Bebe Drake

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Bebe Drake (born Beatrice Drake) is an American actress. Drake is one of four children born to Beatrice Lillian Hayes, a teacher, social worker and community activist, and Carl Everett Drake, a postal worker who later became the first African American practicing psychiatrist in Sacramento. She attended C. K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento City College, and California State University, Sacramento. Drake made her Broadway debut in the 1975 Leslie Lee's play The First Breeze of Summer and the following year appeared in Great Performances production. She later was regular cast member on the two short-lived sitcoms: Snip (1976) and Sanford Arms (1977). During her career, Drake appeared in more than 70 films and television series. She made her big screen debut in 1975 appearing in films Report to the Commissioner and Friday Foster, and in 1977 had supporting role opposite Richard Pryor in the comedy film Which Way Is Up?. In 1979 she co-starred in the miniseries Backstairs at the White House and the made-for-television movie The Cracker Factory. She made guest-starring appearances on television series such as Good Times, Welcome Back, Kotter, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Highway to Heaven, Thirtysomething, L.A. Law, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show, The Parent 'Hood and The Bernie Mac Show. Drake appeared in films such as The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Xanadu (1980), Oh, God! Book II (1980), First Monday in October (1981), Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986), Alien Nation (1988), House Party (1990), Across the Tracks (1991), Boomerang (1992), Jason's Lyric (1994), Space Jam (1996), How to Be a Player (1997), Anywhere But Here (1999), Leprechaun in the Hood (2000), Friday After Next (2002), Wild Hogs (2007) and Influence (2020). Drake appeared in the 1980 made-for-television drama Scared Straight! Another Story, the 1987 thriller Billionaire Boys Club, and the 1989 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. She was regular cast member in the 1990 short-lived sitcom New Attitude. From 1989 to 1993 she had recurring role on A Different World playing Velma Gaines and later had recurring roles on Martin and Another Period playing Harriet Tubman.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2022
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
TV show Mary Darnell (voice)
2021
Never and Again
Movie Ms. Addis
2020
Influence
Movie Cathy Kirby
2015
Another Period
TV show Harriet Tubman
2012
Suddenly Single
Movie
2012
David E. Talbert's What Goes Around Comes Around
Movie Ms. Rudolf
2007
Wild Hogs
Movie Mother-in-Law
2006
Who Made the Potatoe Salad?
Movie Mrs. Brown
2006
Crossroads
Movie Ettu
2003
Family Reunion: The Movie
Movie
2002
Friday After Next
Movie Mrs. Pearly
2001
The Bernie Mac Show
TV show Mama Lena
2001
The Proud Family
TV show Mary Darnell (voice)
2001
The Old Settler
Movie Geneva
2000
Leprechaun in the Hood
Movie Post's Mother
1997
How to Be a Player
Movie Mama Jackson

More credits

1996
Space Jam
Movie Jordan Housekeeper
1996
The Jamie Foxx Show
TV show Mrs. Hartnabrig
1996
The Steve Harvey Show
TV show Betty
1995
The Parent 'Hood
TV show
1995
The Wayans Bros.
TV show Ms. James
1994
Jason's Lyric
Movie Ms. Murphy
1993
Thea
TV show
1993
Body Bags
Movie Nurse
1992
Martin
TV show Myra
1992
Bebe's Kids
Movie Barfly (voice)
1992
Boomerang
Movie Mrs. Jackson
1991
Across the Tracks
Movie Mrs. Fischer (as Be Be Drake-Massey)
1990
Heat Wave
Movie Winnie (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
1990
New Attitude
TV show Bebe
1990
House Party
Movie Mrs. Strickland
1989
The Women of Brewster Place
Movie Cleo
1989
The Women of Brewster Place
TV show Cleo
1988
Moving Target
Movie Postal Clerk (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
1987
thirtysomething
TV show
1987
A Different World
TV show Velma Gaines
1987
The Bronx Zoo
TV show
1986
L.A. Law
TV show Maureen Wilson
1986
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Movie Angry Prostitute (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
1984
Highway to Heaven
TV show