Eugenie Besserer

Eugenie Besserer (1869 or 1870 – May 29, 1934)[1] was an American actress who starred in silent films and features of the early sound motion-picture era, beginning in 1910. Her most prominent role is that of the title character's mother in the first talkie film, The Jazz Singer.

Eugenie Besserer
Besserer in 1914
Born1869 or 1870
Marseilles, France
DiedMay 29, 1934(1934-05-29) (aged 64–65)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1910–1933
Spouse
Albert W. Hegger
​
(m. 1885)​

Early life

Born in Marseilles, France, Besserer attended the Convent of Notre Dame in Ottawa, Ontario.[1] She was taken by her parents to Ottawa as a girl, and spent her childhood there. She was left an orphan and escaped from her guardians at the age of 12. She came to New York City and arrived at Grand Central Station with only 25 cents (Canadian currency, equivalent to US$0.34 at the time) in her pocket. With the assistance of a street car conductor, Besserer managed to locate a former governess, who, in turn, helped locate the uncle with whom she ultimately took up residence. There, Besserer continued her education, gaining some proficiency in athletics, and in fencing in particular—so much so that she was gratified to find herself holding her own against noted stage swashbuckler Alexander Salvini.[2][3]

Career

Besserer's initial theatrical experience came with McKee Rankin when the producer had Nance O'Neill as a star. Soon, she appeared with notable stage actors including 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, Besserer acted in a drama opposite Henry Kolker. The illness of her sister brought her to the West Coast, and she came to Hollywood in 1910 when films were just starting to be made there.

In motion pictures, Eugenie was usually cast in mother roles,[4] including as the mother of Al Jolson's character in The Jazz Singer. Besserer became associated with the Selig Polyscope Company. She portrayed Aunt Ray Innis in The Circular Staircase (1915), based on the novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

Personal life

When Besserer was 15, she married art dealer Albert W. Hegger. They had one daughter.[1]

Death

On May 29, 1934, Besserer died at her Hollywood home, aged 64.[1] A funeral mass was held at St. Theresa's Church, with a rosary service at Edwards Brothers Colonial Mortuary, Venice Boulevard, in Los Angeles. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles.[5]

Selected filmography
The Sacrifice (1916)

