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Frances Bay

Frances Bay

Known For Acting
Birthday Jan 23, 1919
Died Sep 15, 2011 (92)
Birthplace Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Popularity 0.7 (history)
Updated Aug 10, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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

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Filmography

Happy Gilmore 2

Happy Gilmore 2

2025

as Grandma (archive footage) (uncredited)

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

2014

as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)

Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage

2011

as Aunt Barbara

Pickin' and Grinnin'

Pickin' and Grinnin'

2010

as Grandma Johnson

Bare Knuckles

Bare Knuckles

2010

as Rosie Mcintyre

Repo Chick

Repo Chick

2009

as Granma De La Chasse

Ring Around the Rosie

Ring Around the Rosie

2006

as Nanna

Edmond

Edmond

2005

as Fortune Teller

Annie's Point

Annie's Point

2005

as Older Woman

The Movie Hero

The Movie Hero

2003

as Wise Old Woman

Oh, Baby

Oh, Baby

2001

as Edna Winchester

Finder's Fee

Finder's Fee

2001

as Mrs. Darmsetter

The Wedding Planner

The Wedding Planner

2001

as Dottie

Stranger Than Fiction

Stranger Than Fiction

2000

as Mrs. Steiner

Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget

1999

as Thelma

Goodbye Lover

Goodbye Lover

1999

as Old Woman

Forever Love

Forever Love

1998

as Martha Craddock

Krippendorf's Tribe

Krippendorf's Tribe

1998

as Edith Proxmire

Changing Habits

Changing Habits

1997

as Midge

Sparkler

Sparkler

1997

as Raspy

Rossini's Ghost

Rossini's Ghost

1996

as Rosalie

Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore

1996

as Grandma

Never Too Late

Never Too Late

1996

as Elisabeth Kronner

In the Mouth of Madness

In the Mouth of Madness

1995

as Mrs. Pickman

The Paperboy

The Paperboy

1994

as Mrs. Rosemont

The Neighbor

The Neighbor

1993

as Aunt Sylvia

Single White Female

Single White Female

1992

as Elderly Neighbor

Inside Monkey Zetterland

Inside Monkey Zetterland

1992

as Grandma

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

1992

as Iva Ruth McKinney

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

1992

as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)

Critters 3

Critters 3

1991

as Mrs. Menges

The Pit and the Pendulum

The Pit and the Pendulum

1991

as Esmeralda

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia

1990

as Evelyn Metcalf

Wild at Heart

Wild at Heart

1990

as Madam

The Grifters

The Grifters

1990

as Arizona Motel Clerk

Class Cruise

Class Cruise

1989

as Grandma

The Karate Kid Part III

The Karate Kid Part III

1989

as Mrs. Milo

Big Top Pee-wee

Big Top Pee-wee

1988

as Mrs. Haynes

Twins

Twins

1988

as Mother Superior

Medium Rare

Medium Rare

1987

as Gertrude

Nomads

Nomads

1986

as Bertril

Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet

1986

as Aunt Barbara

Amos

Amos

1985

as Lydia

Movers & Shakers

Movers & Shakers

1985

as Betty Gritz

Second Sight: A Love Story

Second Sight: A Love Story

1984

as Old Woman

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

1984

as Lady with Dog

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

1983

as Granny

Wings

Wings

1983

as Mrs. Timmins

A Rose for Emily

A Rose for Emily

1983

as Miss Wyatt

Private School

Private School

1983

as Birdie Fallmouth

Double Exposure

Double Exposure

1982

as Old Woman

Amy

Amy

1981

as Mrs. Lindey

Honky Tonk Freeway

Honky Tonk Freeway

1981

as Mrs. Lewenowski

Buddy Buddy

Buddy Buddy

1981

as Female Patient

Callie & Son

Callie & Son

1981

as Mabel Simpson

Murder in Texas

Murder in Texas

1981

as Myra Hill

The Attic

The Attic

1980

as Librarian

Chilly Scenes of Winter

Chilly Scenes of Winter

1979

as Mrs. Delillo

Topper

Topper

1979

as Mrs. Quincy

Foul Play

Foul Play

1978

as Mrs. Russel

No data available

No data available

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

The Middle

as Aunt Ginny

Episodes: 11

First Aired: Sep 30, 2009

Seinfeld

as Mabel Choate

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Jul 05, 1989

Hunter

as Mrs. Laskey

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 18, 1984

Family Ties

as Mrs. Florence Menlo

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1982

Cheers

as Mrs. Brubaker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1982

Remington Steele

as Mother Trust

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1982

Amazing Stories

as Mrs Claus

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1985

L.A. Law

as Marian McConnell

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1986

The Golden Girls

as Claire

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1985

Twin Peaks

as Mrs. Tremond

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 08, 1990

Tales from the Crypt

as Witch

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 10, 1989

Charmed

as Old Phoebe

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1998

Quantum Leap

as Millie Reynolds

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 26, 1989

The X-Files

as Dorothy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

Faerie Tale Theatre

as Granny

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1982

ALF

as Louise Beaumont

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1986

Hunter

as Emma Parsons

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1984

True Colors

as Tante Sylvia

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 02, 1990

Dave's World

as Daisy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1993

Bob Patterson

as Laurie Evans

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 2001

Matlock

as Samantha Bergstrom

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 03, 1986

ER

as Georgia

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1994

St. Elsewhere

as Mrs. Renninger

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 26, 1982

Hart to Hart

as Flower Vendor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1979

Suddenly Susan

as Mrs. Tidgely

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1996

Hannah Montana

as Cathy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 24, 2006

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

as Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift")

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 25, 1997

Pacific Station

as Celia Linder

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1991

Style & Substance

as Elizabeth Hadley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 05, 1998

Murder, She Wrote

as Sarah McCoy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

Happy Days

as Grandma Nussbaum

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 15, 1974

Hill Street Blues

as Elizabeth Mies

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 15, 1981

Simon & Simon

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Nov 24, 1981

Happy Days

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 15, 1974

Presidio Med

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 2002

T. J. Hooker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 13, 1982

Fame

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1982

The 5 Mrs. Buchanans

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1994

Da Vinci's Inquest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1998

The Commish

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1991

Clueless

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1996

Newhart

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1982

Hart to Hart

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1979

Cagney & Lacey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 25, 1982

Sidekicks

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1986

Alien Nation

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1989

The Hughleys

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1998

E/R

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1984

The Oldest Rookie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1987

My Wife and Kids

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 28, 2001

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 6 10 3
2024 7 19 34 5
2024 8 14 34 3
2024 9 8 21 3
2024 10 6 13 2
2024 11 8 25 2
2024 12 8 15 4
2025 1 11 19 6
2025 2 5 8 1
2025 3 5 11 1
2025 5 2 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 1 6 0
2025 8 2 12 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2025 9 898 824

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