Known For
Acting
Born
Nov 23, 1898
Died
Jul 28, 1984
Place of Birth
Sherman, Texas, USA
Credits
762 titles
Bess Flowers
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Good Neighbor Sam
Mrs. Burke (uncredited)
Bedtime Story
(uncredited)
For Those Who Think Young
Jane (uncredited)
The Carpetbaggers
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
The Prize
Lady In Audience (uncredited)
Move Over, Darling
Seymour's Wife (uncredited)
Who's Minding the Store?
Shopper at Gourmet Department (uncredited)
Palm Springs Weekend
Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
For Love or Money
Surprised Diner at The Flame Room (uncredited)
The Thrill of It All
Party Guest (uncredited)
40 Pounds of Trouble
Casino Patron (uncredited)
The Manchurian Candidate
Gomel's Lady Counterpart (uncredited)
Going My Way
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Zotz!
Party Guest (uncredited)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Mrs. Pradanos
Two Weeks in Another Town
Guest at Anniversary Banquet (uncredited)
Incident in an Alley
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Five Finger Exercise
Woman on Beach (uncredited)
The Notorious Landlady
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Don't Knock the Twist
Fashion Editor (uncredited)
Sweet Bird of Youth
Spectator at Rally (uncredited)
Twist Around The Clock
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
Judgment at Nuremberg
Concert Attendee (uncredited)
Pocketful of Miracles
Pedestrian Entering Club (uncredited)
Babes in Toyland
Villager (uncredited)
Blue Hawaii
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
The Honeymoon Machine
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Teenage Millionaire
Aunt Theodora's Guest (uncredited)
Return to Peyton Place
Woman at Town Meeting (uncredited)
Parrish
Party Guest (uncredited)
All in a Night's Work
Customer (uncredited)
Go Naked in the World
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
The Absent-Minded Professor
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Mister Ed
Where the Boys Are
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
G.I. Blues
Cafe Europa patron (uncredited)
The Facts of Life
Lady at Airport (uncredited)
All the Fine Young Cannibals
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Coronado 9
Song Without End
(uncredited)
The Lost World
Guest at Zoological Institute Forum (uncredited)
Wake Me When It's Over
Lady in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
The Chevy Mystery Show
Woman at Airline Counter (uncredited)
Because They're Young
Schoolteacher (uncredited)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Lady in Elevator (uncredited)
Seven Thieves
Lady at Casino Party (uncredited)
Home from the Hill
Party Guest (uncredited)
Beloved Infidel
Woman at Screening (uncredited)
NBC Sunday Showcase
Casino Patron