Bess Flowers
Encyclopedia
Bess Flowers 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.
, Flowers's movie debut came in 1923, when she appeared in a movie titled Hollywood
. She made three movies in that year, and then began working extensively, with seven movies in 1926 alone. Most 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
.
Along with actors Wallis Clark
and Franklyn Farnum
, she holds the record for the most appearances in movies which have won the Academy Award for Best Picture
. She appeared in the following five Academy Award Best Picture winners: 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-one Best Picture nominees in total, which is another record high. Her last movie was Good Neighbor Sam
in 1964.
Flowers also appeared in twelve films starring Joan Crawford
from 1929 until 1956.
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.
Bess Flowers was first married on September 2, 1923, in Ventura County, California
, to Cullen Tate (1894–1947), an assistant to Cecil B. DeMille
. They were divorced in 1928 in Los Angeles
. Her second marriage took place on August 5, 1929, in Los Angeles, to William S. Steele (1895–1962). They were divorced in 1930 in Los Angeles.
She and Tate had one child, Patricia E. Tate (January 29, 1924–August 1, 1972).
Bess Flowers died at age 85 in Woodland Hills, California. She was cremated and her cremains inurned at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory
, Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress. By some counts considered the most prolific actress in the history of Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
, she was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in over 700 movies in her 41 year career.
Biography
Born in Sherman, TexasSherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Flowers's movie debut came in 1923, when she appeared in a movie titled Hollywood
Hollywood (1923 film)
Hollywood was a silent comedy film directed by James Cruze, co-written by Frank Condon and Thomas J. Geraghty, and released by Paramount Pictures.The film has become famous as having featured cameos of more than thirty famous Hollywood stars...
. She made three movies in that year, and then began working extensively, with seven movies in 1926 alone. Most 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
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
and John Ford
John Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
thrillers to comedic roles alongside of Charley Chase
Charley Chase
Charley Chase was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies...
, the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
, Leon Errol
Leon Errol
Leon Errol , was an Australian-born American comedian and actor, popular in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...
, Edgar Kennedy
Edgar Kennedy
Edgar Livingston Kennedy was an American comedic film actor, known as "the king of the slow burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper...
and Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
.
Along with actors Wallis Clark
Wallis Clark
Wallis H. Clark was a stage and film actor, born in Essex, England. He died in North Hollywood, California.Clark was formerly an engineer. He began his stage career in Margate in 1908...
and Franklyn Farnum
Franklyn Farnum
William Smith , better known by his screen name, Franklyn Farnum, was an American character actor and Hollywood extra who appeared in 433 productions between the years 1916 and 1961....
, she holds the record for the most appearances in movies which have won the Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
. She appeared in the following five Academy Award Best Picture winners: It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night is a 1934 American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra, in which a pampered socialite tries to get out from under her father's thumb, and falls in love with a roguish reporter . The plot was based on the story Night Bus by Samuel...
, You Can't Take it With You
You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theater on December 14, 1936, and played for 837 performances...
, All About Eve
All About Eve
All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve", by Mary Orr.The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but aging Broadway star...
, The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth is a 1952 drama film set in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film was produced, directed, and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille, and won the Academy Award for Best Picture...
, and Around the World in Eighty Days. In each of these movies, Flowers was uncredited. Including these five movies, she had appeared in twenty-one Best Picture nominees in total, which is another record high. Her last movie was Good Neighbor Sam
Good Neighbor Sam
Good Neighbor Sam is a 1964 American comedy movie co-written and directed by David Swift and starring Jack Lemmon and Romy Schneider.It was based on the novel by Jack Finney. The screenplay was the motion picture debut of James Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, who had written many American...
in 1964.
Flowers also appeared in twelve films starring Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
from 1929 until 1956.
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
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, 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.
Bess Flowers was first married on September 2, 1923, in Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, to Cullen Tate (1894–1947), an assistant to Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
. They were divorced in 1928 in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Her second marriage took place on August 5, 1929, in Los Angeles, to William S. Steele (1895–1962). They were divorced in 1930 in Los Angeles.
She and Tate had one child, Patricia E. Tate (January 29, 1924–August 1, 1972).
Bess Flowers died at age 85 in Woodland Hills, California. She was cremated and her cremains inurned at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street Los Angeles, California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown...
, Los Angeles.