Lillian Gish: Awards and Tributes

Film Stars and Their Awards: Who Won What for Movies, Theater, and Television by Roger Leslie, (McFarland, 2008) Page 91

Editor’s Note: Leslie italicized the award if the person won it. Ex. Since Academy, Academy Awards, was not italicized, it meant Lillian was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Duel in the Sun. Likewise, her Golden Globe nomination in 1967 for The Comedians.

Gish, Lillian

“Movie: 1946: Duel in the Sun (Best Supporting Actress) Academy. 1967: The Comedians (Best Supporting Actress) Globe. 1987: The Whales of August (Best Actress) Board (Best Female Lead) Spirit. Tributes: 1970: Special Oscar for superlative artistry and for distinguished contribution to the progress of motion pictures from Academy. 1982: Honor from Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 1984: Life Achievement Award from American Film Institute. 1987: Lifetime Achievement Award from Board. 1999: Ranked Number 17 on List of 25 Greatest Female Screen Legends of the 20^th Century from American Film Institute. Records: Gish, widely considered The First Lady of the Silent Screen, holds the Guinness world record for having the longest career as a leading film actress and a record for having been a film actress the longest before earning a competitive acting award. She made her screen debut in An Unseen Enemy in 1912. 75 years and 86 films later, Gish made her last movie, The Whales of August. At awards time, the National Board of Review gave Gish a lifetime achievement award at the same ceremony where she tied for the Best Actress prize with Holly Hunter in Broadcast News. After that long wait to awards night accolades, Gish was forced by her doctor to stay home after she fell one month before the National Board’s ceremony. Friend and First Lady of the American Theater Helen Hayes accepted the awards on Gish’s behalf. Gish recuperated from injuries sustained in the fall and lived five more years but never made another film and won no more awards until AFI listed her as one of their 25 Screen Legends in an end-of the-century poll six years later.”

Author Leslie omitted a few Gish awards and tributes

Tributes:

Lillian Gish had her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1720 Vine Street in an Induction Ceremony on February 8, 1960.

Award:

Lillian Gish Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame 1971

USO Woman of the Year Date to Come

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Jim Patterson, Editor/Writer

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