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Bessie Love
Bessie Love

Bessie Love

ActingBorn September 9, 1898Died April 26, 1986 (age 87)Midland, Texas, USA

Biography

Bessie Love (born Juanita Horton, September 10, 1898 - April 26, 1986) became one of the most recognizable faces of early American cinema. After her family moved to Los Angeles, she was sent to Biograph Studios, where legendary director D.W. Griffith noticed her talent and cast her in several films, including Intolerance (1916). During the silent era, she gained popularity for her lively, wholesome screen presence and worked with major stars such as Douglas Fairbanks. Her career soared in the 1920s, and she was named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1922, marking her as one of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses. Love made a successful transition to sound films—something many silent stars struggled with. Her performance as Hank Mahoney in The Broadway Melody (1929) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, cementing her place in film history. In the 1930s, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she continued acting in film, theatre, radio, and later television. Her career ultimately spanned from 1915 to 1983, making her one of the longest‑working performers of her generation. She died on April 26, 1986, in London at age 87.

Filmography

2018Movie
2000
Gareth Hughes

as Self (archive footage)

Movie
1997Movie
1983
The Hunger

as Lillybelle

Movie
1981
Reds

as Mrs. Partlow

Movie
1981
Ragtime

as Old Lady - T.O.C.

Movie
1981Movie
1980
Hollywood

as Self

TV
1978TV
1978
Edward & Mrs. Simpson

as Lady Cunard

Movie
1977Movie
1976
The Ritz

as Maurine

Movie
1974
Vampyres

as American Lady

Movie
1974
Mousey

as Mrs. Richardson

Movie
1971
Catlow

as Mrs. Frost

Movie
1971
Sunday Bloody Sunday

as Answering Service Lady

Movie
1969
On Her Majesty's Secret Service

as Baccarat Player (uncredited)

Movie
1968
Isadora

as Mrs. Duncan

Movie
1967
I'll Never Forget What's'isname

as American tourist (uncredited)

Movie
1967Movie
1966
Promise Her Anything

as Pet Shop Customer

Movie
1965
The Wild Affair

as Marjorie's Mother

Movie
1965
The Pistol

as Martha Burroughs

Movie
1964
I Think They Call Him John

as Narrator (voice)

Movie
1964
Story Parade

as Mrs. Arquette

TV
1964Movie
1963TV
1962
Man of the World

as Mrs Van Kempson

TV
1960
Too Young to Love

as Mrs. Busch

Movie
1959
International Detective

as Marta Steibel

TV
1959TV
1958
Nowhere to Go

as Harriet P. Jefferson

Movie
1958
Next to No Time

as Becky Wiener

Movie
1957
The Story of Esther Costello

as Art Gallery Customer

Movie
1955
Touch and Go

as Mrs Baxter

Movie
1955TV
1954
The Barefoot Contessa

as Mrs. Eubanks

Movie
1954Movie
1952
The Magic Box

as Bride's Mother in Wedding Group

Movie
1951
No Highway in the Sky

as Plane Passenger (uncredited)

Movie
1945
Journey Together

as Mrs. Mary McWilliams

Movie
1942Movie
1941
Atlantic Ferry

as Begonia Baggot

Movie
1931
Morals for Women

as Helen Hutson

Movie
1931Movie
1930Movie
1930
Good News

as Babe

Movie
1930
Conspiracy

as Margaret Holt

Movie
1930Movie
1930
Chasing Rainbows

as Carlie Seymour

Movie
1929
The Girl in the Show

as Hattie Hartley

Movie
1929
The Idle Rich

as Helen Thayer

Movie
1929
The Broadway Melody

as Harriet 'Hank' Mahoney

Movie
1928
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?

as Mitzi Lavelle

Movie
1928Movie
1928
The Matinee Idol

as Ginger Bolivar

Movie
1927
Dress Parade

as Janet Cleghorne

Movie
1927
A Harp in Hock

as Nora Banks

Movie
1927
Rubber Tires

as Mary Ellen Stack

Movie
1927
The American

as Jane Wilton

Movie
1926Movie
1926
Young April

as Victoria

Movie
1926
Lovey Mary

as Lovey Mary

Movie
1926Movie
1925Movie
1925Movie
1925Movie
1925
Soul-Fire

as Teita

Movie
1925
The Lost World

as Paula White

Movie
1924Movie
1924
Sundown

as Ellen Crawley

Movie
1924Movie
1924
The Silent Watcher

as Mary, his wife

Movie
1924
Those Who Dance

as Veda Anargas

Movie
1924
The Woman on the Jury

as Grace Pierce

Movie
1924
Torment

as Marie

Movie
1923
Gentle Julia

as Julia

Movie
1923
Slave of Desire

as Pauline Gaudin

Movie
1923
St. Elmo

as Edna Earle

Movie
1923
The Eternal Three

as Hilda Gray

Movie
1923
Human Wreckage

as Mary Finnegan

Movie
1923
Mary of the Movies

as Herself (uncredited)

Movie
1923
The Purple Dawn

as Mui Far

Movie
1923
Souls for Sale

as Self - Celebrity Actress (uncredited)

Movie
1923
The Ghost Patrol

as Effie Kugler

Movie
1923
Three Who Paid

as John Caspar / Virginia Cartwright

Movie
1922
Deserted at the Altar

as Anna Moore (The Country Girl)

Movie
1922Movie
1922
The Village Blacksmith

as Rosemary Martin

Movie
1922
Bulldog Courage

as Gloria Phillips

Movie
1922
Forget Me Not

as Ann, The Girl

Movie
1922Movie
1921
The Sea Lion

as Blossom Nelson

Movie
1921
The Swamp

as Mary

Movie
1921
The Honor of Rameriz

as The Geologist's Wife

Movie
1921Movie
1920
The Midlanders

as Aurelie Lindstrom

Movie
1920
Bonnie May

as Bonnie May

Movie
1920
Pegeen

as Pegeen O'Neill

Movie
1919
A Fighting Colleen

as Alannah Malone

Movie
1919
Over the Garden Wall

as Peggy Gordon

Movie
1919
Cupid Forecloses

as Geraldine Farleigh

Movie
1919
The Little Boss

as Peggy Winston (The Little Boss)

Movie
1919
A Yankee Princess

as Patsy O'Reilly

Movie
1919
The Wishing Ring Man

as Joy Havenith

Movie
1919
The Enchanted Barn

as Shirley Hollister

Movie
1918Movie
1918Movie
1918
How Could You, Caroline?

as Caroline Rogers

Movie
1918Movie
1917
Polly Ann

as Polly Ann

Movie
1917
Wee Lady Betty

as Wee Lady Betty

Movie
1917
The Sawdust Ring

as Janet Magie

Movie
1917Movie
1917
A Daughter of the Poor

as Rose Eastman

Movie
1917Movie
1916Movie
1916
A Sister of Six

as Prudence

Movie
1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

as The Bride of Cana (Judean Story)

Movie
1916
Hell-to-Pay Austin

as Briar Rose Dawson

Movie
1916
Stranded

as The Girl

Movie
1916
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish

as The Little Fish Blower

Movie
1916Movie
1916Movie
1916
The Aryan

as Mary Jane Garth

Movie
1916Movie
1916
Acquitted

as Helen Carter

Movie

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdaySeptember 9, 1898
Day of DeathApril 26, 1986
Place of BirthMidland, Texas, USA
Popularity0.6