Eugenie Besserer
Eugenie Besserer was a French-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.
Early life
Born in Marseilles, France, Besserer attended the Convent of Notre Dame in Ottawa, Ontario. 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 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.
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, 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, 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.
Death
On May 29, 1934, Besserer died at her Hollywood home, aged 64. 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.
Selected filmography
1910s
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as Aunt EmThe Mother as The Governor's DaughterThe Still Alarm as Elinor FordhamStability vs. Nobility as Bradley's 1st DaughterOne of Nature's Noblemen as Minnie BrownA Sacrifice to Civilization The Craven Heart as Madame DantesIt Happened in the West as PrologueThe Profligate as Pauline Revere - the Wronged WifeSlick's Romance Their Only Son The Regeneration of Apache Kid as Mrs. DudleyThe Blacksmith's Love as Mary Brewer SaundersOld Billy as Mrs. Marming - the WidowThe Bootlegger as Mrs. FancherAn Evil Power as Madame CelesteGeorge Warrington's Escape as Madame Esmond WarringtonThe Cowboy's Adopted Child as Sarah FowlerThe Other Fellow as Mrs. BrownBunkie as Miss Ford - Brooks' BethrothedDisillusioned as Miss GaryThe Danites as The Widowed SchoolteacherAs Told by Princess Bess as Princess Bess The Junior Officer as Ethel Temple - the Count's WifeMe an' Bill as Kitty SomnersThe End of the Romance as Alice GrayThe Hand of Fate as Mrs. VanDuzenA Child of the Wilderness as Tonoma - Joe's ProtectorIn Exile as Countess RomanoffThe Lake of Dreams as Madge AndrewsHis Masterpiece as The Prima DonnaThe Little Indian Martyr as Chiquito's MotherSergeant Byrne of the Northwest Mounted Police as Jessie LongThe Indelible Stain as MarlaThe Substitute Model as Millicent Carr - the Substitute ModelMonte Cristo as MercedesHis Wedding Eve as Mrs. Ellis - Tom's MotherOld Songs and Memories as Nellie Laurence - the Old LadyThe Vintage of Fate as Minor Role Opitsah: Apache for Sweetheart as Mrs. McGuire - Jim's MotherThe Millionaire Vagabonds as Mrs. KnobhillSammy Orpheus; or, The Pied Piper of the Jungle as KateThe Last of Her Tribe as Neepah - Moquin's SquawThe Governor's Daughter as Mrs. Carey - Jim's MotherThe Spanish Parrot Girl as Mrs. AveryDiverging Paths as Lily and Rose's MotherLove Before Ten as Mrs. WaltersDollar Down, Dollar a Week as Mrs. Sanger - the AuntIn the Days of Witchcraft as Lady BeresfordLieutenant Jones as Mrs. CartrightIndian Summer as VirginiaWamba A Child of the Jungle as Mrs. RiceThe Girl and the Judge as Mrs. Goff - the Judge's WifeA Flag of Two Wars as Mrs. John ReedWoman: Past and Present as Grandmother AmericaThe Fighting Lieutenant as The CountessIn God We Trust as Bill's WifeThe Ne'er to Return Road as Mrs. Hansen - Chris' MotherThe Unseen Defense as Minerva WingoodThe Acid Test as Mrs. ArgonetFate Fashions a Letter as Mrs. RandThe Probationer as GrannyPhantoms as Natalie StormThe Master of the Garden as Mrs. Harrington - Bessie's MotherMemories as Mary, Professor Scott's sweetheartElizabeth's Prayer as Hilda Crosby, an unscrupulous actressThe Salvation of Nance O'Shaughnessy as Mame RyanThe Fire Jugglers as Mrs. LeavittMe an' Bill as KittyHis Fight as Mrs. BrantThe Man in Black Ye Vengeful Vagabonds as Betsy