--- name: "Kate Bruce" canonical: "https://film.one/person/kate-bruce" fi1m_id: "kate-bruce" imdb_id: "nm0115524" tmdb_id: 145109 wikidata_id: "Q2461823" roles: ["Actor"] born: "16 February 1860" died: "2 April 1946" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-25T05:48:57.696270+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Kate Bruce ## Identity Kate Bruce - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kate-bruce - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** kate-bruce - **IMDb ID:** nm0115524 - **TMDB ID:** 145109 - **Wikidata ID:** Q2461823 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bruce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2461823, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0115524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/145109 Actor. Born 16 February 1860 in Columbus, Indiana, USA. Died 2 April 1946. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 16 February 1860, Columbus, Indiana, USA - **Died:** 2 April 1946 - **Also known as:** Phyllis Forde - **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 acting, 1 other - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bruce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2461823, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0115524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/145109 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Way Down East*](https://film.one/film/way-down-east.md) (78) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Kate Bruce was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 280 films between 1908 and 1931, frequently in mother roles, and was a regular collaborator with director D.W. Griffith. Born in Columbus, Indiana, Bruce began her career on the stage, appearing on Broadway in *The Starbucks* (1903). On screen she is credited in films including *Intolerance* (1916), *True Heart Susie* (1919), *Way Down East* (1920) as Mother Bartlett, and *Orphans of the Storm* (1921). She was also credited under the name Phyllis Forde. Bruce maintained a close friendship with actresses Lillian Gish and Dorothy Gish, who supported her in later years. She died in the Bronx, New York, in 1946. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (2) ### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these - *Way Down East* (1920), Fi1m 78, as Mother Bartlett — [page](https://film.one/film/way-down-east.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), Fi1m 73, as Sister Geneviève (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/orphans-of-the-storm.md) ## Complete filmography (188) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Film Fun* (1955), as (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Make Mine Memories* (1945), as Blanche - *The Struggle* (1931), as Granny - *The Flying Fool* (1929), as Mrs. Riley - Pat's Mother - *A Bowery Cinderella* (1927), as Bridget Denahy - *Ragtime* (1927), as Mrs. Mason - *The Secret Studio* (1927), as Ma Merton - *Are Brunettes Safe?* (1927), as Bud's Mother - *I Want My Man* (1925), as Mrs. Eyre - *His Darker Self* (1924), as Claude's Mother - *The White Rose* (1923), as John's Aunt - *Orphans of the Storm* (1921), as Sister Geneviève (uncredited) — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/orphans-of-the-storm.md) - *Experience* (1921), as Mother - *The City of Silent Men* (1921), as Mrs. Montgomery - *Flying Pat* (1920), as Old Lady - *Way Down East* (1920), as Mother Bartlett — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/way-down-east.md) - *The Idol Dancer* (1920), as Mrs. Blythe - *Mary Ellen Comes to Town* (1920), as Mary Ellen's mother - *Scarlet Days* (1919), as The Aunt - *True Heart Susie* (1919), as Bettina's Aunt - *The Girl Who Stayed at Home* (1919), as Mrs. Edward Grey - *A Romance of Happy Valley* (1919), as Mrs. Logan - *The Greatest Thing in Life* (1918), as Jeannette's Aunt - *Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal* (1918), Actor - *The Hun Within* (1918), as Beth's Mother - *Hearts of the World* (1918), as The Mother of the Boy - *The Stainless Barrier* (1917), as Aunt Ruth Shelton - *Time Locks and Diamonds* (1917), as Housekeeper - *Madame Bo-Peep* (1917), as Aunt Sophie - *Souls Triumphant* (1917), Actor - *A Woman's Awakening* (1917), as Mrs. Letchworth - *Betsy's Burglar* (1917), as Mrs. Randall - *The House Built Upon Sand* (1916), as David's Housekeeper - *The Microscope