
Frances Bay
Acting
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.
Born: January 23, 1919 · Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Filmography (93)

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
2014

Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
2011

Bare Knuckles
2010

The Middle
2009

Repo Chick
2009

Edmond
2006

Hannah Montana
2006

Ring Around the Rosie
2006

Annie's Point
2005

The Movie Hero
2003

Kiss The Bride
2002

Presidio Med
2002

Finder's Fee
2001

My Wife and Kids
2001

The Wedding Planner
2001

Stranger Than Fiction
2000

The Operator
2000

Inspector Gadget
1999

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
1999

Goodbye Lover
1999

Charmed
1998

Da Vinci's Inquest
1998

The Hughleys
1998

Krippendorf's Tribe
1998

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997

Changing Habits
1997

Clueless
1996

Suddenly Susan
1996

Happy Gilmore
1996

In the Mouth of Madness
1995

The Paperboy
1994

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
1994

ER
1994

The Neighbor
1993

Dave's World
1993

The X-Files
1993

Inside Monkey Zetterland
1992

Single White Female
1992

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
1992

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive
1992

Critters 3
1991

The Commish
1991

The Pit and the Pendulum
1991

True Colors
1990

Wild at Heart
1990

The Grifters
1990

Arachnophobia
1990

Twin Peaks
1990

Alien Nation
1989

Seinfeld
1989

The Karate Kid Part III
1989

Tales from the Crypt
1989

Quantum Leap
1989

Father Dowling Mysteries
1989

Twins
1988

Big Top Pee-wee
1988

Medium Rare
1987

Sidekicks
1986

ALF
1986

Blue Velvet
1986

L.A. Law
1986

Nomads
1986

Matlock
1986

Amos
1985

Amazing Stories
1985

The Golden Girls
1985

Movers & Shakers
1985

Murder, She Wrote
1984

Hunter
1984

E/R
1984

The Karate Kid
1984

Private School
1983

St. Elsewhere
1982

Newhart
1982

Remington Steele
1982

Cheers
1982

Family Ties
1982

Faerie Tale Theatre
1982

Double Exposure
1982

Cagney & Lacey
1982

T. J. Hooker
1982

Fame
1982

Simon & Simon
1981

Honky Tonk Freeway
1981

Buddy Buddy
1981

Amy
1981

Hill Street Blues
1981

Callie & Son
1981

The Attic
1980

Chilly Scenes of Winter
1979

Hart to Hart
1979

Foul Play
1978

Happy Days
1974
