Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 in 1923, when she appeared in Hollywood. 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.
5.2
For Those Who Think Young
1964
For Those Who Think Young
6.1
For Love or Money
1963
For Love or Money
5.2
Don't Knock the Twist
1962
Don't Knock the Twist
6.3
Five Finger Exercise
1962
Five Finger Exercise
5.7
Incident in an Alley
1962
Incident in an Alley
5.4
Go Naked in the World
1961
Go Naked in the World
4.6
Teenage Millionaire
1961
Teenage Millionaire
4.8
Twist Around The Clock
1961
Twist Around The Clock
6.3
Wake Me When It's Over
1960
Wake Me When It's Over
5.9
Because They're Young
1960
Because They're Young
5.4
Juke Box Rhythm
1959
Juke Box Rhythm
5.4
A Private's Affair
1959
A Private's Affair
5.3
Mardi Gras
1958
Mardi Gras
5.8
Twilight for the Gods
1958
Twilight for the Gods
8.2
Vertigo
1958
Vertigo
5.6
Ten Thousand Bedrooms
1957
Ten Thousand Bedrooms
5.1
The Buster Keaton Story
1957
The Buster Keaton Story
5.4
Ride The High Iron
1956
Ride The High Iron
5.0
Runaway Daughters
1956
Runaway Daughters
5.7
Three Bad Sisters
1956
Three Bad Sisters
7.1
Nightfall
1956
Nightfall
6.0
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1955
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
5.7
Ain't Misbehavin'
1955
Ain't Misbehavin'
5.1
The Girl Rush
1955
The Girl Rush