Spratt - Peggy's MotherHearts and Masks as Mrs. Hyphen-BondsThe Tragedy That Lived as Mary's GrandmotherThe Story of the Blood Red Rose as Queen of UraniaThe Vision of the Shepherd as Maggie HuntPoetic Justice of Omar Khan as Neva HydeThe Carpet from Bagdad as Mrs. ChedsoyeIngratitude of Liz Taylor The Rosary as Widow KellyThe Circular Staircase as Aunt RayThe Bridge of Time Just as I Am I'm Glad My Boy Grew Up to Be a Soldier as Mrs. WarringtonThe Devil-in-Chief as Johann's MistressThou Shalt Not Covet as my wifeThe Grinning Skull as Mme. Ward HoweA Social Deception as Grace ElliottThe Woman Who Did Not Care as Mrs. BoydThe Temptation of Adam as Dorothy BlaineThe Crisis as Mrs. BriceTwisted Trails as Martha, the housekeeperThe Garden of Allah as Lady RensBeware of Strangers as Mary DeLacyLittle Lost Sister as Mrs. WelcomeHer Salvation as Mame RyanThe Witness for the State The Curse of Eve as the MotherWho Shall Take My Life? as Mrs. MunroeIn After Years The City of Purple Dreams The Still Alarm as Minor RoleA Hoosier Romance as the squire's wifeThe Eyes of Julia Deep as Mrs. LoweThe Road Through the Dark as Aunt JulieThe Sea Flower as KealaniLittle Orphant Annie as Mrs. GoodeRavished Armenia Turning the Tables as Mrs. FeverillScarlet Days as Rosie NellThe Greatest Question as Mrs. Hilton
1920s
The Fighting Shepherdess as JezebelThe Gift Supreme as Martha VintonFor the Soul of Rafael as Dona LuisaThe Brand of Lopez as Señora CastilloFickle Women as Mrs. PriceSeeds of Vengeance as Judith Cree45 Minutes from Broadway as Mrs. David DeanThe Scoffer as Boorman's wifeWhat Happened to Rosa as Madame O'DonnellyThe Breaking Point as Mrs. JanewayGood Women as Mrs. Emmeline ShelbyThe Sin of Martha Queed as Alicia QueedThe Light in the Clearing as Roving KateMolly O' as Antonia BacigalupiThe Rosary as Widow Kathleen WilsonPenrod Kindred of the Dust as Mrs. McKayeThe Hands of Nara as Mrs. ClavelouxJune Madness as Mrs. WhitmoreThe Strangers' Banquet as Mrs. McPhersonThe Lonely Road as Martha TrueHer Reputation as Madame CervanezThe Rendezvous as NiniAnna Christie as MarthyEnemies of Children as Mrs. SlavinBread as Mrs. SturgisThe Price She Paid as Mrs. Elton GowerA Fool and His Money as MotherFriendly Enemies as Marie Confessions of a Queen as ElanoraThe Coast of Folly as nannyThe Circle as Lady Catherine "Kitty" CheneyWandering Footsteps as Elizabeth Stuyvesant WhitneyBright Lights as Patsy's motherThe Skyrocket as wardrobe mistressKiki as landlady Winning the Futurity as Mary AllenThe Millionaire Policeman as Mrs. GrayThe Fire Brigade as Mrs. O'NeilFlesh and the Devil as Leo's motherWandering Girls as Peggy's motherThe Night of Love as gypsy When a Man Loves as the landlady Captain Salvation as Mrs. BuxomSlightly Used as Aunt LydiaThe Jazz Singer as Sara RabinowitzDrums of Love as Duchess de AlviaTwo Lovers as Madame Van RyckeYellow Lily as ArchduchessLilac Time as Madame BerthelotA Lady of Chance as Mrs. 'Ma' CrandallThe Bridge of San Luis Rey as a nunThunderbolt as Mrs. MorganMadame X as Rose, Floriot's servantWhispering Winds as Jim's motherSpeedway as Mrs. MacDonaldFast Company as Mrs. KaneIllusion as Mrs. Jacob SchmittlapMister Antonio as Mrs. Jorny Seven Faces as Madame Vallon
1930s
A Royal Romance as MotherIn Gay Madrid as Doña Generosa Du Barry, Woman of Passion as Rosalie / prison matron Scarface as citizens committee member Six Hours to Live as The Marquisa To the Last Man as Granny Spelvin