Occupation Actress Years active 1910–1933 | Name Eugenie Besserer Role Actress | |
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Born December 25, 1868 ( 1868-12-25 ) Watertown, New York, U.S. Died May 28, 1934, Los Angeles, California, United States Spouse Albert W. Hegger (m. 1885–1934) Movies The Jazz Singer, Flesh and the Devil, The Wonderful Wizard of, The Circle, Thunderbolt Similar People Alan Crosland, Robert Z Leonard, Clarence Brown, Frank Borzage, Josef von Sternberg | ||
Eugenie Besserer (December 25, 1868 – May 28, 1934) was an American actress who starred in silent films and features of the early sound motion picture era, beginning in 1910.
Contents
- Orphan in Canada
- Theater and motion picture player
- Domestic life
- Death
- 1930s
- 1920s
- 1910s
- Filmography
- References
Orphan in Canada
Born in Watertown, New York of French Canadian parents, she was taken by her parents to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as a girl and spent her childhood there. She was left an orphan and escaped from her guardians at the age of twelve. She came to New York City and arrived at Grand Central Station with only 25 cents (Canadian currency, equivalent to $0.34 USD at the time) in her pocket. She managed to locate a former governess, with the assistance of a street car conductor, who helped Eugenie locate an uncle, with whom she lived. She continued her education.
Theater and motion picture player
Besserer's initial theatrical experience came with McKee Rankin when the producer had for a star, Nance O'Neill. Soon she appeared with stage luminaries like Frank Keenan and Wilton Lackaye. As a youth she played a juvenile part with Maurice Barrymore. She performed a season at Pike's Opera House in Portland Oregon. Another season Eugenie acted in a drama opposite Henry Kolker. The actress came to Hollywood in 1910 when films were just starting to be made there.
The illness of her sister brought her to the west coast. In motion pictures Eugenie was usually cast in mother roles, most famously as mother of the Al Jolson character in The Jazz Singer ("Mammy"). Eugenie became associated with the Selig Polyscope Company. A significant part for the actress was her role as Aunt Ray Innis in The Circular Staircase (1915), based on the novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart.
Domestic life
She shared a home with her husband, Albert W. Hegger, an art dealer, from the time she came to Los Angeles. They lived in a hilltop home above Silver Lake. They had one daughter, Amorita.
Death
Eugenie Besserer died in 1934, aged 65, from a heart attack at her home. Having married Hegger when she was a teenager, the couple were due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 1935. A funeral mass was held at St. Theresa's Church, with a rosary service at Edwards Brothers Colonial Mortuary, Venice Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles.
1930s
1920s
1910s
Filmography
Actress
1933
To the Last Man as
Granny Spelvin
1932
6 Hours to Live as
The Marquisa (uncredited)
1932
Scarface as
Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)
1930
Du Barry, Woman of Passion as
Rosalie - Prison Matron (uncredited)
1930
In Gay Madrid as
Doña Generosa (as Eugenia Besserer)
1930
A Royal Romance as
Mother
1929
Seven Faces as
Madame Vallon
1929
Mister Antonio as
Mrs. Jorny
1929
Illusion as
Mrs. Jacob Schmittlap
1929
Fast Company as
