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Lillian Gish (1893–1993)

Actress | Writer | Soundtrack

Lillian Gish was born into a broken family where her restless father James Lee Gish was frequently absent. Mary Robinson McConnell a.k.a. Mary Gish, her mother, had entered into acting to make money to support the family. As soon as Lillian and her sister Dorothy were old enough, they became part of the act... See full bio »

Born:

Lillian Diana Gish
in Springfield, Ohio, USA

Died:

(age 99) in New York City, New York, USA
Still of Lillian Gish in The Night of the Hunter Lillian Gish Lillian Gish circa 1945 Lillian Gish C. 1918, **I.V.
32 photos | 11 videos | 77 news articles »

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Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

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Melanie Molnar - Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

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My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (119 titles)
1987 The Whales of August
Sarah Webber
 
1986 Sweet Liberty
Cecelia Burgess
 
1986 American Playhouse (TV series)
Mrs Loftus
– Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1986) … Mrs Loftus
 
1983 Hobson's Choice (TV movie)
Miss Molly Winkle
 
1983 Hambone and Hillie
Hillie Radcliffe
 
1981 Thin Ice (TV movie)
Grandmother
 
1981 The Love Boat (TV series)
Mrs. Williams
– Isaac's Teacher/Seal of Approval/The Successor (1981) … Mrs. Williams
 
1978 A Wedding
Nettie Sloan
 
1978 Sparrow (TV movie)
Widow
 
1976 Twin Detectives (TV movie)
Billy Jo Haskins
 
1969 Arsenic and Old Lace (TV movie)
Martha Brewster
 
1967 The Comedians
Mrs. Smith
 
1967 Warning Shot (TV movie)
Alice Willows
 
1966 Follow Me, Boys!
Hetty Seibert
 
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV series)
Bessie Carnby
– Body in the Barn (1964) … Bessie Carnby
 
1962-1964 The Defenders (TV series)
Louisa Clarendon / Mrs. Cooper
– Stowaway (1964) … Mrs. Cooper
– Grandma TNT (1962) … Louisa Clarendon
 
1963 Breaking Point (TV series)
Stella Manville
– The Gnu, Now Almost Extinct (1963) … Stella Manville
 
1963 Mr. Novak (TV series)
Maude Phipps
– Hello, Miss Phipps (1963) … Maude Phipps
 
1961 The Spiral Staircase (TV movie)
Mrs. Warren
 
1960 The Unforgiven
Mattilda Zachary
 
1960 Play of the Week (TV series)
Dolly Talbo
– The Grass Harp (1960) … Dolly Talbo
 
1958 Orders to Kill
Mrs. Summers
 
1956 The Alcoa Hour (TV series)
Esther Crampton
– Morning's at Seven (1956) … Esther Crampton
 
1956 Ford Star Jubilee (TV series)
Mary Todd Lincoln
– The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1956) … Mary Todd Lincoln
 
1955 Playwrights '56 (TV series)
Mrs. Compson
– The Sound and the Fury (1955) … Mrs. Compson
 
1955 Kraft Theatre (TV series)
– I, Mrs. Bibb (1955)
 
1955 The Night of the Hunter
Rachel Cooper
 
1955 The Cobweb
Victoria Inch
 
1954 Campbell Summer Soundstage (TV series)
Miss Harrington
– The Corner Druggist (1954) … Miss Harrington
 
1951-1954 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV series)
– The Quality of Mercy (1954)
– Ladies in Retirement (1951)
 
1953 Christmas Festival Hour of Music (TV movie)
 
1953 The Trip to Bountiful (TV movie)
Carrie Watts
 
1949-1953 The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV series)
Abby
– The Trip to Bountiful (1953)
– The Late Christopher Bean (1949) … Abby
 
1952 Schlitz Playhouse (TV series)
Grandma Moses
– The Autobiography of Grandma Moses (1952) … Grandma Moses
 
1951 Celanese Theatre (TV series)
Sister Christina
– The Joyous Season (1951) … Sister Christina
 
1949 The Ford Theatre Hour (TV series)
Mrs. Midget
– Outward Bound (1949) … Mrs. Midget
 
1948 Portrait of Jennie
Mother Mary of Mercy
 
1946 Duel in the Sun
Laura Belle McCanles
 
1946 Miss Susie Slagle's
Miss Susie Slagle
 
1943 Top Man
Beth Warren
 
1942 Commandos Strike at Dawn
Mrs. Bergesen
 
1933 His Double Life
Alice Chalice
 
1930 One Romantic Night
Princess Alexandra
 
1928 The Wind
Letty
 
1927 The Enemy
Pauli Arndt
 
1927 Annie Laurie
Annie Laurie
 
1926 The Scarlet Letter
Hester Prynne
 
1926 La bohème
Mimi
 
1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
 
1924 Romola
Romola
 
1923 The White Sister
Angela Chiaromonte
 
1921 Orphans of the Storm
Henriette Girard
 
1920 Way Down East
Anna Moore
 
1919 The Greatest Question
Nellie Jarvis
 
1919 True Heart Susie
True Heart Susie
 
1919 Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl
Lucy - The Girl (as Miss Lillian Gish)
 
1919 A Romance of Happy Valley
Jennie Timberlake
 
1918 The Greatest Thing in Life
Jeannette Peret
 
1918 The Great Love
Susie Broadplains
 
1918 Hearts of the World
The Girl, Marie Stephenson (uncredited)
 
1917 Souls Triumphant
Lillian Vale
 
1916 The House Built Upon Sand
Evelyn Dare
 
1916 The Children Pay
Millicent
 
1916 Diane of the Follies
Diane
 
1916 Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
The Woman Who Rocks the Cradle/The Eternal Mother
 
1916 An Innocent Magdalene
Dorothy Raleigh
 
1916 Sold for Marriage
Marfa
 
1916 Daphne and the Pirate
Daphne La Tour
 
1916 Pathways of Life (short)
 
1915 The Lily and the Rose
Mary Randolph
 
1915 Captain Macklin
Beatrice
 
1915 Enoch Arden (short)
Annie Lee
 
1915 The Lost House (short)
Dosia Dale
 
1915 The Birth of a Nation
Elsie - Stoneman's Daughter
 
1914 The Sisters (short)
May
 
1914 The Folly of Anne (short)
Anne
 
1914 The Tear That Burned (short)
 
1914 Man's Enemy (short)
 
1914 The Angel of Contention (short)
 
1914 The Rebellion of Kitty Belle (short)
Kitty Bell
 
1914 Lord Chumley (short)
Eleanor Butterworth
 
1914 Home, Sweet Home
Payne's Sweetheart
 
1914/I The Quicksands (short)
 
1914/I The Hunchback (short)
A Young Orphan
 
1914 The Battle of the Sexes
Jane Andrews, the daughter
 
1914 Judith of Bethulia
The young mother
 
1914 The Green-Eyed Devil (short)
 
1914 A Duel for Love (short)
 
1913 The Conscience of Hassan Bey (short)
 
1913 The Battle at Elderbush Gulch (short)
Melissa Harlow
 
1913 Madonna of the Storm (short)
The Mother
 
1913 So Runs the Way (short)
The Young Woman
 
1913 A Modest Hero (short)
The Wife
 
1913 A Woman in the Ultimate (short)
Verda
 
1913 An Indian's Loyalty (short)
The Ranchero's Daughter
 
1913 During the Round-Up (short)
The Ranchero's Daughter
 
1913 The Mothering Heart (short)
The Young Wife
 
1913 A Timely Interception (short)
The Farmer's Daughter
 
1913 Just Gold (short)
The Sweetheart
 
1913 The House of Darkness (short)
Nurse Playing Piano
 
1913 The Lady and the Mouse (short)
The Young Woman
 
1913 The Left-Handed Man (short)
The Old Soldier's Daughter
 
1913 A Misunderstood Boy (short)
The Daughter
 
1913 The Unwelcome Guest (short)
At Auction
 
1913 Oil and Water (short)
In First Audience
 
1912 A Cry for Help (short)
The Maid
 
1912 The Burglar's Dilemma (short)
Birthday Wellwisher
 
1912 The New York Hat (short)
Customer in Shop/Outside Church
 
1912 Brutality (short)
At Theatre
 
1912 The Informer (short)
 
1912 My Baby (short)
 
1912 Gold and Glitter (short)
The Young Woman
 
1912 The Musketeers of Pig Alley (short)
The Little Lady
 
1912 The Painted Lady (short)
Belle at Ice Cream Festival
 
1912 The One She Loved (short)
 
1912 In the Aisles of the Wild (short)
The Younger Daughter
 
1912 So Near, Yet So Far (short)
A Friend
 
1912 Two Daughters of Eve (short)
Theater crowd extra
 
1912 An Unseen Enemy (short)
The Sister (older)
 
Show ShowWriter (3 titles)
1951 Silver Glory (TV movie)
 
1920 Remodeling Her Husband (scenario / as Dorothy Elizabeth Carter / story / as Dorothy Elizabeth Carter)
 
1918 The Greatest Thing in Life (story)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
2002 Hometown Legend (performer: "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms")
 
1955 The Night of the Hunter (performer: "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" 1887 - uncredited)
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1951 Silver Glory (TV movie) (producer)
 
Show ShowDirector (1 title)
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (1 title)
1916 Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (research assistant - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (2 titles)
1993 The Silent Feminists: America's First Women Directors (documentary) (special thanks)
 
1973 Day for Night (dedicatee)
 
Show ShowSelf (38 titles)
1987 Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1985 Night of 100 Stars II (TV movie)
Herself
 
1984 In Concert at the Met (TV special)
Herself - Host
 
1984 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Lillian Gish (TV special documentary)
Herself - Guest of Honor
 
1983 Lillian Gish (documentary)
Herself
 
1982 The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (TV special)
Herself - Honoree
 
1982 The 36th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1982 Night of 100 Stars (TV special)
Herself
 
1981 A Gift of Music (TV movie)
Herself
 
1981 The 53rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter: Best Picture
 
1980 Over Easy (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 1 November 1980 (1980) … Herself
 
1971-1980 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 21 October 1980 (1980) … Herself
– Episode dated 14 January 1971 (1971) … Herself
 
