Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

Known For: Acting

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: November 23, 1898

Day of Death: July 28, 1984 (86 years old)

Place of Birth: Sherman, Texas, USA

IMDb

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.

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1951

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Actor Lady Outside Jewelry Store

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

Actor Bazaar Patron

Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell

Show Boat

Actor Racetrack spectator (uncredited)

Show Boat

Royal Wedding

Actor Backstage guest (uncredited)

Royal Wedding

No Questions Asked

Actor Woman in Theatre Powder Room

No Questions Asked

Ghost Chasers

Actor Seance Guest (uncredited)

Ghost Chasers

The Law and the Lady

Actor Party Guest (uncredited)

The Law and the Lady

Operation Pacific

Actor Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Operation Pacific

Sunny Side of the Street

Actor Actress playing "Queen" in TV beer commercial

Sunny Side of the Street

Lullaby of Broadway

Actor Ship Passenger (uncredited)

Lullaby of Broadway

Home Town Story

Actor Patron at Barbecue Room (uncredited)

Home Town Story

Dear Brat

Actor Laura Millikan, reporter (uncredited)

Dear Brat

Here Comes the Groom

Actor Woman Exiting Emmadel's Home

Here Comes the Groom

I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Actor Saleswoman / Dinner Guest (uncredited)

I Can Get It for You Wholesale

Footlight Varieties

Actor Party Extra (segment "He Forgot to Remember") (archive footage) (uncredited)

Footlight Varieties

The Great Caruso

Actor Front Row Audience Member at 'Lucia di Lammermoor' (uncredited)

The Great Caruso

Meet Me After the Show

Actor Dining Patron (uncredited)

Meet Me After the Show

Payment on Demand

Actor Restaurant Birthday Party Attendee

Payment on Demand

A Place in the Sun

Actor Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

A Place in the Sun

The Screen Director

Actor Woman in Audience (uncredited)

The Screen Director

Rich, Young and Pretty

Actor Woman Departing Train / Restaurant Patron

Rich, Young and Pretty

People Will Talk

Actor Concertgoer (uncredited)

People Will Talk

The Unknown Man

Actor

The Unknown Man

An American in Paris

Actor Ballet Dancer (uncredited)

An American in Paris

The Mating Season

Actor Party Guest (uncredited)

The Mating Season

Painting The Clouds With Sunshine

Actor Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Painting The Clouds With Sunshine

On the Riviera

Actor Lady Watching TV at Nightclub Bar (uncredited)

On the Riviera

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1943

1942

Blondie Goes to College

Actor Dance Spectator

Blondie Goes to College

Pittsburgh

Actor Wedding Reception Guest (uncredited)

Pittsburgh

Larceny, Inc.

Actor Pedestrian On Sidewalk (uncredited)

Larceny, Inc.

My Gal Sal

Actor Lady Dancing at Party

My Gal Sal

A Gentleman at Heart

Actor Bidder at Art Auction (uncredited)

A Gentleman at Heart

Now, Voyager

Actor Concert Audience Member (uncredited)

Now, Voyager

Thunder Birds

Actor Nurse

Thunder Birds

The Mad Doctor of Market Street

Actor Ship Passenger

The Mad Doctor of Market Street

Lady in a Jam

Actor Nurse

Lady in a Jam

It Happened in Flatbush

Actor Patron at Pegasus Club (uncredited)

It Happened in Flatbush

The Lady or the Tiger?

Actor Party Guest

The Lady or the Tiger?

