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Bess FlowersImage: Wikimedia Commons

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Bess Flowers

American actress (1898–1984)

Bess Flowers was an American actress known as the Queen of the Hollywood Extras. Across a 41-year career she appeared in more than 350 feature films and numerous comedy shorts, most often as an extra. She holds the record for appearances in films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, at 23, and is a co-record holder for appearing in eight films that won.

Bess Flowers appears in 36 films in The Rerun, from 1934 to 1960. Most of that work is in thriller, romance and mystery. Frequent collaborators in The Rerun: Alfred Hitchcock (12), Vincente Minnelli (4), Michael Curtiz (4), Cary Grant (3), Vincent Price (3).

Known for

  • It Happened One Night (1934). One of her more than 350 feature film appearances as a Hollywood extra.
  • Rear Window (1954). Part of a screen career built largely on work as an extra.
  • North by Northwest (1959). One of the many studio pictures in her 41-year career.
  • Vertigo (1958). Another credit from her decades as the Queen of the Hollywood Extras.

Movies

Quick answers

When was Bess Flowers born?
Bess Flowers was born on 23 November 1898.

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