Bessie Love
Born September 09, 1898 (Age: 127)
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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.
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.
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Filmography
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
2018
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 120
No Image
Gareth Hughes
2000
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 101
Alice Guy-Blaché
1997
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as Self
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Age: 98
The Hunger
1983
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as Lillybelle
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Age: 84
Reds
1981
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as Mrs. Partlow
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Age: 83
Ragtime
1981
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as Old Lady - T.O.C.
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Age: 83
Lady Chatterley's Lover
1981
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as Flora
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Age: 82
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
1978
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as Lady Cunard
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Age: 80
Vampyres
1974
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as American Lady
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Age: 75
Mousey
1974
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as Mrs. Richardson
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Age: 75
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
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as Baccarat Player (uncredited)
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Age: 71
The Wild Affair
1965
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as Marjorie's Mother
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Age: 67
No Image
The Pistol
1965
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as Martha Burroughs
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Age: 66
I Think They Call Him John
1964
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as Narrator (voice)
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Age: 65
Children of the Damned
1964
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as Mrs. Robbin
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Age: 65
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
1961
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as Bunny
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Age: 63
Too Young to Love
1960
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as Mrs. Busch
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Age: 61
Nowhere to Go
1958
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as Harriet P. Jefferson
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Age: 60
Next to No Time
1958
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as Becky Wiener
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Age: 59
Touch and Go
1955
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as Mrs Baxter
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Age: 57
The Barefoot Contessa
1954
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as Mrs. Eubanks
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Age: 56
The Weak and the Wicked
1954
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as Prisoner
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Age: 55
Journey Together
1945
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as Mrs. Mary McWilliams
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Age: 47
No Image
London Scrapbook
1942
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as Herself
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Age: 44
Atlantic Ferry
1941
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as Begonia Baggot
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Age: 42
Morals for Women
1931
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as Helen Hutson
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Age: 33
Round About Hollywood
1931
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as Self
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Age: 32
See America Thirst
1930
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as Ellen
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Age: 32
Good News
1930
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as Babe
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Age: 31
Conspiracy
1930
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as Margaret Holt
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Age: 31
They Learned About Women
1930
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as Mary
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Age: 31
Chasing Rainbows
1930
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as Carlie Seymour
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Age: 31
The Dawn of Understanding
1918
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as Sue Prescott
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Age: 20
A Little Sister of Everybody
1918
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as Celeste Janvier
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Age: 19
How Could You, Caroline?
1918
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as Caroline Rogers
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Age: 19
The Great Adventure
1918
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as Rags
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Age: 19