Bessie
Survival began with a song
107 mins
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Kamryn Johnson
Young Bessie
Rikki McKinney
Chorus Guy
Alan T. Coleman
Stagehand
Clay Chappell
'81' Theatre Owner
Sharan C. Mansfield
Miss Taylor
Melissa Youngblood
Theatergoer
Karri Mack
Wild Child
Saundra Dunson-Franks
Hostess
Cj Sykes
Black Swan Executive
Adebukola Bodunrin
Black Swan Receptionist
David Paul Lord
Klansman
Chris Walters
Doorman
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
Gertrude
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Gangster
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
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)
Jeffery James Bucchino
Doorman (uncredited)
Judy McGee Burley
Extra (uncredited)
Jess Marie Carr
Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
Jameson Jamey Copeland
Upscale Party Goer (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)
Curtis Gordon
Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
Montice Harmon
Party Goer (uncredited)
Rob Hays
Server (uncredited)
Sarah Turner Holland
Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Geoffrey Howard
Poker Player (uncredited)
Charlie Johnson
Party Goer (uncredited)
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Lanier McKinney
Dancer (uncredited)
Letecia Reeder
Patron (uncredited)
Darrell L. Shuler
Club Goer (uncredited)
Alexis Silvestre
Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Tray Williams
Stage Crew (uncredited)
Lili Fini Zanuck
Executive Producer
Michael T. Boyd
Costume Design
Shelby Stone
Executive Producer
Billy Hopkins
Casting
Drew Monahan
Art Direction
Randi Michel
Executive Producer
Shakim Compere
Executive Producer
Traci Kirshbaum
Set Decoration
Ron Schmidt
Producer
Clark Hunter
Production Design
Bettina Gilois
Screenplay
Jeffrey Jur
Director of Photography
Christopher Cleveland
Screenplay
Ron Schmidt
Unit Production Manager
Michael J. Moore
First Assistant Director
Basti Van Der Woude
Second Assistant Director
Anderson Martin
Stunt Coordinator
Brooke Satrazemis
Script Supervisor
Debi Young
Makeup Department Head