Mrs. Kane
1929
Speedway as
Mrs. MacDonald
1929
Whispering Winds as
Jim's Mother
1929
Madame X as
Rose
1929
Thunderbolt as
The Mother
1929
The Bridge of San Luis Rey as
A Nun
1928
A Lady of Chance as
Mrs. Crandall
1928
Lilac Time as
Madame Berthelot
1928
Yellow Lily as
Archduchess
1928
Two Lovers as
Madame Van Rycke
1928
Drums of Love as
Duchess de Alvia
1927
The Jazz Singer as
Sara Rabinowitz
1927
Slightly Used as
Aunt Lydia
1927
Captain Salvation as
Mrs. Buxom
1927
When a Man Loves as
Landlady (uncredited)
1927
The Night of Love as
Gypsy (uncredited)
1927
Wandering Girls as
Mrs. Marston
1926
Flesh and the Devil as
Leo's Mother
1926
The Fire Brigade as
Mrs.O'Neil
1926
The Millionaire Policeman as
Mrs. Gray
1926
Winning the Futurity as
Mary Allen
1926
Kiki as
Landlady (uncredited)
1926
The Skyrocket as
Wardrobe Mistress
1925
Bright Lights as
Patsy's Mother
1925
Wandering Footsteps as
Elizabeth Stuyvesant Whitney
1925
The Circle as
Lady Catherine 'Kitty' Cheney
1925
The Coast of Folly as
Nanny
1925
Confessions of a Queen as
Elanora
1925
Friendly Enemies as
Mrs. Marie Pfeiffer
1925
A Fool and His Money as
Mother
1924
The Price She Paid as
Mrs. Elton Gower
1924
Bread as
Mrs. Sturgis
1923
Enemies of Children as
Mrs. Slavin
1923
Anna Christie as
Marthy
1923
The Rendezvous as
Nini
1923
Her Reputation as
Madame Cervanez
1923
The Lonely Road as
Martha True
1922
The Strangers' Banquet as
Mrs. McPherson
1922
June Madness as
Mrs. Whitmore
1922
The Hands of Nara as
Mrs. Claveloux
1922
Kindred of the Dust as
Mrs. McKaye
1922
Penrod
1922
The Rosary as
Widow Kathleen Wilson
1921
Molly O' as
Antonia Bacigalupi
1921
The Light in the Clearing as
Roving Kate
1921
The Sin of Martha Queed as
Alicia Queed
1921
Good Women as
Mrs. Emmeline Shelby
1921
The Breaking Point as
Mrs. Janeway
1920
What Happened to Rosa as
Madame Yvette O'Donnell
1920
The Scoffer as
Boorman's Wife
1920
45 Minutes from Broadway as
Mrs. David Dean
1920
Seeds of Vengeance as
Judith Cree
1920
Fickle Women as
Mrs. Price
1920
The Brand of Lopez as
Señora Castillo
1920
For the Soul of Rafael as
Dona Luisa
1920
The Gift Supreme as
Martha Vinton
1920
The Fighting Shepherdess as
Jezebel
1919
The Greatest Question as
Mrs. Hilton
1919
Scarlet Days as
Mrs. Nell Winters aka Rosie Nell
1919
Turning the Tables as
Mrs. Feverill
1919
Auction of Souls
1918
Little Orphant Annie as
Mrs. Goode
1918
The Sea Flower as
Kealani
1918
The Road Through the Dark as
Aunt Julie
1918
The Eyes of Julia Deep as
Mrs. Lowe
1918
A Hoosier Romance as
The Squire's Wife
1918
The Still Alarm as
Undetermined Role
1918
The City of Purple Dreams
1917
In After Years (Short) as
Lucile Danvers
1917
Who Shall Take My Life? as
Mrs. Munroe
1917
The Curse of Eve as
The Mother
1917
The Witness for the State (Short)
1917
Her Salvation (Short) as
Mame Ryan
1917
Through the Eyes of the World (Short) as
Hippie's housekeeper
1917
The Friendship of Beaupere (Short) as
Mother Lynn
1917
Little Lost Sister as
Mrs. Welcome
1917
Beware of Strangers as
Mary DeLacy
1916
The Garden of Allah as
Lady Rens
1916
Twisted Trails (Short) as
Martha, Housekeeper
1916
The Crisis as
Mrs. Brice
1916
In the House of the Chief (Short) as
Mme. Le Blanc
1916
His Brother's Keeper (Short) as
Mrs. Vantine AKA Kitty Coombs
1916
The Old Man Who Tried to Grow Young (Short) as
Mrs. Keene
1916
The Sacrifice (Short) as
Mrs. Warrington
1916
The Temptation of Adam (Short) as
Dorothy Blaine
1916