The Night Before the Divorce

Actor Party Guest (uncredited)

The Night Before the Divorce

Brooklyn Orchid

Actor Party Guest (uncredited)

Brooklyn Orchid

The Big Street

Actor Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)

The Big Street

Take a Letter, Darling

Actor Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Take a Letter, Darling

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

Actor Graduation Ceremony Guest (uncredited)

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

Springtime in the Rockies

Actor Mrs. Jeepers (uncredited)

Springtime in the Rockies

There's One Born Every Minute

Actor Luncheon Attendee

There's One Born Every Minute

Over My Dead Body

Actor Courtroom Spectator

Over My Dead Body

Mexican Spitfire's Elephant

Actor Diner

Mexican Spitfire's Elephant

The Glass Key

Actor Henrys' Dinner Guest (uncredited)

The Glass Key

Private Buckaroo

Actor Nightclub Patron

Private Buckaroo

The Major and the Minor

Actor Ball Guest (uncredited)

The Major and the Minor

I Married a Witch

Actor Matron of Honor (uncredited)

I Married a Witch

Ship Ahoy

Actor Nightclub Patron

Ship Ahoy

The Palm Beach Story

Actor Gerry's Maid of Honor/Nightclub Extra (uncredited)

The Palm Beach Story

The Male Animal

Actor Football Spectator (uncredited)

The Male Animal

Silver Queen

Actor Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Silver Queen

Meet the Stewarts

Actor Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Meet the Stewarts

Once Upon a Honeymoon

Actor Bridge Player (uncredited)

Once Upon a Honeymoon

Frisco Lil

Actor

Frisco Lil

The Magnificent Dope

Actor Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)

The Magnificent Dope

Laugh Your Blues Away

Actor Mrs. Larkin (uncredited)

Laugh Your Blues Away

1941

Blondie in Society

Actor Dog Collar Saleslady (uncredited)

Blondie in Society

It Started with Eve

Actor Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

It Started with Eve

That Uncertain Feeling

Actor Woman in Ladies' Room (uncredited)

That Uncertain Feeling

The Devil and Miss Jones

Actor Saleslady (uncredited)

The Devil and Miss Jones

Remember the Day

Actor Lady in Political Entourage

Remember the Day

Tall, Dark and Handsome

Actor Department Store Extra (uncredited)

Tall, Dark and Handsome

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

Actor Nurse (uncredited)

The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

Adventure in Washington

Actor Mrs. Arno, party guest

Adventure in Washington

Three Girls About Town

Actor Mortician's Wife

Three Girls About Town

That Night in Rio

Actor Nightclub Extra (uncredited)

That Night in Rio

Married Bachelor

Actor Sales Clerk at Lacey's Dept. Store (uncredited)

Married Bachelor

Ziegfeld Girl

Actor Palm Beach Casino Patron (Uncredited)

Ziegfeld Girl

Lady Be Good

Actor Banquet Guest at Max's Table (uncredited)

Lady Be Good

Road Show

Actor Member of Carnival Audience (uncredited)

Road Show

Honky Tonk

Actor Governor's Wife

Honky Tonk

Golden Hoofs

Actor Box Social Guest

Golden Hoofs

Pacific Blackout

Actor Cascade Club Dancer

Pacific Blackout

The Lady Eve

Actor Party Guest (uncredited)

The Lady Eve

Meet John Doe

Actor Mattie (uncredited)

Meet John Doe

I Wake Up Screaming

Actor Lady Handel's party guest (uncredited)

I Wake Up Screaming

Tom, Dick and Harry

Actor Banquet Guest (uncredited)

Tom, Dick and Harry

For Beauty's Sake

Actor Beauty Shop Customer (uncredited)

For Beauty's Sake

Hellzapoppin'

Actor Audience Extra (uncredited)

Hellzapoppin'

Puddin' Head

Actor Party Guest

Puddin' Head

The Man Who Came to Dinner

Actor Fan at Train Station (uncredited)

The Man Who Came to Dinner

Blondie Goes Latin

Actor Well-Wisher at Ship's Departure (uncredited)

Blondie Goes Latin

An Ache in Every Stake

Actor Mrs. Lawrence (uncredited)

An Ache in Every Stake

Penny Serenade

Actor Mother (Uncredited)

Penny Serenade

Sunny

Actor Mrs. W. Wakefield

Sunny

Murder Among Friends

Actor Elevator Passenger (uncredited)

Murder Among Friends

Blood and Sand

Actor Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Blood and Sand

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1923