Griffith, D. W. (David Wark), 1875-1948
Biographical Note
Lillian Diana Gish was an American actress, best known for her appearance in such silent screen classics as Birth of a Nation and Orphans of the Storm. Born October 14, 1893, died February 27, 1993. She spent over 75 years on the sreen (1912-1987). Her most prominate films were of the 1910s and 1920s, with D. W. Griffith (1875-1948) as the director. AFI listed Gish as 17th among the greatest female stars of all time. She was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 1971, and she received an AFI Life Achievement Award in 1984.
Lillian Gish never married nor had children. The association between Gish and D. W. Griffith was so close that some suspected a romantic connection, an issue never acknowledged by Gish, although several of their associates were certain they were at least briefly involved. For the remainder of her life, she always referred to him as "Mr. Griffith."
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Lillian Gish Letter
The collection consists of a letter from actress Lillian Gish (1893-1993) to Charles Haney, librarian at Virginia Tech, in answer to a question about the filmmaker, D. W. Griffith (1875-1948), with whom Gish worked on several films.