The Woman Who Did Not Care (Short) as
Mrs. Boyd
1916
A Social Deception (Short) as
Grace Elliott
1916
The Grinning Skull (Short) as
Mme. Ward Howe
1916
Thou Shalt Not Covet as
My Wife
1916
The Devil-in-Chief (Short) as
Johann's Mistress
1915
I'm Glad My Boy Grew Up to Be a Soldier as
Mrs. Warrington
1915
Just as I Am (Short)
1915
The Bridge of Time (Short)
1915
The Circular Staircase as
Aunt Ray (as Miss Eugenie Besserer)
1915
The Way of a Woman's Heart (Short) as
Rose March aka Rosalind Ayre
1915
The Melody of Doom (Short) as
Zara the Adventuress
1915
The Smouldering (Short) as
Rachel St. John - Gerald's Mother
1915
The Rosary as
Widow Kelly
1915
The Fortunes of Mariana (Short) as
Northrup's Sister
1915
Ingratitude of Liz Taylor (Short)
1915
The Carpet from Bagdad as
Mrs. Chedsoye
1915
The Poetic Justice of Omar Khan (Short) as
Neva Hyde
1915
The Black Diamond (Short)
1915
The Passer-by (Short) as
Mrs. Thompson
1915
The Vision of the Shepherd (Short) as
Maggie Hunt
1914
The Story of the Blood Red Rose (Short) as
Queen of Urania
1914
The Tragedy That Lived (Short) as
Mary's Grandmother
1914
Her Victory Eternal (Short) as
Mrs. Tabor - the Society Queen
1914
Hearts and Masks (Short) as
Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds
1914
A Just Punishment (Short) as
Mrs. Preston - Bob's Wife
1914
Ye Vengeful Vagabonds (Short) as
Betsy Spratt - Peggy's Mother
1914
The Man in Black (Short)
1914
What Became of Jane? (Short) as
Jane's Mother
1914
When a Woman's 40 (Short) as
Lucille Danvers
1914
The Reporter on the Case (Short) as
Mrs. Emery
1914
His Fight (Short) as
Mrs. Brant
1914
Me an' Bill (Short) as
Kitty
1914
When the Night Call Came (Short) as
Nell Delaney
1914
Judge Dunn's Decision (Short) as
Mrs. Gregory
1914
The Schooling of Mary Ann (Short)
1914
The Game of Life (Short) as
Cleo
1914
The Fire Jugglers (Short) as
Mrs. Leavitt
1914
The Salvation of Nance O'Shaughnessy (Short) as
Mame Ryan
1914
Elizabeth's Prayer (Short) as
Hilda Crosby, An Unscrupulous Actress
1914
Memories as
Mary, Professor Scott's Sweetheart
1914
A Splendid Sacrifice (Short) as
Mrs. Vivian Clifford
1913
The Mysterious Way (Short) as
Mary Trenton
1913
The Master of the Garden (Short) as
Mrs. Harrington - Bessie's Mother
1913
A Cure for Carelessness (Short) as
Mrs. John Wise
1913
Phantoms (Short) as
Natalie Storm
1913
The Probationer (Short) as
Granny
1913
Destiny of the Sea (Short) as
Constance Strong
1913
Only Five Years Old (Short) as
Prue
1913
Sissybelle (Short) as
Mrs. Putnam - Percy's Mother
1913
Fate Fashions a Letter (Short) as
Mrs. Rand
1913
The Acid Test (Short) as
Mrs. Argonet
1913
The Unseen Defense (Short) as
Minerva Wingood
1913
The Ne'er to Return Road (Short) as
Mrs. Hansen - Chris' Mother
1913
In God We Trust (Short) as
Bill's Wife
1913
The Fighting Lieutenant (Short) as
The Countess
1913
Woman: Past and Present (Short) as
Grandmother America
1913
A Flag of Two Wars (Short) as
Mrs. John Reed
1913
The Girl and the Judge (Short) as
Mrs. Goff - the Judge's Wife
1913
Wamba, a Child of the Jungle (Short) as
Mrs. Rice
1913
Indian Summer (Short) as
Virginia
1913
The Tattle Battle (Short) as
1st Mother
1913
Lieutenant Jones (Short) as
Mrs. Cartright
1913
In the Days of Witchcraft (Short) as
Lady Beresford
1913
Dollar Down, Dollar a Week (Short) as
Mrs. Sanger - the Aunt
1913
Love Before Ten (Short) as
Mrs. Walters
1913
Diverging Paths (Short) as
Lily and Rose's Mother
