The Resume

(March 8, 1902-October 26, 1962)
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Appeared in the films 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (1927), 'Coquette' (1929), 'Gold Diggers of Broadway' (1929), 'Our Blushing Brides' (1930), 'What Price Hollywood?' (1932), '42nd Street' (1933), 'Bombshell' (1933), 'Only Yesterday' (1933), 'Imitation of Life' (1934), 'General Spanky' (1936), 'Make Way for Tomorrow' (1937), 'Shadow of the Thin Man' (1941), 'Holiday Inn' (1942), 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' (1948), 'The Jackie Robinson Story' (1950), 'Tammy and the Bachelor' (1957) and 'All the Fine Young Cannibals' (1960)
Starred in the TV series 'Beulah' (1952-53)
Portrayed Louise the maid on 'The Danny Thomas Show' (1953-55)
Inducted posthumously into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (1976)

Why she might be annoying:

She was typecast as mammies, maids and cooks.
In real life, she hated to cook.
She was only one year older than the actress who played her daughter in 'Imitation of Life.'
She was the third of four women who played the role of 'Beulah.'

Why she might not be annoying:

Her performance in 'Imitation of Life' was the first time a mainstream Hollywood film gave a black character's problems the same weight as the white lead's.
Her studio encouraged her to overeat to maintain her 'mammy' figure.
She died one decade to the day after her good friend and fellow black acting pioneer/stereotyping victim/Beulah portrayer Hattie McDaniel.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Animal Names
• Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Members and Honorees [1973-2005] (Ranked: 1976)
• Black Heavyweights
• Black Women Loved by Whites
• Born on International Women’s Day [March 8] (Ranked: 1902)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 23]
• I am from Cincinnati
• I Died in 1962 (Ranked: 60)
• I Have Diabetes
• I Portrayed a Nanny
• Look at Me, I'm in the Kitchen
• Mae West Dissed Me
• Profiles 26751-27000 (Ranked: 26758)
• The Thin Man [Film Series]
• TV Series Replacement Parts

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 25 Votes: 28.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 26 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 29.41% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 15.38% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 73 Votes: 56.16% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying