Bay started her acting career late in life, beginning with a small role in the 1978 Goldie Hawn film, “Foul Play.” From there, she went on to star in over 100 television shows and films.
The Canadian actress played many grandmothers during her career, most notably Adam Sandler’s in “Happy Gilmore” and Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli’s on “Happy Days.” Her best known role may forever be the woman who had her marble rye stolen in a 1996 episode of “Seinfeld.”
In 2002, Bay was struck by a car and had part of her right leg amputated. Despite the injury, Bay returned to acting and received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2008. Her last role was on the ABC sitcom, “The Middle.”
Bay’s career didn’t kick off until she was in her mid-50′s, and the majority of her work was done in the later part of her life. Born in Alberta and raised in Manitoba, Bay did do some acting in her earlier life, working in radio through World War II before marrying and moving to South Africa for a time. And while she seemed to hit it pretty big in her later years- working with show biz big deals like Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and David Lynch- Bay’s life was not without complication.
In 2002, the elderly actress was crossing a street when she was struck by a 17-year-old motorist, sustaining two broken legs in the accident. She recovered and went on to work more, but also needed a partial leg amputation to heal from the injuries she received in the incident.
Bay’s first film was the Goldie Hawn/Chevy Chase comedy Foul Play, released when the actress was about 60 years old. She went on to play parts in The Karate Kid, Twins, and Big Top Pee-Wee, before appearing in Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, and Fire Walk With Me. Her most notable role for that era, however, was probably her stint on Seinfeld as an older woman whose marble rye bread was stolen.
Frances Bay died last Thursday of pneumonia. No information regarding funeral or memorial arrangements was disclosed to the public.
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