Profile photo of Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

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.

Filmography

1961
Judgment at Nuremberg

as Concert Attendee (uncredited)

Movie
1959
North by Northwest

as Plaza Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)

Movie
1958
The Fly

as Audience Member (uncredited)

Movie
1958
Vertigo

as Diner at Ernie's (uncredited)

Movie
1955
To Catch a Thief

as Masquerade Party Guest (uncredited)

Movie
1954
White Christmas

as Club Patron (uncredited)

Movie
1954
Rear Window

as Songwriter's Party Guest with Poodle (uncredited)

Movie
1952
Sudden Fear

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Movie
1952
Singin' in the Rain

as Audience Member (uncredited)

Movie
1950
The Second Woman

as Fiesta Guest

Movie
1941
That Night in Rio

as Nightclub Extra (uncredited)

Movie
1940
'Til We Meet Again

as Ship's Passenger (uncredited)

Movie
1939
Sergeant Madden

as Nurse

Movie