1913
The Spanish Parrot Girl (Short) as
Mrs. Avery
1913
The Governor's Daughter (Short) as
Mrs. Carey - Jim's Mother
1913
The Miner's Justice (Short) as
Minnie
1913
A Plain Girl's Love (Short) as
Elizabeth Day - Martha's Mother
1913
Greater Wealth (Short) as
Mrs. John Sharon
1912
The Last of Her Tribe (Short) as
Neepah - Moquin's Squaw
1912
Sammy Orpheus; or, the Pied Piper of the Jungle (Short) as
Kate
1912
The Millionaire Vagabonds (Short) as
Mrs. Knobhill
1912
Opitsah: Apache for Sweetheart (Short) as
Mrs. McGuire - Jim's Mother
1912
The Vintage of Fate (Short) as
Undetermined Secondary Role (unconfirmed)
1912
Old Songs and Memories (Short) as
Nellie Laurence - the Old Lady
1912
His Wedding Eve (Short) as
Mrs. Ellis - Tom's Mother
1912
Monte Cristo (Short) as
Mercedes
1912
The Pity of It (Short) as
Mrs. Tom Morton
1912
Partners (Short) as
Melisse
1912
The Substitute Model (Short) as
Millicent Carr - the Substitute Model
1912
The Indelible Stain (Short) as
Marla
1912
Sergeant Byrne of the Northwest Mounted Police (Short) as
Jessie Long
1912
The Little Indian Martyr (Short) as
Chiquito's Mother
1912
In the Tents of the Asra (Short)
1912
His Masterpiece (Short) as
The Prima Donna
1912
The Lake of Dreams (Short) as
Madge Andrews
1912
In Exile (Short) as
Countess Romanoff
1912
The Captain of the 'Nancy Lee' (Short) as
Bess Johnson - the Captain's Daughter
1912
A Child of the Wilderness (Short) as
Tonoma - Joe's Protector
1912
The Hand of Fate (Short) as
Mrs. VanDuzen
1912
The End of the Romance (Short) as
Alice Gray
1912
Me an' Bill (Short) as
Kitty Somners
1912
The Junior Officer (Short) as
Ethel Temple - the Count's Wife
1912
As Told by Princess Bess (Short) as
Princess Bess (old)
1912
The Danites (Short) as
The Widowed Schoolteacher
1912
Disillusioned (Short) as
Miss Gary
1912
Bunkie (Short) as
Miss Ford - Brooks' Bethrothed
1912
The Peacemaker (Short)
1912
The Other Fellow (Short) as
Mrs. Brown
1912
The Cowboy's Adopted Child (Short) as
Sarah Fowler
1911
George Warrington's Escape (Short) as
Madame Esmond Warrington
1911
An Evil Power (Short) as
Madame Celeste
1911
The Bootlegger (Short) as
Mrs. Fancher
1911
Old Billy (Short) as
Mrs. Marming - the Widow
1911
In the Shadow of the Pines (Short) as
Gordon's Mother
1911
The Blacksmith's Love (Short) as
Mary Brewer Saunders
1911
The Regeneration of Apache Kid (Short) as
Mrs. Dudley
1911
Their Only Son (Short)
1911
Slick's Romance (Short)
1911
The Profligate (Short) as
Pauline Revere - the Wronged Wife
1911
It Happened in the West (Short) as
Prologue
1911
The Craven Heart (Short) as
Madame Dantes
1911
A Sacrifice to Civilization (Short)
1911
One of Nature's Noblemen (Short) as
Minnie Brown
1911
Stability vs. Nobility (Short) as
Bradley's 1st Daughter
1911
The Still Alarm (Short) as
Elinor Fordham
1911
The Mother (Short) as
The Governor's Daughter
1910
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Short) as
Aunt Em
Archive Footage
1995
Biography (TV Series documentary) as
Sara Rabinowitz
- Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995) - Sara Rabinowitz (uncredited)
1984
Almonds and Raisins (Documentary) as
Self
1959
The Twentieth Century (TV Series documentary) as
Sara Rabinowitz (clip from The Jazz Singer (1927))
- The Movies Learn to Talk (1959) - Sara Rabinowitz (clip from The Jazz Singer (1927)) (uncredited)
References
Eugenie Besserer Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA