Catherine Scorsese | |
|---|---|
| Born | Catherine Cappa[1] April 16, 1912 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 1997 (aged 84) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1964–1995 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Martin Scorsese |
Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa; April 16, 1912 – January 6, 1997) was an Italian-American actress. She began acting when her son Martin Scorsese cast her in his film It's Not Just You, Murray!. Scorsese was of Italian descent and frequently played the role of an Italian mother. She is perhaps most well known for her appearance in her son's film Goodfellas, as Mrs. DeVito, Tommy's mother. She also published a recipe book, Italianamerican: The Scorsese Family Cookbook.[2]
Early life
She was born on April 16, 1912. She was married to Charles Scorsese. Her father, Martin Cappa, was a stage co-ordinator and her mother, Domenica,[1] was a shop owner. She was the twin of her brother Charles. She also had brothers Salvatore and Andrew and five sisters including Mary and Sarah.
Both of her parents, Domenica and Martin Cappa, were Sicilian.[3] Catherine grew up in a three-room apartment on Elizabeth Street, on the outer reaches of Manhattan's Little Italy, which was shared with 14 people, including boarders and relatives. In 1933, when she was working as a machinist in the nearby Garment District, she married Luciano known as Charles Scorsese, who also lived on Elizabeth Street and was also employed in the garment industry. The experience of growing up in Little Italy among first- and second-generation Italian Americans had a profound influence on her son Martin, who revisited their attitudes, values and way of life in his 1974 documentary, Italianamerican.[1]
Career
Often she cooked meals for cast and crew members of her son's films.[4]
Later life
Her cookbook, Italianamerican: The Scorsese Family Cookbook, was published two months before her death.[4] Scorsese, who had Alzheimer's disease, died on January 6, 1997.[5]
Filmography
- It's Not Just You, Murray! (1964) – Mother
- Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967) – Mother
- Mean Streets (1973) – Woman on Landing (uncredited)
- Italianamerican (1974) – Herself
- Taxi Driver (1976) - Iris’ Mother (uncredited)
- The King of Comedy (1982) – Rupert's Mom
- Easy Money (1983) – Nicky Cerone's mother
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) – (uncredited)
- After Hours (1985) – Elderly lady at the café sitting back to the cashier (uncredited)
- Wise Guys (1986) – Birthday Guest
- Moonstruck (1987) – Customer at Bakery
- Goodfellas (1990) – Mrs. DeVito, Tommy's mother
- The Godfather Part III (1990) – Woman in Cafe #1
- Cape Fear (1991) – Fruitstand Customer
- The Age of Innocence (1993) – Elderly Woman at Jersey City Station (uncredited)
- Men Lie (1994) – Granddaughter witness
- Casino (1995) – Piscano's mother (final film role)
References
- ^ a b c Casillo, Robert (2006). "The Immigrant Generations: Italianamerican". Gangster Priest: The Italian American Cinema of Martin Scorsese. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802091130.
- ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: Italianamerican: The Scorsese Family Cookbook by Catherine Scorsese". Publishers Weekly. November 4, 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ LoBrutto, Vincent. (2008). Martin Scorsese : a biography. Westport, Conn.: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-05061-9. OCLC 191849523.
- ^ a b Hamlin, Suzanne (February 19, 1997). "Remember an Italian Mother Just as She Would Like". The New York Times. p. C3 – via Proquest Historical Newspapers.
- ^ "Catherine Scorsese, 84, a Movie Mother". The New York Times. January 7, 1997. p. B5 – via Proquest Historical Newspapers.