
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.

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