Beulah Elizabeth Richardson (July 12, 1920 – September 14, 2000), known professionally as Beah Richards, was an American actress, playwright, and poet best known for her roles in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Mahogany, and Beloved.
Richards was married for a few years to Hugh Harrell Jr. She died of emphysema at the age of 80. A notable figure in the Civil Rights Movement, she was inducted into the NAACP’s Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Works with Beah Richards:
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Film roles
- 1958 The Mugger: Grecco Maid
- 1959 Take A Giant Step: May Scott
- 1962 The Miracle Worker: Viney – Keller Maid (Uncredited Role)
- 1963 Gone Are The Days: Idella Landy
- 1967 Hurry Sundown: Rose Scott
- 1967 In the Heat of the Night: Mama Caleba
- 1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Mrs. Mary Prentice
- 1970 The Great White Hope: Mama Tiny
- 1972 The Biscuit Eater: Charity Tomlin
- 1972 Footsteps: Jessie Blake (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1973 Outrage: Thelma (TV Movie)
- 1973 Starry At The Christmas Joy: Grandma Bessie (TV Movie)
- 1975 Mahogany: Florence
- 1976 Just An Old Sweet Song: Grandma
- 1978 Ring Of Passion: Lilly Brooks
- 1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat: Zazu (TV Movie)
- 1980 A Christmas Without Snow: Wendell’s Grandma (TV Movie)
- 1985 And The Children Shall Lead: Miss Annie (TV Movie)
- 1985 Generation: Edna (TV Movie)
- 1986 Acceptable Risks: Sally Framm (TV Movie)
- 1986 As Summers Die: Elvira Backus (TV Movie)
- 1986 Inside Out: Verna
- 1987 Time Out For Dad: Miss Aldrich (TV Movie)
- 1987 Big Shots: Miss Hanks
- 1989 Homer And Eddie: Linda Cervi
- 1989 Drugstore Cowboy: Drug Counselor
- 1991 One Special Victory: Cora Simms (TV Movie)
- 1994 Out of Darkness: Mrs. Cooper (TV Movie)
- 1998 Beloved: Baby Suggs
Television roles
- 1963 The Doctors And The Nurses: Cleaning Lady (1 episode)
- 1965-66 The Big Valley: Hannah (2 episodes)
- 1966 Dr. Kildare: Alice Willey (2 episodes)
- 1967 I Spy: Mother (1 episode)
- 1969 Hawaii Five-O: Mama Grant (1 episode)
- 1969 Ironside (1967): Aunt Ruby (1 episode)
- 1969 Room 222: Mrs. Moore (1 episode)
- 1970 It Takes a Thief (1968): Sister Martha Gowen (1 episode)
- 1970-71 The Bill Cosby Show: Rose Kincaid (3 episodes)
- 1972 Sanford and Son: Aunt Ethel (2 episodes)
- 1973 The Magician: Mrs. Thatcher (1 episode)
- 1974 Apples Way: Mrs. Thaxter (1 episode)
- 1976 Petrocelli: Bessie Jones (1 episode)
- 1979 Roots The Next Generations: Cynthia Palmer (2 episodes)
- 1980 Vega$ (1978): Mom (1 episode)
- 1981 The Sophisticated Gents: Mae Porter
- 1981-84 Benson: Lois DuBois (2 episodes)
- 1984 The New Mike Hammer: Mandy Higgins (1 episode)
- 1984 St. Elsewhere: Regina (1 episode)
- 1985 Highway to Heaven: Mrs. Baldwin (1 episode)
- 1985 Punky Brewster: Mrs. Carney (1 episode)
- 1986 Hill Street Blues: Aunt Feeney (2 episodes)
- 1986 The Hitchhiker: Serita (1 episode)
- 1986 Capitol: Therese
- 1986-87 Hunter (1984): Pockets / Ella Mae Fuller (2 episodes)
- 1986-90 227: Carolyn Hurley (3 episodes)
- 1987 CBS Summer Playhouse: Katherine (1 episode)
- 1987 Franks Place: Olive Varden (1 episode)
- 1987-89 Beauty and the Beast (1987): Narcissa (5 episodes)
- 1988 The Facts of Life: Grandmother (1 episode)
- 1988-91 Murder, She Wrote: Ola Mae/Emma Coop (2 episodes)
- 1989-90 L.A. Law: Alberta Williams (2 episodes)
- 1990 Equal Justice: Mrs. Davis (1 episode)
- 1990 Capital News: Etta Mays (1 episode)
- 1990 Brewster Place: Bernice Sands (2 episodes)
- 1990-93 Designing Women: Minnie/Mrs. Bouvier (3 episodes)
- 1991 Family Matters: Helen (1 episode)
- 1992-93 Hearts Afire: Miss Lula (14 episodes)
- 1993 Matlock: Martha Jordan (1 episode)
- 1993 South Of Sunset: Mrs. Mays (1 episode)
- 1993 The John Larroquette Show: Emma (1 episode)
- 1994-95 ER: Mae Benton (8 episodes)
- 2000 The Practice: Gertrude Turner (1 episode)