Mystery* (1916), as Mrs Simpson - *Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages* (1916), as Old Babylonian Mother / The City Mother (uncredited) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/intolerance-loves-struggle-throughout-the-ages.md) - *Gretchen the Greenhorn* (1916), as Widow Garrity - *The Marriage of Molly-O* (1916), as Mrs. Malarkey - *Civilization* (1916), as A Mother - *Susan Rocks the Boat* (1916), as Mrs. Randolph Johnstone - *Betty of Greystone* (1916), Actor - *The Soul of Pierre* (1915), Actor - *East Lynne* (1915), as Mrs. Hare - *His Desperate Deed* (1915), as Grant's Mother - *A Lesson in Mechanics* (1914), Actor - *The Honor of the Law* (1914), as Mrs. Allen - Bert's Mother - *The Rebellion of Kitty Belle* (1914), Actor - *Judith of Bethulia* (1914), as Judtih's Maid - *A Nest Unfeathered* (1914), as Kate's Mother - *The Battle at Elderbush Gulch* (1913), as A Settler (uncredited) - *The Stopped Clock* (1913), as The Mother - *The Strong Man's Burden* (1913), as Bob & John's Mother - *The Work Habit* (1913), as The Street Sweeper's Wife - *The Reformers* (1913), as The Maid - *The Mothering Heart* (1913), as The Wife's Mother - *Death's Marathon* (1913), as The Nanny - *The Enemy's Baby* (1913), as Sam Miller's Wife - *Just Gold* (1913), as The Mother - *Olaf—An Atom* (1913), as Olaf's Mother - *The Yaqui Cur* (1913), as Strongheart's Mother - *The Stolen Loaf* (1913), as The Poor Man's Wife - *The Wanderer* (1913), as The Old Woman - *A Misunderstood Boy* (1913), as The Mother - *A Frightful Blunder* (1913), as The Young Woman's Mother - *The Little Tease* (1913), as The Little Tease's Mother - *The Perfidy of Mary* (1913), as Mary's Mother - *The Sheriff's Baby* (1913), as A Settler - *The Unwelcome Guest* (1913), as The Old Wife - *The Tender Hearted Boy* (1913), as The Tender-Hearted Boy's mother - *The Telephone Girl and the Lady* (1913), as The Lady's Friend - *My Hero* (1912), as The Young Woman's Mother - *The New York Hat* (1912), as Mrs. Mary Harding - *The Informer* (1912), as The Mother - *Heredity* (1912), as The Indian Woman - *The Painted Lady* (1912), as The Mother - *The One She Loved* (1912), as The Neighbor's Wife - *A Feud in the Kentucky Hills* (1912), as The Mother - *The Would-Be Shriner* (1912), as Hank Hopkins' Wife - *An Indian Summer* (1912), as The Widow - *The School Teacher and the Waif* (1912), Actor - *A Dash Through the Clouds* (1912), as Old Mexican Woman - *Lena and the Geese* (1912), as Gretchen - *Home Folks* (1912), as The Young Woman's Mother - *The Furs* (1912), as The Husband's Mother - *When the Fire-Bells Rang* (1912), as In Audience - *The Old Actor* (1912), as The Old Actor's Wife - *One Is Business, the Other Crime* (1912), as First Maid - *Won by a Fish* (1912), as The Maid - *Just Like a Woman* (1912), as The Maid - *Hot Stuff* (1912), as Hank's Sweetheart's Mother - *The Engagement Ring* (1912), as Alice's Mother - *A String of Pearls* (1912), as The Poor Woman's Mother - *The Sunbeam* (1912), as Sunbeam's Mamma - *With a Kodak* (1912), as Mrs. Hobbs - *The Baby and the Stork* (1912), as The Nurse - *The Voice of the Child* (1911), as The Maid - *A Terrible Discovery* (1911), as The Housekeeper - *The Long Road* (1911), as Mother Superior - *The Adventures of Billy* (1911), as The Maid - *Her Awakening* (1911), as The Crippled Mother - *The Squaw's Love* (1911), as Mother - *The Villain Foiled* (1911), as Miss Page's Mother - *Swords and Hearts* (1911), as At Lambert House (uncredited) - *The Rose of Kentucky* (1911), as The housekeeper - *A Country Cupid* (1911), as Edith's Mother - *Fighting Blood* (1911), as The Old Soldier's Wife - *The Manicure Lady* (1911), as First Customer's Wife - *The New Dress* (1911), as A Friend - *How She Triumphed* (1911), as Kate - *A Knight of the Road* (1911), as 2nd Servant - *Paradise Lost* (1911), as Pete's Wife - *The Spanish Gypsy* (1911), as Pepita's Mother - *Teaching Dad to Like Her* (1911), as Outside Theatre - *His Daughter* (1911), as The Neighbor - *Heart Beats of Long Ago* (1911), as At the Ball - *Three Sisters* (1911), as The Mother - *His Trust Fulfilled* (1911), Actor - *His Trust* (1911), Actor - *The Italian Barber* (1911), as Mother - *A Plain Song* (1910), as Edith's Mother - *The Song of the Wildwood Flute* (1910), as An Indian - *Simple Charity* (1910), as The Poor Wife - *The Fugitive* (1910), as Confederate Mother - *The Message of