Bessie Love
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.
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
128
Gender
Female
Birthday
1898-09-09
Place of Birth
Midland, Texas, USA
Also Known As
Juanita Horton
Known For
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
The Lost World
The Hunger
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
The Village Blacksmith
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
The Ritz
The Pistol
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Broadway Melody
Reds
Nowhere to Go
The Magic Box
The Matinee Idol
Catlow
Mousey
The Swell Head
Gulliver's Travels
Conspiracy
Chasing Rainbows
Morals for Women
I Think They Call Him John
Deserted at the Altar
Good News
The Idle Rich
They Learned About Women
The Good Bad-Man
Rubber Tires
See America Thirst
Touch and Go
Gareth Hughes
The Eternal Three
Dress Parade
Alice Guy-Blaché
Pegeen
Souls for Sale
Bonnie May
The Sea Lion
The Song and Dance Man
The Girl in the Show
The Flying Torpedo
Battle Beneath the Earth
The King On Main Street
Next to No Time
Too Young to Love
The Mystery of the Leaping Fish
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Atlantic Ferry
Ragtime
Isadora
Soul-Fire
Reggie Mixes In
Cheerful Givers
A Daughter of the Poor
No Highway in the Sky
The Weak and the Wicked
The Aryan
Young April
The Barefoot Contessa
Round About Hollywood
Human Wreckage
The American
The Wild Affair
Going Crooked
Vampyres
The Story of Esther Costello
The Midlanders
Carolyn of the Corners
New Brooms
Penny of Top Hill Trail
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
The Swamp
The Great Adventure
London Scrapbook
Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Journey Together
A Sister of Six
A Son of His Father
The Wishing Ring Man
The Wampas Baby Stars of 1922
Polly Ann
The Sawdust Ring
Wee Lady Betty
Nina, the Flower Girl
How Could You, Caroline?
The Enchanted Barn
The Dawn of Understanding
A Little Sister of Everybody
A Yankee Princess
The Spirit of the Lake
The Vermilion Pencil
The Little Boss
Night Life in Hollywood
Cupid Forecloses
Over the Garden Wall
A Fighting Colleen
The Honor of Rameriz
Three Who Paid
Bulldog Courage
Children of the Damned
Forget Me Not
The Purple Dawn
The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
Mary of the Movies
St. Elmo
Hell-to-Pay Austin
Acquitted
Anybody Here Seen Kelly?
The Ghost Patrol
Stranded
The Heiress at Coffee Dan's
Those Who Dance
Dynamite Smith
Sally of the Scandals
Slave of Desire
Gentle Julia
The Silent Watcher
Torment
The Woman on the Jury
Sundown
Lovey Mary
Tongues of Flame
A Harp in Hock
Promise Her Anything
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
I'll Never Forget What's'isname