Cute, tiny, and prolific little old lady character actress Frances Bay worked constantly in both films and TV shows alike after making her debut at the age of 59 in life with a small part in the comedy Eine ganz krumme Tour (1978) in 1978.
She frequently portrayed eccentric elderly women and good-hearted grandmothers in all kinds of pictures and television programs. Frances acted several times for David Lynch: she's Kyle MacLachlan's sweet doddery aunt in Blue Velvet (1986), a gruff, profane whorehouse madam in Wild at Heart: Die Geschichte von Sailor und Lula (1990), and the spooky Mrs. Tremond in the cult TV series Das Geheimnis von Twin Peaks (1990) and its spin-off feature Twin Peaks - Der Film: Die letzten 7 Tage im Leben der Laura Palmer (1992).
Frances popped up in two movies for director Stuart Gordon: she's a kind witch in Meister des Grauens (1991) and a fortune teller in Edmond (2005).
Other notable film roles include a snippy librarian in Dreizehn Stufen zum Terror (1980), a mysterious blind nun in the offbeat Nomads - Tod aus dem Nichts (1986), another librarian in Die Mächte des Wahnsinns (1994), and Adam Sandler's loving grandmother in the hit comedy Happy Gilmore - Ein Champ zum Verlieben (1996).
Frances had the unique distinction of guesting on the final episodes of the TV shows Happy Days (1974), Wer ist hier der Boss? (1984), and Seinfeld (1989).
Among the many TV series Bay had guest spots on are Charmed: Zauberhafte Hexen (1998), Emergency Room: Die Notaufnahme (1994), Matlock (1986), Akte X: Die unheimlichen Fälle des FBI (1993), Mord ist ihr Hobby (1984), Der Polizeichef - Eis im Blut (1991), L.A. Law: Staranwälte, Tricks, Prozesse (1986), Polizeirevier Hill Street (1981), Ein Hauch von Himmel (1994), Golden Girls (1985), and Unglaubliche Geschichten (1985).
She won a Gemini Award for her performance in the Disney TV program Avonlea - Das Mädchen aus der Stadt (1990).
Frances was also in the music video for Jimmy Fallon's "Idiot Boyfriend." In addition to her substantial movie and TV credits, Bay also acted in both Off-Broadway stage productions and regional theater; these plays include "Finnegan's Wake," "Grease," "Genuis," "The Caucasion Chalk Circle," "Number Our Days," "Uncommon Women," "Sarcophagus," and "The Pleasure of His Company." Frances won two
DramaLogue Awards and was nominated for a Los Angeles Dramatic Critics' Award.
In 2002 Bay was the unfortunate victim of an automobile accident which resulted in having part of her right leg amputated. Her husband
Charles sadly died in 2002 as well.
In real life Frances Bay was a very practical and unassuming woman with an avid love for jazz music.
