Besedka Johnson
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Besedka Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Beatrice Vivian Divic October 5, 1925 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 2013 (aged 87) Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2012 |
Beatrice Vivian "Besedka" Johnson (née Divic; October 5, 1925 – April 4, 2013) was an American actress who garnered acclaim at the age of 85 in the drama film Starlet (2012), her first and only role.
Early life
[edit]Johnson was born Beatrice Vivian Divic in Detroit on October 5, 1925, one of two children of Milan and Frances Divic. She moved to Southern California with her family as a teenager.
Career
[edit]Johnson worked briefly as a model. In the 1960s, she took on the nickname "Besedka" after a dress shop that she owned and operated in the San Fernando Valley.[1] She later opened another Besedka dress store on Riverside Drive in North Hollywood, which closed in 1981.[2] She then managed a condo in San Francisco for a time before returning to Los Angeles.
In 2011, Johnson had knee surgery; as part of her rehabilitation, she started swimming at a YMCA, where she was scouted at the age of 85 by a film producer seeking an older woman for a role in a movie.[2] She was cast in a starring role in Sean Baker's drama film Starlet (2012), which would become her first and only role,[2][3] and earned critical praise and awards for her performance.[3][4][5]
Personal life
[edit]At an unknown date, Divic married a painter whose surname was Johnson and took his surname. They had three sons named James, Marc, and Lloyd before getting divorced. She later married and divorced a second time.[2]
Death
[edit]On April 4, 2013, at the age of 87, Johnson died from complications following surgery for a bacterial infection at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California.[2] She was survived by her three sons and two grandchildren.[2]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Starlet | Sadie |
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | South by Southwest Film Festival | Special Jury Award | Starlet | Won |
| 2013 | Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award | Best Ensemble Cast | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "It's Never Too Late: Beatrice Vivian Divic". March 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Nelson, Valerie J. (April 10, 2013). "Besedka Johnson dies at 87; discovered by Hollywood at age 85". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Yardley, William (April 14, 2013). "Besedka Johnson, Late-Blooming Actress, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ "25 Years of SXSW Film Festival - Sean Baker". SXSW. December 14, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Starlet - Robert Altman Award - 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards". Film Independent. YouTube. February 28, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
