Bessie

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Bessie

"Survival began with a song"

2015

1h 47m

6.4(122 votes)

Drama

Music

TV Movie

Overview

The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.

Where to Watch

Stream

Links & Resources

Website IMDbView

Social & External

IMDb

Production Companies

Videos & Trailers

2 videos

Cast & Crew

132 members

Acting

Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith

Acting

Kamryn Johnson

Young Bessie

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Acting

Rikki McKinney

Chorus Guy

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Acting

Alan T. Coleman

Stagehand

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Acting

Tory Kittles

Clarence

Acting

Clay Chappell

'81' Theatre Owner

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Acting

Tika Sumpter

Lucille

Acting

Sharan C. Mansfield

Miss Taylor

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Acting

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director

Acting

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl

Acting

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl

Acting

Jim R. Coleman

Host

Acting

Melissa Youngblood

Theatergoer

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Acting

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey

Acting

Jennifer Sears

Ma's Main Girl

Acting

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey

Acting

Briana Starks

Ma's Dancer

Acting

Todd Allen Durkin

Nightclub Manager

Acting

Crystal Lee Brown

Bessie's Dancer

Acting

Hunter Womack

Roadie

Acting

Christopher Harvey

Roadie

Acting

Tia Hendricks

Doreen Dupree

Acting

Marie Burke

Etta Johnson

Acting

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee

Acting

Terence Rosemore

Detroit Theater Manager

Acting

Karri Mack

Wild Child

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Acting

Kaden Washington Lewis

Swarm Boy

Acting

Khandi Alexander

Viola

Acting

L. Warren Young

Sharkish Man

Acting

Saundra Dunson-Franks

Hostess

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Acting

Bralyn Stokes

Harry Herbert Pace

Acting

Cj Sykes

Black Swan Executive

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Directing

Adebukola Bodunrin

Black Swan Receptionist

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Acting

Joe Knezevich

Frank Walker

Acting

Mike Epps

Richard

Crew

Troy Faruk

Brave Man

Crew

David Paul Lord

Klansman

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Lighting

Chris Walters

Doorman

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Acting

Jessejames Locorriere

Vanity Fair Editor

Acting

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten

Acting

Whitney Goin

Fania Van Vechten

Acting

Jeremie Harris

Langston Hughes

Acting

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Gertrude

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Acting

Sylvester Ambrose James II

Jack Gee Jr.

Acting

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond

Acting

Levi Erik

Benny Goodman

Crew

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

Gangster

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Acting

Tim McAdams

Shady Guy

Acting

Kenny Banks Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Acting

Michael Burton

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Roderick Harris

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

John A. Harvey

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Reggie Hines

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Kevin Kendrick

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Marcus Lewis

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Kenneth Murray Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Kwame Paige

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Jason Passmore

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Daniel Saintil

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Craig Shaw

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Don C. Sherow

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Dashiel Smith

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Eric Solomon

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Teddy White

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Wilbert Williams

Bessie's Band Member

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Acting

Brandon Boone

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Robert Boone

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Daniel Terence Harper

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Anton Harris

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Jody Mayfield

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Derrick B. White

Ma's Band Member

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Editing

Edward Wright

Ma's Band Member

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Acting

Jonathan Bryant

Dancer

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Acting

Heather Bland

Dancer

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Acting

Raquiah Carter

Dancer

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Acting

Lauren Debrick

Dancer

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Acting

Desiree Dixon

Dancer

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Acting

Anthony Hart

Dancer

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Acting

Nia Lancelin

Dancer

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Acting

Keshia McNeal

Dancer

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Acting

Samara Michelle

Dancer

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Acting

LaVaughn Morton

Dancer

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Acting

Tiffany Murray

Dancer

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Acting

Ashley Neal

Dancer

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Acting

Tiffany Norris

Dancer

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Acting

Christopher L. Plunkett

Dancer

Acting

Stephan Reynolds

Dancer

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Acting

Nateli Ruiz

Dancer

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Acting

Primas Leon Stanley

Dancer

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Acting

Brentney Stephens

Dancer

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Acting

Dacia Stinson

Dancer

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Acting

Fred Swinton

Dancer

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Acting

Sheerod Tate

Dancer

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Acting

Quiantae Thomas

Dancer

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Acting

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

Dancer

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Acting

Kendre White

Dancer

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Acting

Selah Avery

Background Extra (uncredited)

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Acting

Perry Ball

Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

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Acting

Qualen Bradley

Stage Crew (uncredited)

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Acting

Alkoya Brunson

Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Acting

Jeffery James Bucchino

Doorman (uncredited)

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Acting

Judy McGee Burley

Extra (uncredited)

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Acting

Jess Marie Carr

Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

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Acting

Jameson Jamey Copeland

Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

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Acting

Taurus Davis

Extra (uncredited)

Production

Dino Demitri

KKK Driver (uncredited)

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Acting

Derrick Dee

Bodyguard (uncredited)

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Acting

Shannon Edwards

Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

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Acting

Tyrone Emanuel

Party Guest (uncredited)

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Acting

Samuel Lee Fudge

Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

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Acting

Adella Gautier

Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Acting

Curtis Gordon

Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

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Acting

Montice Harmon

Party Goer (uncredited)

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Acting

Rob Hays

Server (uncredited)

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Acting

Sarah Turner Holland

Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

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Crew

Damita Jane Howard

Jack's Lover (uncredited)

Acting

Geoffrey Howard

Poker Player (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Charlie Johnson

Party Goer (uncredited)

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Acting

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Andre Lamar

Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Acting

Trey McGriff

Pedestrian (uncredited)

Acting

Lanier McKinney

Dancer (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

John Merical

VIP Guest (uncredited)

Acting

Dan Michael

Theater Goer (uncredited)

Acting

Letecia Reeder

Patron (uncredited)

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Acting

Swift Rice

Stage Hand (uncredited)

Acting

Darrell L. Shuler

Club Goer (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Alexis Silvestre

Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

No Image

Acting

Nicole Spiezio

Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

Acting

Dorothea Syleos

Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Acting

Tray Williams

Stage Crew (uncredited)

No Image

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