Lillian Gish
ActingAbout Lillian Gish
Lillian Diana Gish (October 14, 1893 – February 27, 1993) was an American stage, screen and television actress whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987. She was a prominent film star of the 1910s and 1920s, particularly associated with the films of director D.W. Griffith, including her leading role in Griffith's seminal Birth of a Nation (1915). Her sound-era film appearances were sporadic, but included memorable roles in the controversial western Duel in the Sun (1946) and the offbeat thriller Night of the Hunter (1955). She did considerable television work from the early 1950s into the 1980s, and closed her career playing, for the first time, opposite Bette Davis in the 1987 film The Whales of August. The American Film Institute (AFI) named Gish 17th among the greatest female stars of all time. She was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 1971, and in 1984 she received an AFI Life Achievement Award.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Lillian Gish reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Lillian Gish's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 58% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Lillian Gish remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Miss Susie Slagle's, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Lillian Gish Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lillian Gish's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Lillian Gish.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Women Who Run Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Night Hunter | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Sigrid Holmquist | Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Moving Pictures: 'The Night of the Hunter' | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Whales of August | Sarah Webber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn | Mrs Loftus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Lillian Gish | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | A Wedding | Nettie Sloan | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Twin Detectives | Billy Jo Haskins | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Martha Brewster | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Comedians | Mrs. Smith | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Warning Shot | Alice Willows | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Follow Me, Boys! | Hetty Seibert | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Love Goddesses | (Archive Footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Great Chase | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Spiral Staircase | Mrs. Warren | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Unforgiven | Mattilda Zachary | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Orders to Kill | Mrs. Summers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Night of the Hunter | Rachel Cooper | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Portrait of Jennie | Mother Mary of Mercy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Duel in the Sun | Laura Belle McCanles | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Miss Susie Slagle's | Miss Susie Slagle | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | His Double Life | Alice Chalice | Average | Similar → |
| 1928 | The Wind | Letty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Annie Laurie | Annie Laurie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | The Scarlet Letter | Hester Prynne | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | La Bohème | Mimi | Average | Similar → |
| 1925 | Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ | Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Romola | Romola | Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | The White Sister | Angela Chiaromonte | Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | Orphans of the Storm | Henriette Girard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | Way Down East | Anna Moore | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Greatest Question | Nellie Jarvis | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | True Heart Susie | Susie May Trueheart | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl | Lucy Burrows | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | A Romance of Happy Valley | Jennie Timberlake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Hearts of the World | The Girl - Marie Stephenson | Average | Similar → |
| 1916 | Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages | The Woman Who Rocks the Cradle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1916 | Sold for Marriage | Marfa | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | Enoch Arden | Annie Lee | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Birth of a Nation | Stoneman's Daughter Elsie | Average | Similar → |
| 1914 | Lord Chumley | Eleanor Butterworth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1914 | Judith of Bethulia | The Young Mother | Average | Similar → |
| 1913 | The Battle at Elderbush Gulch | Melissa Harlow | Average | Similar → |
| 1912 | The Musketeers of Pig Alley | The Little Lady | Average | Similar → |
| 1912 | So Near, Yet So Far | A Friend | Average | Similar → |
Lillian Gish - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lillian Gish?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lillian Gish is "Miss Susie Slagle's" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Lillian Gish acted in?
Lillian Gish has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lillian Gish?
Other notable films include "Night of 100 Stars II", "Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown", and "The Night of the Hunter".