Acting
Bessie Love
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.
Filmography
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
Film · 2018
Gareth Hughes
Film · 2000
Alice Guy-Blaché
Film · 1997
The Hunger
Film · 1983
Reds
Film · 1981
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Film · 1981
Ragtime
Film · 1981
Hollywood
Series · 1980
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Film · 1978
Edward and Mrs Simpson
Series · 1978
Gulliver's Travels
Film · 1977
The Ritz
Film · 1976
Mousey
Film · 1974
Vampyres
Film · 1974
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Film · 1971
Catlow
Film · 1971
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Film · 1969
Isadora
Film · 1968
Battle Beneath the Earth
Film · 1967
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
Film · 1967
Promise Her Anything
Film · 1966
The Pistol
Film · 1965
The Wild Affair
Film · 1965
I Think They Call Him John
Film · 1964
Children of the Damned
Film · 1964
Story Parade
Series · 1964
The Sentimental Agent
Series · 1963
Man of the World
Series · 1962
The Andromeda Breakthrough
Series · 1962
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Film · 1961
Too Young to Love
Film · 1960
International Detective
Series · 1959
International Detective
Series · 1959
Nowhere to Go
Film · 1958
Next to No Time
Film · 1958
The Story of Esther Costello
Film · 1957
Touch and Go
Film · 1955
ITV Play of the Week
Series · 1955
The Weak and the Wicked
Film · 1954
The Barefoot Contessa
Film · 1954
The Magic Box
Film · 1952
No Highway in the Sky
Film · 1951
Journey Together
Film · 1945
London Scrapbook
Film · 1942
Atlantic Ferry
Film · 1941
Morals for Women
Film · 1931
Round About Hollywood
Film · 1931
Conspiracy
Film · 1930
Chasing Rainbows
Film · 1930
Good News
Film · 1930
They Learned About Women
Film · 1930
See America Thirst
Film · 1930
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Film · 1929
The Broadway Melody
Film · 1929
The Idle Rich
Film · 1929
The Girl in the Show
Film · 1929
The Matinee Idol
Film · 1928
The Swell Head
Film · 1928
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
Film · 1928
Sally of the Scandals
Film · 1928
Rubber Tires
Film · 1927
Dress Parade
Film · 1927
The American
Film · 1927
A Harp in Hock
Film · 1927
The Song and Dance Man
Film · 1926
Young April
Film · 1926
Going Crooked
Film · 1926
Lovey Mary
Film · 1926
The Lost World
Film · 1925
The King On Main Street
Film · 1925
Soul-Fire
Film · 1925
New Brooms
Film · 1925
A Son of His Father
Film · 1925
Those Who Dance
Film · 1924
Dynamite Smith
Film · 1924
The Silent Watcher
Film · 1924
Torment
Film · 1924
The Woman on the Jury
Film · 1924
Sundown
Film · 1924
Tongues of Flame
Film · 1924
The Eternal Three
Film · 1923
Souls for Sale
Film · 1923
Human Wreckage
Film · 1923
Three Who Paid
Film · 1923
The Purple Dawn
Film · 1923
The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
Film · 1923
Mary of the Movies
Film · 1923
St. Elmo
Film · 1923
The Ghost Patrol
Film · 1923
Slave of Desire
Film · 1923
Gentle Julia
Film · 1923
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
Film · 1922
The Village Blacksmith
Film · 1922
Deserted at the Altar
Film · 1922
The Wampas Baby Stars of 1922
Film · 1922
The Vermilion Pencil
Film · 1922
Night Life in Hollywood
Film · 1922
Bulldog Courage
Film · 1922
Forget Me Not
Film · 1922
The Sea Lion
Film · 1921
Penny of Top Hill Trail
Film · 1921
The Swamp
Film · 1921
The Spirit of the Lake
Film · 1921
The Honor of Rameriz
Film · 1921
Pegeen
Film · 1920
Bonnie May
Film · 1920
The Midlanders
Film · 1920
Carolyn of the Corners
Film · 1919
The Wishing Ring Man
Film · 1919
The Enchanted Barn
Film · 1919
A Yankee Princess
Film · 1919
The Little Boss
Film · 1919
Cupid Forecloses
Film · 1919
Over the Garden Wall
Film · 1919
A Fighting Colleen
Film · 1919
The Great Adventure
Film · 1918
How Could You, Caroline?
Film · 1918
The Dawn of Understanding
Film · 1918
A Little Sister of Everybody
Film · 1918
Cheerful Givers
Film · 1917
A Daughter of the Poor
Film · 1917
Polly Ann
Film · 1917
The Sawdust Ring
Film · 1917
Wee Lady Betty
Film · 1917
Nina, the Flower Girl
Film · 1917
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Film · 1916
The Good Bad-Man
Film · 1916
The Flying Torpedo
Film · 1916
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
Film · 1916
Reggie Mixes In
Film · 1916
The Aryan
Film · 1916
A Sister of Six
Film · 1916
Hell-to-Pay Austin
Film · 1916
Acquitted
Film · 1916
Stranded
Film · 1916
The Heiress at Coffee Dan's
Film · 1916