Actress. She is best-remembered for playing Al Jolson's doting mother in the landmark talkie "The Jazz Singer" (1927). In the film's most famous scene, Jolson serenades her with Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" and then utters the immortal phrase, "You ain't heard nothing yet!" Besserer was born in Watertown, New York. She married at 15 and launched her stage career soon afterwards. Her film debut was as Aunt Em in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1910), the first screen adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, and director D. W. Griffith cast her in several of his lesser efforts. Besserer played mothers, aunts, and finally grandmothers in such films as "Monte Cristo" (1912), "The Garden of Allah" (1916), "Little Orphant Annie" (1918), "Scarlet Days" (1919), "The Idol Dancer" (1919), "Molly O'" (1921), "Anna Christie" (1923), "Flesh and the Devil" (1926), "Drums of Love" (1928), "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (1929), "Madame X" (1929), and "Scarface" (1932). She died of a heart attack while planning her 50th wedding anniversary.
Actress. She is best-remembered for playing Al Jolson's doting mother in the landmark talkie "The Jazz Singer" (1927). In the film's most famous scene, Jolson serenades her with Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" and then utters the immortal phrase, "You ain't heard nothing yet!" Besserer was born in Watertown, New York. She married at 15 and launched her stage career soon afterwards. Her film debut was as Aunt Em in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1910), the first screen adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, and director D. W. Griffith cast her in several of his lesser efforts. Besserer played mothers, aunts, and finally grandmothers in such films as "Monte Cristo" (1912), "The Garden of Allah" (1916), "Little Orphant Annie" (1918), "Scarlet Days" (1919), "The Idol Dancer" (1919), "Molly O'" (1921), "Anna Christie" (1923), "Flesh and the Devil" (1926), "Drums of Love" (1928), "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (1929), "Madame X" (1929), and "Scarface" (1932). She died of a heart attack while planning her 50th wedding anniversary.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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