Bessie Love
Known for: Acting
Born: September 9, 1898
Died: April 26, 1986
Place of birth: 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.
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Filmography
127 movies · 7 TV shows, newest first
7.2
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
2018NR
Gareth Hughes
2000
NR
Alice Guy-Blaché
1997
6.7
The Hunger
1983
6.9
Reds
1981
7.0
Ragtime
1981
5.4
Lady Chatterley's Lover
1981
8.4
Hollywood
1980
6.8
Edward and Mrs Simpson
1978
10.0
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
1978
5.6
Gulliver's Travels
1977
6.0
The Ritz
1976
6.0
Vampyres
1974
5.2
Mousey
1974
5.1
Catlow
1971
6.5
Sunday Bloody Sunday
1971
6.6
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
6.2
Isadora
1968
5.4
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
1967
4.8
Battle Beneath the Earth
1967
4.1
Promise Her Anything
1966
5.3
The Wild Affair
19657.0
The Pistol
1965
6.8
I Think They Call Him John
19648.0
Story Parade
1964
6.1
Children of the Damned
1964
6.5
The Sentimental Agent
1963
7.2
Man of the World
1962
6.9
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
1961
7.1
Too Young to Love
19607.5
International Detective
1959
6.6
Nowhere to Go
1958
7.7
Next to No Time
1958
7.0
The Story of Esther Costello
1957
6.6
Touch and Go
1955
4.0
ITV Play of the Week
1955
6.7
The Barefoot Contessa
1954
6.5
The Weak and the Wicked
1954
6.5
The Magic Box
1952
7.0
No Highway in the Sky
1951
6.6
Journey Together
19456.5
London Scrapbook
1942
6.6
Atlantic Ferry
1941
4.1
Morals for Women
1931
6.0
Round About Hollywood
1931
7.0
See America Thirst
1930
6.3
Good News
1930
4.9
Conspiracy
1930
4.8
They Learned About Women
1930
6.0
Chasing Rainbows
1930
5.7
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929
6.0
The Girl in the Show
1929
6.6
The Idle Rich
1929
5.1
The Broadway Melody
1929
8.0
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
1928
10.0
Sally of the Scandals
1928
NR
The Swell Head
1928
6.6
The Matinee Idol
1928
7.2
Dress Parade
1927
7.0
A Harp in Hock
1927
6.3
Rubber Tires
1927
7.0
The American
1927
10.0
Going Crooked
1926
7.7
Young April
1926
8.0
Lovey Mary
19267.0
The Song and Dance Man
1926
7.3
The King On Main Street
1925
7.0
New Brooms
1925
9.0
A Son of His Father
1925
10.0
Soul-Fire
1925
6.7
The Lost World
19257.0
Tongues of Flame
1924
8.0
Sundown
1924
10.0
Dynamite Smith
1924
10.0
The Silent Watcher
1924
10.0
Those Who Dance
1924
9.0
The Woman on the Jury
1924
10.0
Torment
1924
9.0
Gentle Julia
1923
10.0
Slave of Desire
1923
7.0
St. Elmo
1923
8.0
The Eternal Three
1923
7.0
Human Wreckage
1923
8.0
Mary of the Movies
1923
8.0
The Purple Dawn
1923
6.3
Souls for Sale
1923
NR
The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
1923
7.0
The Ghost Patrol
19239.0
Three Who Paid
1923
7.0
Deserted at the Altar
1922
7.0
Night Life in Hollywood
1922
NR
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
1922
5.3
The Village Blacksmith
19228.0
Bulldog Courage
1922
9.0
Forget Me Not
1922
10.0
The Vermilion Pencil
1922
NR
The Wampas Baby Stars of 1922
1922
5.8
The Sea Lion
1921
8.0
The Swamp
19218.0
The Spirit of the Lake
1921
10.0
The Honor of Rameriz
1921
10.0
Penny of Top Hill Trail
1921
10.0
The Midlanders
1920
7.0
Bonnie May
1920
9.0
Pegeen
1920
9.0
A Fighting Colleen
1919
9.0
Over the Garden Wall
1919
9.0
Cupid Forecloses
1919
10.0
The Little Boss
19199.0
A Yankee Princess
1919
10.0
The Wishing Ring Man
1919
NR
Carolyn of the Corners
1919
10.0
The Enchanted Barn
1919
NR
The Dawn of Understanding
1918
NR
A Little Sister of Everybody
1918
NR
How Could You, Caroline?
1918
NR
The Great Adventure
1918
NR
Polly Ann
1917
NR
Wee Lady Betty
1917
5.0
The Sawdust Ring
1917
NR
Cheerful Givers
1917
NR
A Daughter of the Poor
1917
NR
Nina, the Flower Girl
1917NR
The Heiress at Coffee Dan's
1916
7.5
A Sister of Six
1916
7.1
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916NR
Hell-to-Pay Austin
1916NR
Stranded
1916
5.9
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
1916
5.8
Reggie Mixes In
1916
6.2
The Good Bad-Man
1916
5.5
The Aryan
1916
NR
The Flying Torpedo
1916NR
Acquitted
1916