Frances Bay

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

115

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

  • Charmed

    Charmed

  • Seinfeld

    Seinfeld

  • The X-Files

    The X-Files

  • Cheers

    Cheers

  • Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • ER

    ER

  • The Middle

    The Middle

  • T. J. Hooker

    T. J. Hooker

  • Hill Street Blues

    Hill Street Blues

  • Quantum Leap

    Quantum Leap

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • Family Ties

    Family Ties

  • Amazing Stories

    Amazing Stories

  • The Golden Girls

    The Golden Girls

  • Matlock

    Matlock

  • Hannah Montana

    Hannah Montana

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • Hart to Hart

    Hart to Hart

  • ALF

    ALF

  • St. Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

  • Tales from the Crypt

    Tales from the Crypt

  • Dave's World

    Dave's World

  • Newhart

    Newhart

  • L.A. Law

    L.A. Law

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Remington Steele

    Remington Steele

  • Cagney & Lacey

    Cagney & Lacey

  • Fame

    Fame

  • My Wife and Kids

    My Wife and Kids

  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    Faerie Tale Theatre

  • The Commish

    The Commish

  • Happy Gilmore

    Happy Gilmore

  • Da Vinci's Inquest

    Da Vinci's Inquest

  • Suddenly Susan

    Suddenly Susan

  • The Karate Kid

    The Karate Kid

  • The Hughleys

    The Hughleys

  • Twins

    Twins

  • Clueless

    Clueless

  • Father Dowling Mysteries

    Father Dowling Mysteries

  • Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

    Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

  • Alien Nation

    Alien Nation

  • Inspector Gadget

    Inspector Gadget

  • In the Mouth of Madness

    In the Mouth of Madness

  • Never Too Late

    Never Too Late

  • Blue Velvet

    Blue Velvet

  • The Karate Kid Part III

    The Karate Kid Part III

  • Callie & Son

    Callie & Son

  • Private School

    Private School

  • The Grifters

    The Grifters

  • Arachnophobia

    Arachnophobia

  • Krippendorf's Tribe

    Krippendorf's Tribe

  • Bob Patterson

    Bob Patterson

  • Topper

    Topper

  • The Wedding Planner

    The Wedding Planner

  • True Colors

    True Colors

  • E/R

    E/R

  • Goodbye Lover

    Goodbye Lover

  • Honky Tonk Freeway

    Honky Tonk Freeway

  • Presidio Med

    Presidio Med

  • Changing Habits

    Changing Habits

  • The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

    The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

  • Foul Play

    Foul Play

  • Critters 3

    Critters 3

  • Second Sight: A Love Story

    Second Sight: A Love Story

  • Style & Substance

    Style & Substance

  • Stranger Than Fiction

    Stranger Than Fiction

  • A Whale for the Killing

    A Whale for the Killing

  • A Rose for Emily

    A Rose for Emily

  • Rossini's Ghost

    Rossini's Ghost

  • The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

    The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

  • Sidekicks

    Sidekicks

  • Annie's Point

    Annie's Point

  • The Operator

    The Operator

  • Class Cruise

    Class Cruise

  • Inside Monkey Zetterland

    Inside Monkey Zetterland

  • The Oldest Rookie

    The Oldest Rookie

  • Amos

    Amos

  • Pacific Station

    Pacific Station

  • Wild at Heart

    Wild at Heart

  • Wings

    Wings

  • Edmond

    Edmond

  • Amy

    Amy

  • The Neighbor

    The Neighbor

  • Single White Female

    Single White Female

  • Repo Chick

    Repo Chick

  • Ring Around the Rosie

    Ring Around the Rosie

  • The Pit and the Pendulum

    The Pit and the Pendulum

  • Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

    Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

  • The Paperboy

    The Paperboy

  • Forever Love

    Forever Love

  • Nomads

    Nomads

  • The Attic

    The Attic

  • Pickin' and Grinnin'

    Pickin' and Grinnin'

  • Sparkler

    Sparkler

  • Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers

  • Chilly Scenes of Winter

    Chilly Scenes of Winter

  • Buddy Buddy

    Buddy Buddy

  • Bare Knuckles

    Bare Knuckles

  • Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

    Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

  • Big Top Pee-wee

    Big Top Pee-wee

  • The Movie Hero

    The Movie Hero

  • Finder's Fee

    Finder's Fee

  • Oh, Baby

    Oh, Baby

  • Kiss The Bride

    Kiss The Bride

  • The Eagle and The Bear

    The Eagle and The Bear

  • In the Land of Milk and Money

    In the Land of Milk and Money

  • Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

    Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

  • Double Exposure

    Double Exposure

  • Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

  • Medium Rare

    Medium Rare