Bess Flowers
Acting
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.
Rear Window
as Songwriter's Party Guest with Poodle (uncredited)
Age 55 (now 85)
The Manchurian Candidate
as Gomel's Lady Counterpart (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
as Mannequin (uncredited)
Age 24 (now 85)
Calamity Jane
as Officer's Wife in Reception Line (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
North by Northwest
as Plaza Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Age 60 (now 85)
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age 125 (now 85)
Who's Minding the Store?
as Shopper at Gourmet Department (uncredited)
Age 65 (now 85)
Palm Springs Weekend
as Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Age 64 (now 85)
For Love or Money
as Surprised Diner at The Flame Room (uncredited)
Age 64 (now 85)
The Manchurian Candidate
as Gomel's Lady Counterpart (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Two Weeks in Another Town
as Guest at Anniversary Banquet (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Incident in an Alley
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
The Notorious Landlady
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Twist Around The Clock
as Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Judgment at Nuremberg
as Concert Attendee (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Pocketful of Miracles
as Pedestrian Entering Club (uncredited)
Age 63 (now 85)
Teenage Millionaire
as Aunt Theodora's Guest (uncredited)
Age 62 (now 85)
Return to Peyton Place
as Woman at Town Meeting (uncredited)
Age 62 (now 85)
Go Naked in the World
as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Age 62 (now 85)
The Absent-Minded Professor
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Age 62 (now 85)
All the Fine Young Cannibals
as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Age 61 (now 85)
The Lost World
as Guest at Zoological Institute Forum (uncredited)
Age 61 (now 85)
Wake Me When It's Over
as Lady in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Age 61 (now 85)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
as Lady in Elevator (uncredited)
Age 61 (now 85)
North by Northwest
as Plaza Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Age 60 (now 85)
The Wild and the Innocent
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 60 (now 85)
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
as Town Meeting Spectator
Age 60 (now 85)
I Married a Monster from Outer Space
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Age 59 (now 85)
Twilight for the Gods
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 59 (now 85)
I Married a Woman
as Beauty Contest Chaperone (uncredited)
Age 59 (now 85)
Witness for the Prosecution
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Age 59 (now 85)
The Tarnished Angels
as Newspaper Office Clerk (uncredited)
Age 58 (now 85)
The Helen Morgan Story
as Woman at boat dock (uncredited)
Age 58 (now 85)
This Could Be the Night
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 58 (now 85)
The Buster Keaton Story
as Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
Age 58 (now 85)
Around the World in 80 Days
as Extra (uncredited)
Age 57 (now 85)
The First Traveling Saleslady
as Restaurant Patron
Age 57 (now 85)
The Eddy Duchin Story
as Party Guest at Central Park Casino (uncredited)
Age 57 (now 85)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
as Dancer in Restaurant scene (uncredited)
Age 56 (now 85)
Rear Window
as Songwriter's Party Guest with Poodle (uncredited)
Age 55 (now 85)
Three Sailors and a Girl
as Indignant Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85) Calamity Jane
as Officer's Wife in Reception Line (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
Cruisin' Down the River
as Riverboat Passenger (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
A Blueprint for Murder
as Maggie's Friend at Club (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
The Jazz Singer
as Party Guest / Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
The Bad and the Beautiful
as Joe's Friend at Party (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
Stop, You're Killing Me
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 54 (now 85)
Bloodhounds of Broadway
as Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Age 53 (now 85)
Don't Bother to Knock
as Woman at Awards Dinner (uncredited)
Age 53 (now 85)
She's Working Her Way Through College
as Lady in Audience
Age 53 (now 85)
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Spectator (uncredited)
Age 53 (now 85)
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
Here Comes the Groom
as Woman Exiting Emmadel's Home (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
The Day the Earth Stood Still
as Lady Outside Jewelry Store
Age 52 (now 85)
Sunny Side of the Street
as Actress playing "Queen" in TV beer commercial
Age 52 (now 85)
Meet Me After the Show
as Dining Patron (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
Rich, Young and Pretty
as Woman Departing Train / Restaurant Patron
Age 52 (now 85)
So You Want to Be a Paper Hanger
as Club Member
Age 52 (now 85)
On the Riviera
as Lady Watching TV at Nightclub Bar (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
The Great Caruso
as Front Row Audience Member at 'Lucia di Lammermoor' (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
as Saleswoman / Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
