Kate Bruce

A 'D.W. Griffith' (qv) favorite matriarchal figure often playing mother characters. 'Kate Bruce' (qv) appeared 292 times on the screen from 1908 to 1930, in movies including _Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)_ (qv), _The Idol Dancer (1920)_ (qv), _Way Down East (1920)_ (qv), _The Eternal Mother (1912)_ (qv), and _Orphans of the Storm (1921)_ (qv). She was a close friend of actresses 'Lillian Gish' (qv) and 'Dorothy Gish' (qv), who supported Bruce financially for much of her life, including paying her rent in a little Hotel on Madison Avenue in New York. Lillian's maid would take care of her room once a week. Bruce would dine at Lillian's apartment several times a week. A very secretive and shy person, Bruce did not talk about her past or background. Lillian often compared her to a nun since her life was very austere and lonely.::Paul Gerard Kennedy