American actress
Catherine Scorsese |
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| Born | Catherine Cappa
(1912-04-16)April 16, 1912
New York City, U.S. |
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| Died | January 6, 1997(1997-01-06) (aged 84)
New York City, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Actress |
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| Years active | 1964–1995 |
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| Spouse |
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| Children | 2, including Martin Scorsese |
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Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa;[1] April 16, 1912 – January 6, 1997) was an American actress. She began acting when her son Martin Scorsese cast her in his short 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 (Tommy was portrayed by Joe Pesci). She also published a recipe book, Italianamerican: The Scorsese Family Cookbook.[2]
Biography
She was born on April 16, 1912 in New York, United States. 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]
Often, she cooked meals for cast and crew members of her son's films.[4]
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]
