III

  • Father Dowling Mysteries

    Father Dowling Mysteries

  • Amos

    Amos

  • Arachnophobia

    Arachnophobia

  • Bare Knuckles

    Bare Knuckles

  • Suddenly Susan

    Suddenly Susan

  • Repo Chick

    Repo Chick

  • Buddy Buddy

    Buddy Buddy

  • Goodbye Lover

    Goodbye Lover

  • Wild at Heart

    Wild at Heart

  • The Attic

    The Attic

  • Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers

  • In the Mouth of Madness

    In the Mouth of Madness

  • The Wedding Planner

    The Wedding Planner

  • Wings

    Wings

  • Critters 3

    Critters 3

  • Forever Love

    Forever Love

  • Callie & Son

    Callie & Son

  • Single White Female

    Single White Female

  • True Colors

    True Colors

  • Sidekicks

    Sidekicks

  • Presidio Med

    Presidio Med

  • E/R

    E/R

  • Krippendorf's Tribe

    Krippendorf's Tribe

  • The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

    The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

  • The Pit and the Pendulum

    The Pit and the Pendulum

  • The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

    The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

  • Ring Around the Rosie

    Ring Around the Rosie

  • Oh, Baby

    Oh, Baby

  • Honky Tonk Freeway

    Honky Tonk Freeway

  • Big Top Pee-wee

    Big Top Pee-wee

  • Never Too Late

    Never Too Late

  • The Oldest Rookie

    The Oldest Rookie

  • Pacific Station

    Pacific Station

  • The Operator

    The Operator

  • Second Sight: A Love Story

    Second Sight: A Love Story

  • Annie's Point

    Annie's Point

  • A Rose for Emily

    A Rose for Emily

  • Rossini's Ghost

    Rossini's Ghost

  • Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

    Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

  • Pickin' and Grinnin'

    Pickin' and Grinnin'

  • Stranger Than Fiction

    Stranger Than Fiction

  • Inside Monkey Zetterland

    Inside Monkey Zetterland

  • The Grifters

    The Grifters

  • Chilly Scenes of Winter

    Chilly Scenes of Winter

  • Bob Patterson

    Bob Patterson

  • Finder's Fee

    Finder's Fee

  • Kiss The Bride

    Kiss The Bride

  • Style & Substance

    Style & Substance

  • In the Land of Milk and Money

    In the Land of Milk and Money

  • The Movie Hero

    The Movie Hero

  • Nomads

    Nomads

  • The Neighbor

    The Neighbor

  • Double Exposure

    Double Exposure

  • Topper

    Topper

  • Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

    Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

  • Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

  • Medium Rare

    Medium Rare

  • The Eagle and The Bear

    The Eagle and The Bear