Bessie Love
Known for Acting · 134 credits
- Born
- 1898-09-09
- Died
- 1986-04-26
- Place of birth
- Midland, Texas, USA
- Also known as
- Juanita Horton
Biography
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.
Known For
ITV Play of the Week
1955
as Mrs Strong
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
as Baccarat Player (uncredited)
International Detective
1959
as Marta Steibel / Mrs. Morgan
Story Parade
1964
as Mrs. Arquette
Man of the World
1962
as Mrs Van Kempson
Ragtime
1981
as Old Lady - T.O.C.
TV Shows (7)
ITV Play of the Week
1955
as Mrs Strong
International Detective
1959
as Marta Steibel / Mrs. Morgan
Story Parade
1964
as Mrs. Arquette
Man of the World
1962
as Mrs Van Kempson
Hollywood
1980
as Self
Edward and Mrs Simpson
1978
as Lady Cunard
The Sentimental Agent
1963
as Mamie
Movies (127)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1969
as Baccarat Player (uncredited)
Ragtime
1981
as Old Lady - T.O.C.
The Hunger
1983
as Lillybelle
Reds
1981
as Mrs. Partlow
Vampyres
1974
as American Lady
Lady Chatterley's Lover
1981
as Flora
The Barefoot Contessa
1954
as Mrs. Eubanks
Polly Ann
1917
as Polly Ann
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
2018
as Self (archive footage)
Bonnie May
1920
as Bonnie May
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
as The Bride of Cana (Judean Story)
Lovey Mary
1926
as Lovey Mary
Pegeen
1920
as Pegeen O'Neill
Conspiracy
1930
as Margaret Holt
New Brooms
1925
The Swamp
1921
as Mary
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
1961
as Bunny
The Lost World
1925
as Paula White
Dynamite Smith
1924
as Violet
Good News
1930
as Babe
Sunday Bloody Sunday
1971
as Answering Service Lady
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929
as Self
Catlow
1971
as Mrs. Frost
The Ritz
1976
as Maurine
No Highway in the Sky
1951
as Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Cupid Forecloses
1919
as Geraldine Farleigh
Children of the Damned
1964
as Mrs. Robbin
The Magic Box
1952
as Bride's Mother in Wedding Group
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
1967
as American tourist (uncredited)
Isadora
1968
as Mrs. Duncan
Human Wreckage
1923
as Mary Finnegan
Mousey
1974
as Mrs. Richardson
The Aryan
1916
as Mary Jane Garth
The Broadway Melody
1929
as Harriet 'Hank' Mahoney
See America Thirst
1930
as Ellen
The Good Bad-Man
1916
as Amy
Gulliver's Travels
1977
as (voice)
Next to No Time
1958
as Becky Wiener
Gentle Julia
1923
as Julia
Sundown
1924
as Ellen Crawley
Promise Her Anything
1966
as Pet Shop Customer
The Idle Rich
1929
as Helen Thayer
Touch and Go
1955
as Mrs Baxter
Deserted at the Altar
1922
as Anna Moore (The Country Girl)
The Story of Esther Costello
1957
as Art Gallery Customer
Soul-Fire
1925
as Teita
Round About Hollywood
1931
as Self
Stranded
1916
as The Girl
The Matinee Idol
1928
as Ginger Bolivar
The Wild Affair
1965
as Marjorie's Mother
Morals for Women
1931
as Helen Hutson
Slave of Desire
1923
as Pauline Gaudin
Nowhere to Go
1958
as Harriet P. Jefferson
Too Young to Love
1960
as Mrs. Busch
Souls for Sale
1923
as Self - Celebrity Actress (uncredited)
The Weak and the Wicked
1954
as Prisoner
Dress Parade
1927
as Janet Cleghorne
The Village Blacksmith
1922
as Rosemary Martin
The American
1927
as Jane Wilton
Rubber Tires
1927
as Mary Ellen Stack
The Pistol
1965
as Martha Burroughs
The Woman on the Jury
1924
as Grace Pierce
Mary of the Movies
1923
as Herself (uncredited)
Battle Beneath the Earth
1967
as Matron
A Son of His Father
1925
as Nora Shea
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
1978
as Lady Cunard
Night Life in Hollywood
1922
as Self
The Heiress at Coffee Dan's
1916
as Waffles
Torment
1924
as Marie
They Learned About Women
1930
as Mary
Wee Lady Betty
1917
as Wee Lady Betty
A Yankee Princess
1919
as Patsy O'Reilly
A Daughter of the Poor
1917
as Rose Eastman
The Eternal Three
1923
as Hilda Gray
The Flying Torpedo
1916
as Hulda
The King On Main Street
1925
as Mary Young
The Wishing Ring Man
1919
as Joy Havenith
The Dawn of Understanding
1918
as Sue Prescott
Three Who Paid
1923
as John Caspar / Virginia Cartwright
The Little Boss
1919
as Peggy Winston (The Little Boss)
The Vermilion Pencil
1922
as Hyacinth
Chasing Rainbows
1930
as Carlie Seymour
St. Elmo
1923
as Edna Earle
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
1916
as The Little Fish Blower
The Silent Watcher
1924
as Mary, his wife
The Midlanders
1920
as Aurelie Lindstrom
Going Crooked
1926
as Marie
Bulldog Courage
1922
as Gloria Phillips
The Girl in the Show
1929
as Hattie Hartley
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
1922
as Self
The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
1923
as Bernice
Journey Together
1945
as Mrs. Mary McWilliams
Carolyn of the Corners
1919
A Little Sister of Everybody
1918
as Celeste Janvier
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
1928
as Mitzi Lavelle
Those Who Dance
1924
as Veda Anargas
Young April
1926
as Victoria
The Great Adventure
1918
as Rags
Alice Guy-Blaché
1997
as Self
The Song and Dance Man
1926
as Leola Lane
The Sawdust Ring
1917
as Janet Magie
Reggie Mixes In
1916
as Agnes
The Sea Lion
1921
as Blossom Nelson
How Could You, Caroline?
1918
as Caroline Rogers
A Fighting Colleen
1919
as Alannah Malone
London Scrapbook
1942
as Herself
The Purple Dawn
1923
as Mui Far
Sally of the Scandals
1928
as Sally Rand
Tongues of Flame
1924
as Lahleet
Forget Me Not
1922
as Ann, The Girl
Hell-to-Pay Austin
1916
as Briar Rose Dawson
Penny of Top Hill Trail
1921
as Penny
Gareth Hughes
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Atlantic Ferry
1941
as Begonia Baggot
The Wampas Baby Stars of 1922
1922
as Self
Cheerful Givers
1917
as Judy
A Harp in Hock
1927
as Nora Banks
Acquitted
1916
as Helen Carter
The Enchanted Barn
1919
as Shirley Hollister
The Spirit of the Lake
1921
About 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… With 134 credits spanning from 1916 to 2018, Bessie Love has appeared in 127 films and 7 TV shows.
Fans searching for Bessie Love movies, Bessie Love filmography, or the latest projects starring Bessie Love can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Bessie Love Movies
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) — as Baccarat Player (uncredited)
- Ragtime (1981) — as Old Lady - T.O.C.
- The Hunger (1983) — as Lillybelle
- Reds (1981) — as Mrs. Partlow
- Vampyres (1974) — as American Lady
Where to Watch Bessie Love Films
Most Bessie Love movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Bessie Love, check our movies catalogue and browse page.