Biography
Occasional actress, legendary cook, and the mother of distinguished filmmaker
Martin Scorsese, Catherine Scorsese was a first generation Italian-American and grew up in New York's Little Italy. After marrying and having two boys, Catherine went to work in the garment district. Scorsese gave his mother tiny roles in his films such as
Mean Streets,
Goodfellas, and
Casino. When not appearing before the camera, Scorsese was cooking enormous meals for the cast and crew. Later, her son used her and her husband, Charles, as the subjects of his documentary
Italianamerican. Catherine Scorsese has also appeared in a couple of other films, including
Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, Pt. 3. Shortly before her death, she published The Scorsese Family Cookbook. Mrs. Scorsese died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 81. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide