Eugenie Besserer - Actress (Hollywood Silent & Classic Era)

Eugenie Besserer 

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Sunday 19, April 2026, 19:10.

Besserer in 1914

Born December 25, 1868, Marseille, France

Died May 28, 1934 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Resting place Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Occupation Actress

Years active 1910–1933

Spouse Albert W. Hegger ​(m. 1885)​

Introduction:

 

Eugenie Besserer (December 25, 1868 – May 28, 1934) 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 (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.

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:

Besserer 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:

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

The Fighting Shepherdess (1920) as Jezebel

The Gift Supreme (1920) as Martha Vinton

For the Soul of Rafael (1920) as Dona Luisa

The Brand of Lopez (1920) as Señora Castillo

Fickle Women (1920) as Mrs. Price

Seeds of Vengeance (1920) as Judith Cree

45 Minutes from Broadway (1920) as Mrs. David Dean

The Scoffer (1920) as Boorman's wife

What Happened to Rosa (1920) as Madame O'Donnelly

The Breaking Point (1921) as Mrs. Janeway

Good Women (1921) as Mrs. Emmeline Shelby

The Sin of Martha Queed (1921) as Alicia Queed

The Light in the Clearing (1921) as Roving Kate

Molly O' (1921) as Antonia Bacigalupi

The Rosary (1922) as Widow Kathleen Wilson

Penrod (1922)

Kindred of the Dust (1922) as Mrs. McKaye

The Hands of Nara (1922) as Mrs. Claveloux

June Madness (1922) as Mrs. Whitmore

The Strangers' Banquet (1922) as Mrs. McPherson

The Lonely Road (1923) as Martha True

Her Reputation (1923) as Madame Cervanez

The Rendezvous (1923) as Nini

Anna Christie (1923) as Marthy

Enemies of Children (1923) as Mrs. Slavin

Bread (1924) as Mrs. Sturgis

The Price She Paid (1924) as Mrs. Elton Gower

A Fool and His Money (1925) as Mother

Friendly Enemies (1925) as Marie

Confessions of a Queen (1925) as Elanora

The Coast of Folly (1925) as nanny

The Circle (1925) as Lady Catherine "Kitty" Cheney

Wandering Footsteps (1925) as Elizabeth Stuyvesant Whitney

Bright Lights (1925) as Patsy's mother

The Skyrocket (1926) as wardrobe mistress

Kiki (1926) as landlady (uncredited)

Winning the Futurity (1926) as Mary Allen

The Millionaire Policeman (1926) as Mrs. Gray

The Fire Brigade (1926) as Mrs. O'Neil

Flesh and the Devil (1926) as Leo's mother

Wandering Girls (1927) as Peggy's mother

The Night of Love (1927) as gypsy (uncredited)

When a Man Loves (1927) as the landlady (uncredited)

Captain Salvation (1927) as Mrs. Buxom

Slightly Used (1927) as Aunt Lydia

The Jazz Singer (1927) as Sara Rabinowitz

Drums of Love (1928) as Duchess de Alvia

Two Lovers (1928) as Madame Van Rycke

Yellow Lily (1928) as Archduchess

Lilac Time (1928) as Madame Berthelot

A Lady of Chance (1928) as Mrs. 'Ma' Crandall

The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1929) as a nun

Thunderbolt (1929) as Mrs. Morgan

Madame X (1929) as Rose, Floriot's servant

Whispering Winds (1929) as Jim's mother

Speedway (1929) as Mrs. MacDonald

Fast Company (1929) as Mrs. Kane

Illusion (1929) as Mrs. Jacob Schmittlap

Mister Antonio (1929) as Mrs. Jorny

Seven Faces (1929) as Madame Vallon

1930s

A Royal Romance (1930) as Mother

In Gay Madrid (1930) as Doña Generosa (as Eugenia Besserer)

Du Barry, Woman of Passion (1930) as Rosalie / prison matron (uncredited)

Scarface (1932) as citizens committee member (uncredited)

Six Hours to Live (1932) as The Marquisa (uncredited)

To the Last Man (1933) as Granny Spelvin (final film role)

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