
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.
Awards & recognition
- Canada's Walk of Fame · 2008
Filmography50+ titles

The X-Files

In the Land of Milk and Money

Twin Peaks

Seinfeld

Charmed

Quantum Leap

Tales from the Crypt

ER

The Middle

ALF

Blue Velvet

The Golden Girls

Cheers

Hill Street Blues

Happy Days

Amazing Stories

Murder, She Wrote

My Wife and Kids

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

Hannah Montana

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

In the Mouth of Madness

The Karate Kid

Family Ties

Amy

The Commish

L.A. Law

Matlock

Hunter

Remington Steele

Wild at Heart

Alien Nation

Second Sight: A Love Story

Cagney & Lacey

Hart to Hart

Callie & Son

Chilly Scenes of Winter

The Hughleys

Happy Gilmore

Simon & Simon

Happy Gilmore 2

Arachnophobia

The Grifters

T. J. Hooker

Single White Female

Foul Play

Finder's Fee

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

Da Vinci's Inquest