Bessie

"Survival began with a song"

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

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Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith

Kamryn Johnson

Young Bessie

Rikki McKinney

Chorus Guy

Alan T. Coleman

Stagehand

Tory Kittles

Clarence

Clay Chappell

'81' Theatre Owner

Tika Sumpter

Lucille

Sharan C. Mansfield

Miss Taylor

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl

Jim R. Coleman

Host

Melissa Youngblood

Theatergoer

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey

Jennifer Sears

Ma's Main Girl

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey

Briana Starks

Ma's Dancer

Todd Allen Durkin

Nightclub Manager

Crystal Lee Brown

Bessie's Dancer

Hunter Womack

Roadie

Christopher Harvey

Roadie

Tia Hendricks

Doreen Dupree

Marie Burke

Etta Johnson

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee

Terence Rosemore

Detroit Theater Manager

Karri Mack

Wild Child

Kaden Washington Lewis

Swarm Boy

Khandi Alexander

Viola

L. Warren Young

Sharkish Man

Saundra Dunson-Franks

Hostess

Bralyn Stokes

Harry Herbert Pace

Cj Sykes

Black Swan Executive

Adebukola Bodunrin

Black Swan Receptionist

Joe Knezevich

Frank Walker

Mike Epps

Richard

Troy Faruk

Brave Man

David Paul Lord

Klansman

Chris Walters

Doorman

Jessejames Locorriere

Vanity Fair Editor

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten

Whitney Goin

Fania Van Vechten

Jeremie Harris

Langston Hughes

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Gertrude

Sylvester Ambrose James II

Jack Gee Jr.

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond

Levi Erik

Benny Goodman

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

Gangster

Tim McAdams

Shady Guy

Kenny Banks Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Michael Burton

Bessie's Band Member

Roderick Harris

Bessie's Band Member

John A. Harvey

Bessie's Band Member

Reggie Hines

Bessie's Band Member

Kevin Kendrick

Bessie's Band Member

Marcus Lewis

Bessie's Band Member

Kenneth Murray Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Kwame Paige

Bessie's Band Member

Jason Passmore

Bessie's Band Member

Daniel Saintil

Bessie's Band Member

Craig Shaw

Bessie's Band Member

Don C. Sherow

Bessie's Band Member

Dashiel Smith

Bessie's Band Member

Eric Solomon

Bessie's Band Member

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Teddy White

Bessie's Band Member

Wilbert Williams

Bessie's Band Member

Brandon Boone

Ma's Band Member

Robert Boone

Ma's Band Member

Daniel Terence Harper

Ma's Band Member

Anton Harris

Ma's Band Member

Jody Mayfield

Ma's Band Member

Derrick B. White

Ma's Band Member

Edward Wright

Ma's Band Member

Jonathan Bryant

Dancer

Heather Bland

Dancer

Raquiah Carter

Dancer

Lauren Debrick

Dancer

Desiree Dixon

Dancer

Anthony Hart

Dancer

Nia Lancelin

Dancer

Keshia McNeal

Dancer

Samara Michelle

Dancer

LaVaughn Morton

Dancer

Tiffany Murray

Dancer

Ashley Neal

Dancer

Tiffany Norris

Dancer

Christopher L. Plunkett

Dancer

Stephan Reynolds

Dancer

Nateli Ruiz

Dancer

Primas Leon Stanley

Dancer

Brentney Stephens

Dancer

Dacia Stinson

Dancer

Fred Swinton

Dancer

Sheerod Tate

Dancer

Quiantae Thomas

Dancer

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

Dancer

Kendre White

Dancer

Selah Avery

Background Extra (uncredited)

Perry Ball

Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

Qualen Bradley

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Alkoya Brunson

Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Jeffery James Bucchino

Doorman (uncredited)

Judy McGee Burley

Extra (uncredited)

Jess Marie Carr

Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

Jameson Jamey Copeland

Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

Taurus Davis

Extra (uncredited)

Dino Demitri

KKK Driver (uncredited)

Derrick Dee

Bodyguard (uncredited)

Shannon Edwards

Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

Tyrone Emanuel

Party Guest (uncredited)

Samuel Lee Fudge

Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

Adella Gautier

Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Curtis Gordon

Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

Montice Harmon

Party Goer (uncredited)

Rob Hays

Server (uncredited)

Sarah Turner Holland

Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

Damita Jane Howard

Jack's Lover (uncredited)

Geoffrey Howard

Poker Player (uncredited)

Charlie Johnson

Party Goer (uncredited)

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

Andre Lamar

Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Trey McGriff

Pedestrian (uncredited)

Lanier McKinney

Dancer (uncredited)

John Merical

VIP Guest (uncredited)

Dan Michael

Theater Goer (uncredited)

Letecia Reeder

Patron (uncredited)

Swift Rice

Stage Hand (uncredited)

Darrell L. Shuler

Club Goer (uncredited)

Alexis Silvestre

Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

Nicole Spiezio

Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

Dorothea Syleos

Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Tray Williams

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Crew