
Frances Bay
Department: Acting
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

Inspector Gadget
1999

Blue Velvet
1986

Ring Around the Rosie
2006

The Wedding Planner
2001

In the Mouth of Madness
1995

Finder's Fee
2001

Big Top Pee-wee
1988

Amos
1985

Twins
1988

Happy Gilmore
1996

Nomads
1986

Stranger Than Fiction
2000

Bare Knuckles
2010

Chilly Scenes of Winter
1979

Foul Play
1978

The Paperboy
1994

The Grifters
1990

The Pit and the Pendulum
1991

Second Sight: A Love Story
1984

Double Exposure
1982

Rossini's Ghost
1996

Class Cruise
1989

The Neighbor
1993

Amy
1981

Sparkler
1997

Pickin' and Grinnin'
2010

Topper
1979

Inside Monkey Zetterland
1992

Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
2011

Callie & Son
1981

The Karate Kid Part III
1989

A Whale for the Killing
1981

Wild at Heart
1990

The Eagle and The Bear
1985

The Attic
1980

Critters 3
1991

Arachnophobia
1990

Edmond
2006

Oh, Baby
2001

Little Red Riding Hood
1983

Annie's Point
2005

Repo Chick
2009

Private School
1983

Single White Female
1992

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
2014

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
1992

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
1999

A Rose for Emily
1983

Forever Love
1998

Buddy Buddy
1981

Medium Rare
1987

The Karate Kid
1984

Never Too Late
1996

Goodbye Lover
1999

Honky Tonk Freeway
1981

Movers & Shakers
1985

Krippendorf's Tribe
1998

The Movie Hero
2003

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
1992

Changing Habits
1997

Wings
1983

Kiss The Bride
2002

The Operator
2000

In the Land of Milk and Money
2004

Presidio Med
2002

Family Ties
1982

Cheers
1982

Seinfeld
1989

The Middle
2009

Remington Steele
1982

Amazing Stories
1985

T. J. Hooker
1982

L.A. Law
1986

Fame
1982

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
1994

The Golden Girls
1985

Simon & Simon
1981

Twin Peaks
1990

Tales from the Crypt
1989

Charmed
1998

Da Vinci's Inquest
1998

The Commish
1991

Happy Days
1974

Clueless
1996

Quantum Leap
1989

Newhart
1982

Hart to Hart
1979

The X-Files
1993

Cagney & Lacey
1982

Faerie Tale Theatre
1982

Sidekicks
1986

ALF
1986

Hunter
1984

The Hughleys
1998

True Colors
1990

E/R
1984

Dave's World
1993

Bob Patterson
2001

The Oldest Rookie
1987

Hunter
1984

My Wife and Kids
2001

Matlock
1986

ER
1994

St. Elsewhere
1982

Hart to Hart
1979

Suddenly Susan
1996

Hannah Montana
2006

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997

Pacific Station
1991

Style & Substance
1998

Murder, She Wrote
1984

Happy Days
1974

Hill Street Blues
1981

Father Dowling Mysteries
1989

Matlock
1986

Alien Nation
1989