Frances Bay

Cute, tiny, and prolific little old lady character actress 'Frances Bay' (qv) 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 _Foul Play (1978)_ (qv) 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' (qv): she's 'Kyle MacLachlan' (qv)'s sweet doddery aunt in _Blue Velvet (1986)_ (qv), a gruff, profane whorehouse madam in _Wild at Heart (1990)_ (qv), and the spooky Mrs. Tremond in the cult TV series _Twin Peaks (1990)_ (qv) and its spin-off feature _Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)_ (qv). Frances popped up in two movies for director 'Stuart Gordon' (qv): she's a kindly witch in _The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)_ (qv) and a fortune teller in _Edmond (2005)_ (qv). Other notable film roles include a snippy librarian in _The Attic (1980)_ (qv), a mysterious blind nun in the offbeat _Nomads (1985)_ (qv), another librarian in _In the Mouth of Madness (1994)_ (qv), and 'Adam Sandler' (qv)'s loving grandmother in the hit comedy _Happy Gilmore (1996)_ (qv). Frances had the unique distinction of guesting on the final episodes of the TV shows _Happy Days (1974)_ (qv), _Who's the Boss? (1984)_ (qv), and _Seinfeld (1989)_ (qv). Among the many TV series Bay had guest spots on are _Charmed (1998)_ (qv), _ER (1994)_ (qv), _Matlock (1986)_ (qv), _The X-Files (1993)_ (qv), _Murder, She Wrote (1984)_ (qv), _The Commish (1991)_ (qv), _L.A. Law (1986)_ (qv), _Hill Street Blues (1981)_ (qv), _Touched by an Angel (1994)_ (qv), _The Golden Girls (1985)_ (qv), and _Amazing Stories (1985)_ (qv). She won a Gemini Award for her performance in the Disney TV program _Avonlea (1990)_ (qv). Frances was also in the music video for 'Jimmy Fallon' (qv)'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' (qv) 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' (qv) was a very practical and unassuming woman with an avid love for jazz music.::woodyanders