Footlight Varieties
as Party Extra (segment "He Forgot to Remember") (archive footage) (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)The Screen Director
as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)
Walk Softly, Stranger
as New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
The Toast of New Orleans
as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
The Costume Designer
as Woman in Fashion Shop (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
Father of the Bride
as Wedding Reception Guest (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
The Damned Don't Cry
as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
Champagne for Caesar
as Backstage Woman at Hollywood Bowl
Age 51 (now 85)
Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 51 (now 85)
The File on Thelma Jordon
as Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
It's a Great Feeling
as Studio Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
Look for the Silver Lining
as Lady in Agent's Office
Age 50 (now 85)
You're My Everything
as Woman at Premiere (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
Neptune's Daughter
as Woman at Swim Suit Show (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
Every Girl Should Be Married
as Pierre's Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
Family Honeymoon
as Well-Wisher at Bridal Shower (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 85)
The Countess of Monte Cristo
as Restaurant Extra (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 85)
Up in Central Park
as Diner at The Stetson House (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 85)
Romance on the High Seas
as Ship Passenger (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 85)
The Noose Hangs High
as Fainting Psychiatrist's Patient (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 85)
To the Ends of the Earth
as Ship Passenger (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 85)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
as Illustrator (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 85)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 85)
The Perils of Pauline
as Reporter at Reception (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 85)
So You Want to Be in Pictures
as Woman at Brown Derby with Sunglasses (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 85)
Till the Clouds Roll By
as Backstage Well-Wisher (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 85)
The Jolson Story
as Woman in Audience/Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
Rendezvous with Annie
as Woman in Nightclub (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
as Diner at Bianca's
Age 47 (now 85)
Two Sisters from Boston
as Opera Singer (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
Her Kind of Man
as Patron at Georgia King Club (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
The Kid from Brooklyn
as Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
My Reputation
as Guest at Van Ormans' New Year's Eve Party / Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 47 (now 85)
Week-End at the Waldorf
as Guest at Starlight Roof (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
The Crime Doctor's Warning
as Bridge Player (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
The Woman in Green
as Bar Patron (seen in mirror) (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
It's in the Bag!
as Woman in Elevator / Woman in Floogle's Penthouse (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
Delightfully Dangerous
as Lady at Mr. Hopkins' Table
Age 46 (now 85)
A Song for Miss Julie
as Lady in NYC Theatre Audience (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
Here Come the Waves
as Patron at Cabana Club (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 85)
Strange Affair
as Fashionable Woman with Great Dane (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Woman at Train Station (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
Roger Touhy, Gangster
as Daisy's Courtroom Companion (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
Ladies of Washington
as Pedestrian looking for a taxi (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
The Lady and the Monster
as Customer at Arizona Palms Club
Age 45 (now 85)
It Happened Tomorrow
as Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
as Extra at Viceroy's Party (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
Career Girl
as Miss Cunningham - Mr. Dexter's Secretary (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 85)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
as Diner at Delmonico's (uncredited)
Age 44 (now 85)
Springtime in the Rockies
as Mrs. Jeepers (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
The Palm Beach Story
as Gerry's Maid of Honor/Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
The Magnificent Dope
as Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
as Graduation Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
There's One Born Every Minute
as Luncheon Attendee
Age 43 (now 85)
It Happened in Flatbush
as Patron at Pegasus Club (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
Take a Letter, Darling
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
The Night Before the Divorce
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
A Gentleman at Heart
as Bidder at Art Auction (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
