Frances Bay
Known For
Acting
Born
1919-01-23 in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Died
2011-09-15
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.
Most Known For
The X-Files
as Dorothy
Seinfeld
as Mabel Choate
Twin Peaks
as Mrs. Tremond
Charmed
as Old Phoebe
Murder, She Wrote
as Sarah McCoy
ER
as Georgia
Cheers
as Mrs. Brubaker
The Middle
as Aunt Ginny
Happy Days
Happy Days
as Grandma Nussbaum
Quantum Leap
as Millie Reynolds
Family Ties
as Mrs. Florence Menlo
The Golden Girls
as Claire
Hill Street Blues
as Elizabeth Mies
St. Elsewhere
as Mrs. Renninger
ALF
as Louise Beaumont
Hannah Montana
as Cathy
L.A. Law
as Marian McConnell
Tales from the Crypt
as Witch
Matlock
as Samantha Bergstrom