1980 Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
Herself
– End of an Era (1980) … Herself
– Trick of the Light (1980) … Herself
– Hollywood Goes to War (1980) … Herself
– In the Beginning (1980) … Herself
– Pioneers (1980) … Herself (also archive footage)
 
1978 Hollywood Greats (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Charles Laughton (1978) … Herself
– Ronald Colman (1978) … Herself
 
1978 Dinah! (TV series)
Herself
– Salute to 'A Wedding' (1978) … Herself
 
1978 The Carol Burnett Show (TV series)
Herself - Audience Member
– A Special Evening with Carol Burnett (1978) … Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)
 
1978 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1975 Tomorrow Coast to Coast (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 9 October 1975 (1975) … Herself
 
1975 D.W. Griffith (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1975 Black Shadows on the Silver Screen (TV documentary)
Herself (archival footage) (uncredited)
 
1974 Film '72 (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 17 September 1974 (1974) … Herself
 
1974 The 1974 Annual Entertainment Hall of Fame Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
1969-1972 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #4.191 (1972) … Herself
– Episode #2.27 (1969) … Herself
 
1971 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 22 October 1971 (1971) … Herself
 
1971 The 43rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Honorary Award Recipient
 
1970 Langlois (documentary)
Herself
 
1967 The Comedians in Africa (documentary short)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1963 Mrs. Winchester's House (TV documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
1962 Howard K. Smith (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Should the Government Subsidize the Arts? (1962) … Herself - Guest
 
1962 The DuPont Show of the Week (TV series)
Herself
– The Beauty of a Woman (1962) … Herself
 
1955-1961 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Catherine Lynch / Herself
– Episode #14.34 (1961) … Catherine Lynch
– Episode #9.1 (1955) … Herself
 
1957 The 11th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter
 
1955 1955 Motion Picture Theatre Celebration (documentary short)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1954 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Episode #2.12 (1954) … Herself
 
1951 Wonderful Town, U.S.A. (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.16 (1951) … Herself
 
1951 The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV series)
Herself
– The Birth of the Movies (1951) … Herself
 
1921 Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 20 (documentary short)
Herself
 
1918 Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal (short)
Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (27 titles)
2011 Night Hunter (short)
 
2008 Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies (documentary)
Herself
 
2007 Bienvenue à Cannes (documentary)
Herself
 
2007 Never Apologize (documentary)
Herself
 
2005 VM Show Vol. 2 (TV series)
 
1998 The Making of 'The Birth of a Nation' (video documentary short)
Herself/Elsie Stoneman
 
1998 Star Power: The Creation of United Artists (video documentary)
(edited from 'Broken Blossoms')
 
1998 Classified X (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1995 Citizen Langlois (documentary)
Herself
 
1995 The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1994 The 66th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Memorial Tribute
 
1988-1993 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
1988 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1986 Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1981 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 
1975 The Moving Picture Boys in the Great War (documentary)
Herself
 
1967 Lionpower from MGM (short)
Mrs. Smith (uncredited)
 
1966 The Great Director (documentary)
Herself
 
1965 The Love Goddesses (documentary)
Herself
 
1963 Hallelujah the Hills
Herself - actress in film clip from 'Way Down East' (uncredited)
 
1962 The Great Chase (documentary)
 
1961 The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (video documentary)
Herself
 
1955 Film Fun (short)
Herself
 
1939 Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 12 (documentary short)
Herself
 
1939 The Movies March On (documentary short)
From 'Birth of a Nation'
 
1936 Fashions in Love (short)
 
1931 The Movie Album (documentary short)
Herself
 

Related Videos

The Whales of August -- Two elderly sisters live together in a cottage in Maine with ever patient Gish forced to care for blind and irascible Davis. The Night of the Hunter -- Three Reasons Criterion trailer Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl -- A frail waif, abused by her brutish boxer father in London's seedy Limehouse District, is befriended by a sensitive Chinese immigrant with tragic consequences.
See all 11 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1953) Stage: Appeared (as "Mrs. Carrie Watts") in "The Trip to Bountiful" on Broadway. Written by Horton Foote. Directed by Vincent J. Donehue. Henry Miller's Theatre: 3 Nov 1953-5 Dec 1954 (39 performances). Cast: Gene Lyons, Eva Marie Saint (as "Thelma"), Jo Van Fleet... See more »

Publicity Listings:

4 Biographical Movies  | 6 Print Biographies  | 9 Interviews  | 6 Articles  | 23 Magazine Cover Photos  | See more »

Official Sites:

The Official Site of Lillian Gish | See more »

Alternate Names:

Dorothy Elizabeth Carter | Miss Lillian Gish

Height:

5' 5½" (1.66 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Fans always write asking why I didn't smile more in films. I smiled in Annie Laurie, but I can't recall that it helped much. See more »

Trivia:

John Gilbert was infatuated with her, and would mess up his "love scenes" with her in the filming of La bohème on purpose, so he could keep kissing her. See more »

Star Sign:

Libra