Bessie Love
Acting
Born September 9, 1898 · Midland, Texas, USA
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.
Films (127)
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
2018
Gareth Hughes
2000
Alice Guy-Blaché
1997
The Hunger
1983
Reds
1981
Ragtime
1981
Lady Chatterley's Lover
1981
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
1978
Gulliver's Travels
1977
The Ritz
1976
Vampyres
1974
Mousey
1974
Catlow
1971
Sunday Bloody Sunday
1971
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
Isadora
1968
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
1967
Battle Beneath the Earth
1967
Promise Her Anything
1966
The Wild Affair
1965
The Pistol
1965
I Think They Call Him John
1964
Children of the Damned
1964
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
1961
Too Young to Love
1960
Nowhere to Go
1958
Next to No Time
1958
The Story of Esther Costello
1957
Touch and Go
1955
The Barefoot Contessa
1954
The Weak and the Wicked
1954
The Magic Box
1952
No Highway in the Sky
1951
Journey Together
1945
London Scrapbook
1942
Atlantic Ferry
1941
Morals for Women
1931
Round About Hollywood
1931
See America Thirst
1930
Good News
1930
Conspiracy
1930
They Learned About Women
1930
Chasing Rainbows
1930
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929
The Girl in the Show
1929
The Idle Rich
1929
The Broadway Melody
1929
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
1928
Sally of the Scandals
1928
The Swell Head
1928
The Matinee Idol
1928
Dress Parade
1927
A Harp in Hock
1927
Rubber Tires
1927
The American
1927
Going Crooked
1926
Young April
1926
Lovey Mary
1926
The Song and Dance Man
1926
The King On Main Street
1925
New Brooms
1925
A Son of His Father
1925
Soul-Fire
1925
The Lost World
1925
Tongues of Flame
1924
Sundown
1924
Dynamite Smith
1924
The Silent Watcher
1924
Those Who Dance
1924
The Woman on the Jury
1924
Torment
1924
Gentle Julia
1923
Slave of Desire
1923
St. Elmo
1923
The Eternal Three
1923
Human Wreckage
1923
Mary of the Movies
1923
The Purple Dawn
1923
Souls for Sale
1923
The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
1923
The Ghost Patrol
1923
Three Who Paid
1923
Deserted at the Altar
1922
Night Life in Hollywood
1922
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
1922
The Village Blacksmith
1922
Bulldog Courage
1922
Forget Me Not
1922
The Vermilion Pencil
1922
The Wampas Baby Stars of 1922
1922
The Sea Lion
1921
The Swamp
1921
The Spirit of the Lake
1921
The Honor of Rameriz
1921
Penny of Top Hill Trail
1921
The Midlanders
1920
Bonnie May
1920
Pegeen
1920
A Fighting Colleen
1919
Over the Garden Wall
1919
Cupid Forecloses
1919
The Little Boss
1919
A Yankee Princess
1919
The Wishing Ring Man
1919
Carolyn of the Corners
1919
The Enchanted Barn
1919
The Dawn of Understanding
1918
A Little Sister of Everybody
1918
How Could You, Caroline?
1918
The Great Adventure
1918
Polly Ann
1917
Wee Lady Betty
1917
The Sawdust Ring
1917
Cheerful Givers
1917
A Daughter of the Poor
1917
Nina, the Flower Girl
1917
The Heiress at Coffee Dan's
1916
A Sister of Six
1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
Hell-to-Pay Austin
1916
Stranded
1916
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
1916
Reggie Mixes In
1916
The Good Bad-Man
1916
The Aryan
1916
The Flying Torpedo
1916
Acquitted
1916