Actor profile
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.
739 Movies
15 TV Shows
766 Credits
Filmography
Movies & TV Shows
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
2nd February 1955 as Dancer in Restaurant scene (uncredited)
The Maze
2nd July 1953
Phone Call from a Stranger
1st February 1952
Footlight Varieties
21st March 1951 as Party Extra (segment "He Forgot to Remember") (archive footage) (uncredited)
My Reputation
25th January 1946 as Guest at Van Ormans' New Year's Eve Party / Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
19th December 1940 as Racetrack Spectator in Sunglasses (uncredited)
Hotel for Women
3rd August 1939
The Prisoner of Shark Island
28th February 1936 as Woman Sitting Behind Lincoln in Theatre Box (uncredited)
Merry Wives of Reno
18th April 1934 as Lady Getting Off Train Who Wants to Find Court House (uncredited)
Pilgrimage
12th July 1933
Hello, Sister!
14th April 1933
The Age of Desire
1st September 1923