the Violin* (1910), as In Hallway - *The Masher* (1910), as An Old Maid - *A Lucky Toothache* (1910), as Bessie's Mother - *That Chink at Golden Gulch* (1910), as Extra - *A Gold Necklace* (1910), as The Govorness - *Examination Day at School* (1910), Actor - *Muggsy Becomes a Hero* (1910), as One of the Sisters Frost - *The Modern Prodigal* (1910), as The Sheriff's Wife - *Wilful Peggy* (1910), Actor - *The Usurer* (1910), as One of the First Debtors - *Her Father's Pride* (1910), Actor - *An Arcadian Maid* (1910), as The Farmer's Wife - *What the Daisy Said* (1910), as The Spinster (uncredited) - *May and December* (1910), as October - *A Child of the Ghetto* (1910), as Ruth's Mother - *In the Season of Buds* (1910), as Aunt - *Ramona* (1910), as The Mother - *The Two Brothers* (1910), as The Mother - *Love Among the Roses* (1910), as The Lacemaker's Mother - *The Unchanging Sea* (1910), as Villager (uncredited) - *As It Is in Life* (1910), as The Maid - *The Twisted Trail* (1910), as Mrs. Hendricks - *Faithful* (1910), as John's Sweetheart's Mother - *The Converts* (1910), as In Doorway - *The Newlyweds* (1910), as The Maid - *His Last Burglary* (1910), as Burglar's Wife - *The Englishman and the Girl* (1910), as Mrs. Thayer - *The Cloister’s Touch* (1910), as The Old Woman - *The Honor of His Family* (1910), as Woman at Farewell - *All on Account of the Milk* (1910), as Mrs. Simpson, Sophia's mother - *The Rocky Road* (1910), as The Maid - *To Save Her Soul* (1909), as The Housekeeper - *A Trap for Santa Claus* (1909), as Aunt's Home's Housekeeper (uncredited) - *A Corner in Wheat* (1909), Actor - *The Redman's View* (1909), as Indian - *Through the Breakers* (1909), as The Nurse - *The Mountaineer's Honor* (1909), as The Mountain Girl's Mother - *A Midnight Adventure* (1909), as The Mother - *The Light That Came* (1909), as The Girls' Mother - *The Restoration* (1909), as Servant - *The Gibson Goddess* (1909), as Woman on Sidewalk - *What's Your Hurry?* (1909), as Mary's Mother - *Lines of White on a Sullen Sea* (1909), as The Mother - *His Lost Love* (1909), as A Maid - *A Change of Heart* (1909), as Howard's Mother - *Wanted, a Child* (1909), as The Mother - *The Awakening* (1909), as A Nun - *The Broken Locket* (1909), as Ruth's Mother - *Getting Even* (1909), as Party Guest - *1776, or The Hessian Renegades* (1909), as Soldier's Family - *They Would Elope* (1909), as The Mother - *A Strange Meeting* (1909), as At Party - *The Slave* (1909), as Mourning Woman - *The Cardinal's Conspiracy* (1909), Actor - *The Country Doctor* (1909), as Poor Mother - *The Way of Man* (1909), Actor - *His Duty* (1909), as The Sons' Mother - *Confidence* (1909), Actor - *At the Altar* (1909), Actor - *The Golden Louis* (1909), Actor - *The Girls and Daddy* (1909), Actor - *One Touch of Nature* (1909), Actor - *An Awful Moment* (1908), Actor - *Behind the Scenes: Where All Is Not Gold That Glitters* (1908), Actor - *Betrayed by a Handprint* (1908), as Mrs. Wharton - *The Fight for Freedom* (1908), Actor ## Gallery - ![Kate Bruce, Photoplay Magazine, December 1921](https://film.one/media/person/3848849/gallery-d41605e7e976.jpg) Kate Bruce, Photoplay Magazine, December 1921 — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Kate_Bruce%2C_Photoplay_Magazine%2C_December_1921.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Kate Bruce and Richard Barthelmess in Way Down East (1920)](https://film.one/media/person/3848849/gallery-08ec706f2189.jpg) Kate Bruce and Richard Barthelmess in Way Down East (1920) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Kate_Bruce_and_Richard_Barthelmess_in_Way_Down_East_%281920%29.jpg/1280px-Kate_Bruce_and_Richard_Barthelmess_in_Way_Down_East_%281920%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Gretchen Hartman (left) and Kate Bruce (right) in The Smuggler's Ward (1915)](https://film.one/media/person/3848849/gallery-5b7331f651b1.jpg) Gretchen Hartman (left) and Kate Bruce (right) in The Smuggler's Ward (1915) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Gretchen_Hartman_%28left%29_and_Kate_Bruce_%28right%29_in_The_Smuggler%27s_War_%281915%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Kate Bruce](https://film.one/media/person/3848849/gallery-f18bda383740.jpg) Kate Bruce — Image via TMDB - ![Kate Bruce](https://film.one/media/person/3848849/gallery-109296d1d578.jpg) Kate Bruce — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kate-bruce