# Jessie Busley

Jessie Busley (1869–1950) was an American actress and comedian who performed on stage, screen, and radio for over six decades.

## Career

Jessie starred on stage in over 25 Charles Frohman productions in the first 15 years of her career. Later in June 1930, she would appear on film for the first time in The Devil's Parade A Musical Revue set in Hades, a 10-minute film short by Warner Bros. Pictures alongside actress Joan Blondell.
Jessie went on to appear in such films as Brother Rat and Brother Rat and a Baby. In 1939, she appeared alongside Kay Francis, James Stephenson, and Humphrey Bogart in King of the Underworld. The next year she would appear in Humphrey Bogart's It All Came True.

## Personal life

Several months after they were married, Ernest Joy tried to shoot a theatrical press agent in a jealous rage after he saw him leaving a theater with Jessie. Word of the shot was reported in the news of the time and the press agent left town. Later that same year, Jessie and Ernest separated after it was reported that she had him arrested for "annoying her". All charges were dropped when she did not testify against him.
She made The New York Times when an article appeared August 1, 1908, claiming she had "Set Two Men on her husband Ernest C. Joy who she intended to divorce." The article's title read "Ernest C. Joy Says His Wife, Jessie Busley, Set Two Men on Him. HE IS SENT TO A HOSPITAL One of His Unidentified Assailants Beat Him Over the Head with an Iron Bar." The article went on to say that they had frequent quarrels and end by saying that (at that time) "She last appeared in 'The Bishop's Carriage' in which she made a hit". Lastly leaving the parting shot that "She is well known as an actress but has had more success in the south and west then [sic] in this city".

## Stage roles

* +Not on Broadway
Aug 25, 1895-
* The Sporting Duchess, Academy of Music, 212 performances
    Daly's Theatre
Nov 27, 1899 - Feb 4, 1900
* The Manoeuvres of Jane [Original, Play, Comedy]
    Garden Theatre
Feb 21, 1900 - May 1900
* Hearts Are Trumps [Original, Play, Melodrama]
    The National Theatre
    +(Washington, DC)
October 22–27, 1900
* Hearts Are Trumps [Original, Play, Melodrama]
    [Herald Square Theatre]
May 20, 1901 - Jul 8, 1901
* The Brixton Burglary [Original, Play, Farce]
    Criterion Theatre
Aug 26, 1901 - Dec 1901
* A Royal Rival [Original, Play, Drama]
    Garrick Theatre
Mar 17, 1902 - Apr 1902
* Sky Farm [Original, Play, Comedy]
    Garrick Theatre
Aug 25, 1902 - Sep 1902
* The New Clown [Original, Play, Farce]
    Hoyt's Theatre
Sep 30, 1902 - Nov 1902
* The Two Schools [Original, Play]
    Empire Theatre
Jan 5, 1904 - Jan 1904
* Little Mary [Original, Play]
    Savoy Theatre, (1/11/1905 - 1/29/1905)
    Lyceum Theatre, (1/30/1905 - 4/30/1905)
Jan 11, 1905 - Apr 30, 1905
* Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots [Original, Play, Comedy]
    Grand Opera House
Feb 25, 1907 - Mar 1907
* In the Bishop's Carriage [Original, Play]
    New Theatre
Nov 11, 1909 - [unknown]
* The Cottage in the Air [Original, Play]
    New Theatre
Jan 3, 1910 - Jan 3, 1910
* Liz the Mother [Original, Play]
    New Theatre
Mar 28, 1910 - [unknown]
* The Winter's Tale [Revival, Play, Comedy]
    New Theatre
Dec 19, 1910 - [unknown]
* Old Heidelberg [Revival, Play]
    Liberty Theatre
Nov 23, 1914 - Nov 1914
* Twelfth Night [Revival, Play, Comedy]
    Hudson Theatre
Sep 18, 1916 - Dec 1916
* Pollyanna [Original, Play]
    Playhouse Theatre
Oct 15, 1919 - Oct 1919
* A Young Man's Fancy [Original, Play, Comedy]
    Playhouse Theatre
Oct 25, 1926 - Jan 1927
* Daisy Mayme [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Daisy Mayme Plunkett]
    Lyceum Theatre
Dec 28, 1928 - Jan 1929
* To-Morrow [Original, Play]
    [Grace]
    Broadhurst Theatre
Nov 19, 1930 - Dec 1930
* An Affair of State [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Aunt Augusta]
    48th Street Theatre
Oct 6, 1931 - Dec 1931
* The Streets of New York, or Poverty is No Crime [Revival, Play, Melodrama]
    [Mrs. Puffy]
    48th Street Theatre
Oct 14, 1931 - Oct 1931
* Pillars of Society [Revival, Play, Drama]
    [Miss Rummel]
    Fulton Theatre
Dec 26, 1931 - Mar 1932
* The Bride the Sun Shines On [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Mrs. Marbury]
    Belasco Theatre
Feb 20, 1933 - May 1933
* Alien Corn [Original, Play]
    [Mrs. Skeats]
    Center Theatre
Sep 22, 1934 - Jun 8, 1935
* The Great Waltz [Original, Musical, Operetta]
    [Greta]
    Center Theatre
Aug 5, 1935 - Sep 16, 1935
* The Great Waltz [Original, Musical, Operetta]
    [Greta]
    Music Box Theatre
Nov 26, 1935 - Jun 1936
* First Lady [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Belle Hardwick]
    Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Dec 26, 1936 - Jul 1938
* The Women [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Mrs. Morehead]
    Music Box Theatre
Jan 3, 1944 - Jul 8, 1944
* Over 21 [Original, Play]
    [Mrs. Armina Gates]
    John Golden Theatre
Nov 9, 1945 - Dec 1, 1945
* The Rich Full Life [Original, Play]
    [Mother Fenwick]
    Lyceum Theatre
Apr 25, 1949 - Apr 30, 1949
* The Happiest Years [Original, Play, Comedy]
    [Alida Wentworth]

### Films

This filmography is believed to be complete.
* The Devil's Parade (1930 short)
* Personal Maid (1931)
* Brother Rat (1938)
* King of the Underworld (1939) as Aunt Josephine
* Brother Rat and a Baby (1940)
* It All Came True (1940) as Mrs. Nora Taylor
* Escape to Glory (1940)