Bess Flowers
- Acting
- November 23, 1898 · Sherman, Texas, USA
- July 28, 1984
Biography
Bess Flowers (November 23, 1898 – July 28, 1984) was an American actress. By some counts considered the most prolific actress in the history of Hollywood, she was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in over 700 movies in her 41 year career. Born in Sherman, Texas, Flowers's film debut came when she appeared in Hollywood (1923). She made three films that year, and then began working extensively. Many of her appearances are uncredited, as she generally played non-speaking roles. By the 1930s, Flowers was in constant demand. Her appearances ranged from Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford thrillers to comedic roles alongside of Charley Chase, the Three Stooges, Leon Errol, Edgar Kennedy, and Laurel and Hardy. She appeared in the following five films which won the Academy Award for Best Picture: It Happened One Night, You Can't Take it with You, All About Eve, The Greatest Show on Earth, and Around the World in Eighty Days. In each of these movies, Flowers was uncredited. Including these five movies, she had appeared in twenty-three Best Picture nominees in total, making her the record holder for most appearances in films nominated for the award. Her last movie was Good Neighbor Sam in 1964. Flowers's acting career was not confined to feature films. She was also seen in many episodic American TV series, such as I Love Lucy, notably in episodes, "Lucy Is Enceinte" (1952), "Ethel's Birthday" (1955), and "Lucy's Night in Town" (1957), where she is usually seen as a theatre patron. Outside her acting career, in 1945, Bess Flowers helped to found the Screen Extras Guild (active: 1946-1992, then merged with SAG), where she served as one of its first vice-presidents and recording secretaries. From Wikipedia.
Known for
Filmography
- Laurel & Hardy: Year Two · (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Good Neighbor Sam · Mrs. Burke (uncredited)
- Bedtime Story · (uncredited)
- For Those Who Think Young · Jane (uncredited)
- The Carpetbaggers · Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- The Prize · Lady In Audience (uncredited)
- Move Over, Darling · Seymour's Wife (uncredited)
- Who's Minding the Store? · Shopper at Gourmet Department (uncredited)
- Palm Springs Weekend · Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
- For Love or Money · Surprised Diner at The Flame Room (uncredited)
- The Thrill of It All · Party Guest (uncredited)
- 40 Pounds of Trouble · Casino Patron (uncredited)
- The Manchurian Candidate · Gomel's Lady Counterpart (uncredited)
- Zotz! · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Going My Way · Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour · Mrs. Pradanos
- Two Weeks in Another Town · Guest at Anniversary Banquet (uncredited)
- Incident in an Alley · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- Five Finger Exercise · Woman on Beach (uncredited)
- Don't Knock the Twist · Fashion Editor (uncredited)
- The Notorious Landlady · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- Sweet Bird of Youth · Spectator at Rally (uncredited)
- Twist Around The Clock · Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
- Pocketful of Miracles · Pedestrian Entering Club (uncredited)
- Judgment at Nuremberg · Concert Attendee (uncredited)
- Babes in Toyland · Villager (uncredited)
- Blue Hawaii · Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- The Honeymoon Machine · Bar Patron (uncredited)
- Teenage Millionaire · Aunt Theodora's Guest (uncredited)
- Return to Peyton Place · Woman at Town Meeting (uncredited)
- Parrish · Party Guest (uncredited)
- All in a Night's Work · Customer (uncredited)
- Go Naked in the World · Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- The Absent-Minded Professor · Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Mister Ed
- Where the Boys Are · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- G.I. Blues · Cafe Europa patron (uncredited)
- The Facts of Life · Lady at Airport (uncredited)
- All the Fine Young Cannibals · Night Club Patron (uncredited)
- Coronado 9
- Song Without End · (uncredited)
- The Lost World · Guest at Zoological Institute Forum (uncredited)
- Wake Me When It's Over · Lady in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
- The Chevy Mystery Show · Woman at Airline Counter (uncredited)
- Because They're Young · Schoolteacher (uncredited)
- Please Don't Eat the Daisies · Lady in Elevator (uncredited)
- Seven Thieves · Lady at Casino Party (uncredited)
- Home from the Hill · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Beloved Infidel · Woman at Screening (uncredited)
- The Untouchables · Party Guest at Randall Estate (uncredited)
- NBC Sunday Showcase · Casino Patron
- It Started with a Kiss · Party Guest (uncredited)
- A Private's Affair · Surgeon General's Wife
- North by Northwest · Plaza Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
- Juke Box Rhythm · Patron at Crystal Palace Restaurant
- Blue Denim · Chaperon at Dance (uncredited)
- The Wild and the Innocent · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Imitation of Life · Geraldine Moore (uncredited)
- Some Like It Hot · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! · Town Meeting Spectator
- The Buccaneer · Party Guest
- The Restless Years · Woman at Parents Night (uncredited)
- Houseboat · Wedding Guest
- Mardi Gras · French Quarter Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
- Man with a Camera · Party Guest (uncredited)
- I Married a Monster from Outer Space · Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Twilight for the Gods · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- The Fly · Audience Member (uncredited)
- A Night to Remember · Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
- Vertigo · Diner at Ernie's (uncredited)
- Too Much, Too Soon · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Teacher's Pet · Bongo Club Patron (uncredited)
- Merry Andrew · Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- I Married a Woman · Beauty Contest Chaperone (uncredited)
- Witness for the Prosecution · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- The Tarnished Angels · Newspaper Office Clerk (uncredited)
- My Man Godfrey · Party Guest (uncredited)
- Leave It to Beaver · Train Station Commuter #3
- The Real McCoys
- The Helen Morgan Story · Woman at boat dock (uncredited)