1910s

  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910, Short) as Aunt Em
  • The Mother (1911, Short) as The Governor's Daughter
  • The Still Alarm (1911, Short) as Elinor Fordham
  • Stability vs. Nobility (1911, Short) as Bradley's 1st Daughter
  • One of Nature's Noblemen (1911, Short) as Minnie Brown
  • A Sacrifice to Civilization (1911, Short)
  • The Craven Heart (1911, Short) as Madame Dantes
  • It Happened in the West (1911, Short) as Prologue
  • The Profligate (1911, Short) as Pauline Revere - the Wronged Wife
  • Slick's Romance (1911, Short)
  • Their Only Son (1911, Short)
  • The Regeneration of Apache Kid (1911, Short) as Mrs. Dudley
  • The Blacksmith's Love (1911, Short) as Mary Brewer Saunders
  • Old Billy (1911, Short) as Mrs. Marming - the Widow
  • The Bootlegger (1911, Short) as Mrs. Fancher
  • An Evil Power (1911, Short) as Madame Celeste
  • George Warrington's Escape (1911, Short) as Madame Esmond Warrington
  • The Cowboy's Adopted Child (1912, Short) as Sarah Fowler
  • The Other Fellow (1911, Short) as Mrs. Brown
  • Bunkie (1912, Short) as Miss Ford - Brooks' Bethrothed
  • Disillusioned (1912, Short) as Miss Gary
  • The Danites (1912, Short) as The Widowed Schoolteacher
  • As Told by Princess Bess (1912, Short) as Princess Bess (old)
  • The Junior Officer (1912, Short) as Ethel Temple - the Count's Wife
  • Me an' Bill (1912, Short) as Kitty Somners
  • The End of the Romance (1912, Short) as Alice Gray
  • The Hand of Fate (1912, Short) as Mrs. VanDuzen
  • A Child of the Wilderness (1912, Short) as Tonoma - Joe's Protector
  • In Exile (1912, Short) as Countess Romanoff
  • The Lake of Dreams (1912, Short) as Madge Andrews
  • His Masterpiece (1912, Short) as The Prima Donna
  • The Little Indian Martyr (1912, Short) as Chiquito's Mother
  • Sergeant Byrne of the Northwest Mounted Police (1912, Short) as Jessie Long
  • The Indelible Stain (1912, Short) as Marla
  • The Substitute Model (1912, Short) as Millicent Carr - the Substitute Model
  • Monte Cristo (1912, Short) as Mercedes
  • His Wedding Eve (1912, Short) as Mrs. Ellis - Tom's Mother
  • Old Songs and Memories (1912, Short) as Nellie Laurence - the Old Lady
  • The Vintage of Fate (1912, Short) as Minor Role (uncredited)
  • Opitsah: Apache for Sweetheart (1912, Short) as Mrs. McGuire - Jim's Mother
  • The Millionaire Vagabonds (1912, Short) as Mrs. Knobhill
  • Sammy Orpheus; or, The Pied Piper of the Jungle (1912, Short) as Kate
  • The Last of Her Tribe (1912, Short) as Neepah - Moquin's Squaw
  • The Governor's Daughter (1913, Short) as Mrs. Carey - Jim's Mother
  • The Spanish Parrot Girl (1913, Short) as Mrs. Avery
  • Diverging Paths (1913, Short) as Lily and Rose's Mother
  • Love Before Ten (1913, Short) as Mrs. Walters
  • Dollar Down, Dollar a Week (1913, Short) as Mrs. Sanger - the Aunt
  • In the Days of Witchcraft (1913, Short) as Lady Beresford
  • Lieutenant Jones (1913, Short) as Mrs. Cartright
  • Indian Summer (1913, Short) as Virginia
  • Wamba A Child of the Jungle (1913, Short) as Mrs. Rice
  • The Girl and the Judge (1913, Short) as Mrs. Goff - the Judge's Wife
  • A Flag of Two Wars (1913, Short) as Mrs. John Reed
  • Woman: Past and Present (1913, Short) as Grandmother America
  • The Fighting Lieutenant (1913, Short) as The Countess
  • In God We Trust (1913, Short) as Bill's Wife
  • The Ne'er to Return Road (1913, Short) as Mrs. Hansen - Chris' Mother
  • The Unseen Defense (1913, Short) as Minerva Wingood
  • The Acid Test (1913, Short) as Mrs. Argonet
  • Fate Fashions a Letter (1913, Short) as Mrs. Rand
  • The Probationer (1913, Short) as Granny
  • Phantoms (1913, Short) as Natalie Storm
  • The Master of the Garden (1913, Short) as Mrs. Harrington - Bessie's Mother
  • Memories (1914) as Mary, Professor Scott's sweetheart
  • Elizabeth's Prayer (1914, Short) as Hilda Crosby, an unscrupulous actress
  • The Salvation of Nance O'Shaughnessy (1914, Short) as Mame Ryan
  • The Fire Jugglers (1914, Short) as Mrs. Leavitt
  • Me an' Bill (1914, Short) as Kitty
  • His Fight (1914, Short) as Mrs. Brant
  • The Man in Black (1914, Short)
  • Ye Vengeful Vagabonds (1914, Short) as Betsy Spratt - Peggy's Mother
  • Hearts and Masks (1914, Short) as Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds
  • The Tragedy That Lived (1914, Short) as Mary's Grandmother
  • The Story of the Blood Red Rose (1914, Short) as Queen of Urania
  • The Vision of the Shepherd (1915, Short) as Maggie Hunt
  • Poetic Justice of Omar Khan (1915, Short) as Neva Hyde
  • The Carpet from Bagdad (1915) as Mrs. Chedsoye
  • Ingratitude of Liz Taylor (1915, Short)
  • The Rosary (1915) as Widow Kelly
  • The Circular Staircase (1915) as Aunt Ray
  • The Bridge of Time (1915, Short)
  • Just as I Am (1915, Short)
  • I'm Glad My Boy Grew Up to Be a Soldier (1915) as Mrs. Warrington
  • The Devil-in-Chief (1916, Short) as Johann's Mistress
  • Thou Shalt Not Covet (1916) as my wife
  • The Grinning Skull (1916, Short) as Mme. Ward Howe
  • A Social Deception (1916, Short) as Grace Elliott
  • The Woman Who Did Not Care (1916, Short) as Mrs. Boyd
  • The Temptation of Adam (1916, Short) as Dorothy Blaine
  • The Crisis (1916) as Mrs. Brice
  • Twisted Trails (1916, Short) as Martha, the housekeeper
  • The Garden of Allah (1916) as Lady Rens
  • Beware of Strangers (1917) as Mary DeLacy
  • Little Lost Sister (1917) as Mrs. Welcome
  • Her Salvation (1917, Short) as Mame Ryan
  • The Witness for the State (1917, Short)
  • The Curse of Eve (1917) as the Mother
  • Who Shall Take My Life? (1917) as Mrs. Munroe
  • In After Years (1917, Short)
  • The City of Purple Dreams (1918)
  • The Still Alarm (1918) as Minor Role
  • A Hoosier Romance (1918) as the squire's wife
  • The Eyes of Julia Deep (1918) as Mrs. Lowe
  • The Road Through the Dark (1918) as Aunt Julie
  • The Sea Flower (1918) as Kealani
  • Little Orphant Annie (1918) as Mrs. Goode
  • Ravished Armenia (1919)
  • Turning the Tables (1919) as Mrs. Feverill
  • Scarlet Days (1919) as Rosie Nell
  • The Greatest Question (1919) as Mrs. Hilton

