Bessie Boris Thomashefsky

Place: Johnstown

Born: 1917

Death: 1993

Biography:

Bessie Boris, also known as Bessie Boris Thomashefsky, was an American artist born on June 6, 1917, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of three siblings, with parents Sadie and Hyman Boris who were immigrants from Mozyr, Belarus. Boris is best known for her mixed-media artwork and richly-colored art, which can be found in various public collections, including the Smith College Museum of Art. She was married to Boris Thomashefsky, a mega-star in the Yiddish theater world. Bessie ran away from home to join his company and took over the female roles he had been playing. She claimed to have learned acting from him. Bessie Boris passed away on September 25, 1993, at the age of 76.