NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Martin Scorsese is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of Hollywood. His filmography includes iconic works such as ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Mean Streets’, and ‘Goodfellas’, as well as recent successes like ‘The Irishman’ and ‘Silence’. Scorsese's filmmaking style is distinct and unparalleled, characterized by his fearlessness in expressing his artistic vision.
Scorsese's personal life has had its share of ups and downs, particularly in his romantic relationships before meeting the love of his life, Helen Morris. He has been married five times, starting with Laraine Marie Brennan in 1965. However, his marriage to Julia Cameron in 1976 lasted only a year. He later married renowned actress Isabella Rossellini (1979-1982) and then producer Barbara De Fina (1985-1991).
When Scorsese announced his fifth marriage to former Random House senior editor Helen Morris in 1999, there were doubts about its longevity. Yet, against the odds, they have remained married for over two decades and have even become parents together later in life, sharing a daughter Francesca.
Who is Helen Morris?
Before her marriage to Martin Scorsese, Helen Morris worked as a book editor at Random House. She holds a degree from Columbia University and has also been involved in producing work. Known for her privacy, Morris and Scorsese welcomed their daughter Francesca in 1999 when they were both in their fifties.
It is worth mentioning that Helen Morris was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease before marrying Martin Scorsese. Despite the diagnosis in 1990, Morris continued to move ahead in life, as she shared in an interview with Talk Magazine in 2000. She explained that she had been too occupied with her career for a fulfilling personal life until she met Scorsese while editing filmmaker Michael Powell's memoir. Scorsese and Powell were friends before Powell's passing in 1990. However, Morris prefers not to be seen as an inspirational story for others.
‘A real guiding light for so many’
During the Museum of the Moving Image's Spring Moving Image Awards, Michael J Fox received a lifetime achievement award, and Martin Scorsese paid tribute to him. Scorsese spoke about the profound impact of Fox's advocacy for Parkinson's disease, which resonated with his own life experiences. Reflecting on Fox's career, Scorsese expressed his astonishment at the energy and presence Fox brought to the film industry in the 1980s, describing him as a “powerhouse” and someone tailor-made for the movies.
Now if you look at Michael’s filmography, pay attention to the amount of work he’s done since his Parkinson’s diagnosis,” the director continued, pointing out collaborations with Tim Burton, Woody Allen, and Peter Jackson. “And along the way, Michael not only started his foundation, which has raised so much money for research and raised just as much awareness, but he also became a real guiding light for so many others with Parkinson’s — that includes my wife, Helen [Morris]. Michael, your support has meant the world to her and to me."