The Mad Doctor of Market Street
as Ship Passenger
Age 43 (now 85)
The Man Who Came to Dinner
as Fan at Train Station (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 85)
I Wake Up Screaming
as Lady Handel's party guest (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Married Bachelor
as Sales Clerk at Lacey's Dept. Store (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
An Ache in Every Stake
as Mrs. Lawrence (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
as Nurse (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
That Uncertain Feeling
as Woman in Ladies' Room (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
The Devil and Miss Jones
as Saleslady (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Murder Among Friends
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Blondie Goes Latin
as Well-Wisher at Ship's Departure (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Tall, Dark and Handsome
as Department Store Extra (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
as Racetrack Spectator in Sunglasses (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Lady with Red Hair
as Mother in Miss Humbert's office (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 85)
Five Little Peppers in Trouble
as Miss Roberts
Age 41 (now 85)
I Love You Again
as Woman in Lingerie Department (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 85)
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 85)
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
as Mrs. Aldrich - Party Guest
Age 41 (now 85)
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
as Baseball Fan
Age 41 (now 85)
Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga
as La Conga Patron (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 85)
Man About Town
as Spectator Behind Lady Arlington (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 85)
Rose of Washington Square
as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 85)
Midnight
as Flammarions' Party Guest / Stephanie's Party Guest (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 85)
The Mad Miss Manton
as Guest at Charity Ball (uncredited)
Age 39 (now 85)
Three Loves Has Nancy
as Patient Waiting in Dr. Stewart's Office (uncredited)
Age 39 (now 85)
You Can't Take It with You
as Martin's Neighbor in Courtroom (uncredited)
Age 39 (now 85)
Termites of 1938
as Mrs. Muriel Van Twitchell (uncredited)
Age 39 (now 85)
One Hundred Men and a Girl
as Party Guest at Mrs. Frost's
Age 38 (now 85)
The Last Train from Madrid
as Saleswoman (uncredited)
Age 38 (now 85)
Make Way for Tomorrow
as Hotel Dining Room Guest (uncredited)
Age 38 (now 85)
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
as Guest at Auction (uncredited)
Age 38 (now 85)
Theodora Goes Wild
as Guest at Governor's Reception (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
The Public Pays
as Woman from the Relief Bureau (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
Adventure in Manhattan
as Miss Arnold - Beauty Salon Attendant (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
Love Before Breakfast
as Extra as Diner at Dubin's (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Woman Sitting Behind Lincoln in Theatre Box (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
The Calling of Dan Matthews
as Miss Ryan (uncredited)
Age 37 (now 85)
A Feather in Her Hat
as Theatergoer Backstage (uncredited)
Age 36 (now 85)
Go Into Your Dance
as Nightclub Patron at Casino de Paree
Age 36 (now 85)
The Whole Town's Talking
as Miss Gower (uncredited)
Age 36 (now 85)
After Office Hours
as Riverview Club Patron (uncredited)
Age 36 (now 85)
Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round
as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Age 35 (now 85)
The Richest Girl in the World
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Age 35 (now 85)
The Affairs of Cellini
as Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Age 35 (now 85)
Merry Wives of Reno
as Lady Getting Off Train Who Wants to Find Court House (uncredited)
Age 35 (now 85)
Wild Boys of the Road
as Movie Theater Patron (uncredited)
Age 34 (now 85)
No Marriage Ties
as Receptionist at Adrienne Deane Cosmetics
Age 34 (now 85)
The Half-Naked Truth
as Miss Flowers - Bates' Secretary (uncredited)
Age 34 (now 85)
The Phantom of Crestwood
as Priam's Secretary (uncredited)
Age 33 (now 85)
Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)
as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Age 32 (now 85)
Their Own Desire
as Miriam - Polo Player/Snooty Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Age 31 (now 85)
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
as Mannequin (uncredited)
Age 24 (now 85)
The Chevy Mystery Show
as Woman at Airline Counter (uncredited)
Age 61 (now 85)
Screen Director's Playhouse
as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Age 56 (now 85)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Club Patron (uncredited)
Age 56 (now 85) Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Meeting Guest (uncredited)
Age 56 (now 85) Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Bookstore Customer (uncredited)
Age 56 (now 85)
The Abbott and Costello Show
as Restaurant Patron
Age 54 (now 85)
The Red Skelton Show
as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Age 52 (now 85)Gathering insights...
IMDB
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