1920s

1930s

References
  1. "Eugenie Besserer". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 31, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. Besserer, Eugenie (October 1, 1915). "Miss Eugenie Besserer Arrived in New York City With Just 25 Cents—Now a Star in Pictures". Evening Record, and Bergen County Herald. p. 13. ProQuest 2681595664. I was born in Paris, but was taken by my parents to Ottawa, Canada, early in life and I spent my girlhood in Canada. Unfortunately I was left an orphan and later, at the age of 12 years, I escaped from my guardians and found myself an absolute stranger, in the Grand Central Station, with 25 cents in Canadian money in my pocket. Through the kindly aid of a street car conductor and a directory, I succeeded in locating a former governess whose name I happily remembered. This kindly lady was delighted to see me and with her aid, I discovered the residence of an uncle, with whom I took up my abode. I continued my studies and became quite proficient in athletics. I took lessons in fencing and became rather proficient. I shall always remember that I held my own against no less than the late Alexander Salvini.
  3. "At the Playhouses". The Los Angeles Times. December 25, 1894. p. 3. ProQuest 163677711. Alexander Salvini, familiar to our stage in such roles as D'Artagnan, in 'The Three Guardsmen,' and as Don Caesar de Bazan, the devil-may-care adventurer of Spain, revealed himself last night as a tragedy player of such force, fire and vividness as to compel a compliment rare, indeed, that of three curtain calls after the close of the last act.
  4. Associated Press (May 31, 1934). "Eugenie Bessier: Actress Who Played Mother Roles". New York Herald Tribune. p. 19. ProQuest 1263725404. Eugenie Bessier, player of mother roles in many motion pictures, died at her home last night after a protracted illness.
  5. Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7864-5019-0. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Eugenie Besserer Dead", May 31, 1934, p. A2
  • The Monessen, Pennsylvania Daily Independent, "Miss Eugenie Besserer Arrived In New York City With Just 25 Cents-Now A Star In Pictures", September 16, 1915, p. 3
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