Bessie Banks (born Bessie Estelle Naylor) was an American actress and screenwriter active in Hollywood during the silent era.
Biography
Bessie was born in
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in and the county seat of Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,947 at the time of the 2020 census.
The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, S ...
, to Stephen Naylor and Harriet Lynch. Both of her parents were from Britain. The family relocated to
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coas ...
, when Bessie was a girl. In Santa Barbara, she met and married her husband, Canadian actor
Perry Banks
Perry Banks (24 April 1877 in Victoria, British Columbia Canada – 10 October 1934 in Santa Barbara, California) was a Canadian silent film actor.
He starred with William Garwood in films such as ''Sir Galahad of Twilight''.
Selected film ...
; together, they performed as a vaudeville act and appeared in a number of films produced in Santa Barbara at
"Flying A" Studios.
Selected filmography
As screenwriter:
* ''
The Beggar Child'' (1914)
As actress:
* ''
Dulcie's Adventure
''Dulcie's Adventure'' is a 1916 American silent drama film, directed by James Kirkwood, and starring Mary Miles Minter and Bessie Banks. The script for the film was adapted by William Pigott from a novel written by R. Strauss. The film is not ...
'' (1916)
* ''
The Stinger Stung'' (1916)
* ''
Youth's Endearing Charm
''Youth's Endearing Charm'' (also known as ''Youth's Melting Pot'') is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by William C. Dowlan. The film stars Mary Miles Minter, Wallace McDonald, and Harry von Meter. The script for the film was adapte ...
'' (1916)
* ''
The Madonna of the Night'' (1916)
* ''
Love's Bitter Strength'' (1916)
* ''
A Modern Knight'' (1916)
* ''
Billy Van Deusen's Wedding Eve'' (1916)
* ''
Some Night'' (1916)
* ''
To Rent Furnished'' (1915)
* ''
Billy Van Deusen's Campaign'' (1915)
* ''
Deserted at the Auto'' (1915)
* ''
A Disciple of Nietzsche'' (1915)
* ''
Cats, Cash and a Cook Book'' (1915)
* ''
The House of a Thousand Scandals'' (1915)
* ''
In Trust'' (1915)
* ''
Uncle Heck, by Heck!'' (1915)
* ''
His Mysterious Profession'' (1915)
* ''
A Woman Scorned'' (1915)
* ''
When a Woman Waits
''When a Woman Waits'' is a 1914 American silent short drama film directed by Henry Otto starring Ed Coxen, George Field, and Winifred Greenwood.
Plot
The film follows a woman's life from age 18 through middle age after she gives up her own h ...
'' (1914)
* ''
The Ruin of Manley'' (1914)
References
External Links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Bessie
1887 births
1969 deaths
American film actresses
Vaudeville performers
People from Worthington, Minnesota
Actresses from Minnesota