FRANCES BAY (1919 - 2011) R.I.P.

Frances Bay (January 23, 1919-September 15, 2011) was a U.S.-based Canadian character actress, best known for playing quirky, elderly women on film and television
Bay did not appear in films until she was almost 60 years old, when she had a small part in "Foul Play", the 1978 comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase. A year earlier, Bay appeared as Mrs. Hamilton in the Christmas television special Christmastime with Mister Rogers. She went on to play small roles in films like "The Karate Kid", "Big Top Pee-wee" and "Twins".

Her first major television appearance occurred playing the grandmother to the character of "Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli" on "Happy Days". Star Henry Winkler is "just a sweet guy. He lost his own grandmother in the Holocaust, and he wrote me a letter saying I was his virtual grandmother". In 1983, she played the grandmother in " Little Red Riding Hood" in Faerie Tale Theatre for Showtime. and in 1985 she played Mrs. Santa Clause in Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories", In 1994, she played Mrs.Pickman in John Carpenter's " In the Mouth of Madness"
In 1986, Bay appeared as the doddery aunt of Kyle MacLachlan's character in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet". This role seems to have endeared the actress to Lynch, who recast her in several subsequent works, including as a foul-mouthed madam in "Wild at Heart", and as the eerie "Mrs. Tremond" on "Twin Peaks" and its movie spin-off, "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me".

Bay may also be familiar from her performance in the music video for Jimmy Fallon's comedy song," Idiot Boyfriend". However, Bay is perhaps best known today for her performance as the hapless but loving grandmother of Adam Sandler's character in the 1996 film
Happy Gilmore".She had a recurring role as "Aunt Ginny" on "The Middle", albeit her character does not speak,In an earlier episode of "Seinfeld", she played Mabel Choate, a wealthy, irritable old woman from whom Jerry steals a loaf of marbled rye bread. In that episode, entitled "The Rye", Bay appeared with her former "Twin Peaks" co-stars Grace Zabriskie and Warren Frost. In a future episode, the consequences of Jerry's act set in motion a string of events which cause Seinfeld's father, Morty, to be impeached as president of his retirement community in Florida. Her appearance in the final two episodes of Seinfeld also stem from this madcap scenario.
She appeared in an episode of" Charmed" as an older version of the character Phoebe Halliwell, and in an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" as an elderly patient that "just wouldn't die" in 2009.
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[jvxclusiv]

RIP Frances.

[Tanner Waterbury]

This is such sad news.... almost feels like we lost a Second (or third) Grandmother...

[anamallover]

I loved her when she was Happy's grandma

[Jake Parsons]

RIP France's bay you where a awsome person and a great actress RIP

[Fanik10]

She was the coolest Grandma ever!! We love you Frances.

[cluczak]

What a fantastic actress! R.I.P.

[scottpilgremvsdepie]

RIP Frances Bay- a truly remarkable woman

[JERILYN DARIA BIFULCO]

Rest in the arms of the angels gentle lady Frances. You work is done here. Heaven needed a special Grandmother to look after all of God's children.

[Robbie Cadwell]

God rest her sweet soul.

[HawkFire124]

Rest in Peace Frances<3. 

[mannvillehawk2]

She was born in my hometown of Mannville, Alberta. A village of about 750 people. She contributed many laughs to my life before I even knew this. RIP Frances.