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Bessie Love
Actor
Born September 9, 1898Died April 26, 1986 (87 years)
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.
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.
Known For
Filmography
| 1983 | The Hunger · as Lillybelle |
| 1981 | Reds · as Mrs. Partlow |
| 1981 | Ragtime · as Old Lady - T.o.c. |
| 1981 | Lady Chatterley's Lover · as Flora |
| 1978 | Edward and Mrs Simpson (TV Series) · as Lady Cunard |
| 1977 | Gulliver's Travels · as (voice) |
| 1976 | The Ritz · as Maurine |
| 1974 | Vampyres · as American Lady |
| 1974 | Mousey · as Mrs. Richardson |
| 1973 | Pollyanna (TV Series) · as Mrs Snow |
| 1971 | Catlow · as Mrs. Frost |
| 1971 | Sunday Bloody Sunday · as Answering Service Lady |
| 1970 | Kate (TV Series) · as Lady Hartford-Cape |
| 1969 | On Her Majesty's Secret Service · as Baccarat Player (uncredited) |
| 1969 | Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Trotter |
| 1968 | Isadora · as Mrs. Duncan |
| 1967 | I'll Never Forget What's'isname · as American Tourist (uncredited) |
| 1967 | Battle Beneath the Earth · as Matron |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mrs. Teitelbaum |
| 1966 | The Poppy Is Also a Flower · as Minor Role |
| 1966 | Promise Her Anything · as Pet Shop Customer |
| 1965 | The Wild Affair · as Marjorie's Mother |
| 1965 | Public Eye (TV Series) · as Chrissy Husack |
| 1964 | The Wednesday Play (TV Series) · as Martha Burroughs |
| 1964 | I Think They Call Him John · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1964 | Children of the Damned · as Mrs. Robbin |
| 1963 | The Sentimental Agent (TV Series) · as Mamie |
| 1962 | Zero One (1962) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Glorny |
| 1962 | Man of the World (TV Series) · as Mrs Van Kempson |
| 1962 | The Andromeda Breakthrough (TV Series) · as Mrs. Neilson |
| 1961 | The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone · as Bunny |
| 1961 | Loss of Innocence · as American Tourist |
| 1960 | Too Young to Love · as Mrs. Busch |
| 1960 | BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) · as Mrs. Marshall |
| 1958 | Nowhere to Go · as Harriet P. Jefferson |
| 1958 | Next to No Time! · as Becky Wiener |
| 1957 | The Story of Esther Costello · as Art Gallery Customer |
| 1957 | Emergency-Ward 10 (TV Series) · as Mrs. Broom |
| 1955 | Touch and Go · as Mrs Baxter |
| 1955 | ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Mrs Strong |
| 1955 | ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Gertrude Miller |
| 1954 | Beau Brummell · as Maid |
| 1954 | The Barefoot Contessa · as Mrs. Eubanks |
| 1954 | Young and Willing · as Prisoner |
| 1953 | Always a Bride · as Hotel Guest |
| 1951 | No Highway in the Sky · as Plane Passenger (uncredited) |
| 1951 | The Magic Box · as Bride's Mother In Wedding Group |
| 1950 | Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Grace Jones |
| 1945 | Journey Together · as Mrs. Mary Mcwilliams |
| 1944 | Some of the Best · as Hank Mahoney In The Broadway Melody |
| 1941 | Sons of the Sea · as Begonia Baggot |
| 1931 | Morals for Women · as Helen Hutson |
| 1930 | Good News · as Babe |
| 1930 | Conspiracy · as Margaret Holt |
| 1930 | Chasing Rainbows · as Carlie Seymour |
| 1930 | They Learned About Women · as Mary |
| 1929 | The Girl in the Show · as Hattie Hartley |
| 1929 | The Idle Rich · as Helen Thayer |
| 1929 | The Broadway Melody · as Harriet 'hank' Mahoney |
| 1928 | The Matinee Idol · as Ginger Bolivar |
| 1927 | Dress Parade · as Janet Cleghorne |
| 1927 | Rubber Tires · as Mary Ellen Stack |
| 1926 | Young April · as Victoria |
| 1926 | The Song and Dance Man · as Leola Lane |
| 1925 | The King on Main Street · as Mary Young |
| 1925 | |
| 1925 | Soul-Fire · as Teita |
| 1925 | The Lost World · as Paula White |
| 1924 | Tongues of Flame · as Lahleet |
| 1922 | The Village Blacksmith · as Rosemary Martin |
| 1921 | The Sea Lion · as Blossom Nelson |
| 1916 | Intolerance · as The Bride Of Cana (judean Story) |
| 1916 | The Mystery of the Leaping Fish · as The Little Fish Blower |
| 1916 | Reggie Mixes In · as Agnes |
| 1916 | The Good Bad-Man · as Amy |
| 1916 | The Aryan · as Mary Jane Garth |