Director & Producer
Birthdate: Nov 17, 1942
High School: Cardinal Hayes High School
Yearbooks: 1960
Yearbook photos of Martin Scorsese from Cardinal Hayes High School
Whether you’re a film aficionado who diligently logs your watches on Letterboxd, or just a casual movie watcher, you’ve probably heard the name Martin Scorsese.
From short films and documentaries to award-winning movies, this director is known for his intense and deep characters. Scorsese also consistently ranks among the top filmmakers of all time.
Here, we trace his life, all the way back from his school education to his career and personal life, accompanied by his high school yearbook photos from the Classmates® archive.
What to Know About Martin Scorsese?
- New York Native: Martin Charles Scorsese (born November 17, 1942) is an 83-year-old Academy Award-winning director and cinematic icon who grew up in the “Little Italy” section of Manhattan, a setting that deeply influenced his gritty, character-driven storytelling.
- Blessing in Disguise: Raised in a devout Roman Catholic family, Scorsese initially intended to enter the priesthood. After failing his first year at a preparatory seminary, he pivotally turned to filmmaking, which turned out to be the more optimal path.
- Cardinal Hayes Alumnus: Scorsese graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 1960. Because he suffered from severe asthma as a child, he spent much of his youth in movie theaters rather than playing sports, sparking his lifelong obsession with cinema.
- NYU Film Pioneer: He earned both his BS (1964) and MA (1968) from New York University, where he produced his first short films. He later became a leading voice in the “New Hollywood” era, with his 1976 masterpiece Taxi Driver winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
- Wife and Kids: Martin has been married to Helen Morris since 1999. The couple has three daughters, Cathy, Domenica, and Francesca, who are all active in the film industry. Cathy is a seasoned art department professional, Domenica is an actress and director, and Francesca is an actress and director who took the reins in the 2025 finale of her father’s docuseries, The Saints.
Who is Martin Scorsese?
Martin Charles Scorsese (born November 17, 1942) is an 83-year old renowned American filmmaker with global acclaim. He was born in Queens, New York City, in the Flushing neighborhood and grew up in Little Italy, a neighborhood in Manhattan’s borough.
Scorsese is part Italian, with both of his grandparents having immigrated from Italy to America. Fun fact: his original family surname was Scozzese, but became Scorsese due to a minor transcription error.
From a very young age, his parents used to take him to the movies, which is how his interest in the industry began. You might be surprised to know that, however, he initially wanted to become a priest. But, after failing the first year at the preparatory seminary he attended, he turned to filmmaking. And what a boon that turned out to be for us!
Where Did Martin Scorsese Go to School?
School Education
Scorsese was raised Roman Catholic in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood. He graduated from the boys-only Cardinal Hayes High School in Bronx, New York, in 1960.
Throughout his childhood, Scorsese was a frail kid with asthma, which meant he couldn’t play any sports, or even take part in normal kid activities.
College Education
After failing his seminary, Scorsese attended and graduated from New York University’s Washington Square College (which is currently known as the College of Arts and Science) in 1964 with a BS in film communications.
It was during his undergraduate years that he made his first two student films: What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1963), which was a short 9-minute film, followed by It’s Not Just You, Murray! (1964), a 15-minute picture.
He also graduated with a Master of Arts from New York University in 1968. Here, he made his third short film, The Big Shave (1967), as well as his very first feature-length film, Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1967).
What Does He Look Like Today? Martin Scorsese Then vs. Now
Martin Scorsese is probably a familiar face as a certified Hollywood legend. But are you wondering what Martin Scorsese looked like in the ‘60s as a teenager in high school compared to the man you recognize today? Take a look!
Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Martin Scorsese’s Career Through the Ages
Filmography
Scorsese’s first big break in film direction came in the form of Mean Streets (1973), which received popular acclaim. But, it was Taxi Driver (1976) that catapulted him to fame. Fun fact: both of these movies star Robert de Niro!
Apart from these, some of Scorsese’s most popular films include:
- The Irishman (2019)
- Goodfellas (1990)
- The Departed (2006)
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
- Raging Bull (1980)
- The King of Comedy (1982)
- Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- Shutter Island (2010)
- Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Scorsese’s films are known for their storytelling, emotional depth, and bring a certain pace and energy that pull you in. On the technical front, you’ll see that a lot of movies share similar characteristics, such as long shots, freeze frames, quick fades, and slow-motion techniques.
Martin Scorsese is also a film preservationist and founded The Film Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to protect and preserve the history of motion pictures. He also created the World Cinema Project in 2007 to preserve, restore, and provide access to movies from across the world (especially from marginalized countries).
Awards
Over his 50+ year career, Scorsese has bagged several well-deserved awards.
- Best Film: 1976 BAFTA Awards for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
- Palme d’Or: 1976 Cannes Film Festival Award for Taxi Driver
- Best Director: 1986 Cannes Film Festival Award for After Hours
- Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Adapted Screenplay: 1991 BAFTA Awards for Goodfellas
- Best Music Film: 2006 Grammy Awards for No Direction Home
- Outstanding Directing – Feature Film: 2006 Directors Guild of America Award for The Departed
- Best Director: 2007 Academy Awards for The Departed
- Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: 2011 Emmy Awards for Boardwalk
- Best Director – Motion Picture: Three Golden Globe Awards for Gangs of New York in 2003, The Departed in 2007, and Hugo in 2012
- Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming: 2012 Emmy Awards for George Harrison: Living in the Material World
While these are his major awards, this is certainly not an exhaustive list!
Who are Martin Scorsese’s Parents and Siblings?
Scorsese was born to mother Catherine (Cappa) Scorsese and father Charles Scorsese. He also had an older brother, Frank Scorsese, who died in 2021 at the age of 85.
Martin Scorsese’s parents both worked in the garment district throughout his childhood. His father was a clothes presser and wardrobe consultant, while his mother was a seamstress. Both of them have made several cameos in Scorsese’s films!
Who are Martin Scorsese’s Ex-Wives and Children?
Scorsese has been married a total of 5 times (and divorced 4 times). He has 3 children, each with a different wife.
- Laraine Brennan: She and Scorsese were married from 1965 to 1971 and have a daughter named Catherine (yes, she’s named after his mother).
- Julia Cameron: The journalist and Scorsese were married from 1975 to 1977 and have a daughter named Domenica Cameron-Scorsese.
- Isabella Rossellini: The Italian-American actress and Scorsese were married from 1979 to 1982.
- Barbara de Fina: The producer-director duo were joined in holy matrimony from 1985 to 1991.
- Helen Morris: This TV producer has been married to Scorsese since 1999, in what is his longest marriage! They welcomed a child, Fancesca Scorsese, just 4 months after their nuptials.
Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Critical Mastodon, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where Does Martin Scorsese Live?
Martin Scorsese, self-proclaimed die-hard New Yorker lives in the Upper East Side of New York City. A TikTok video starring him and his youngest daughter Francesca showed us a glimpse of his house, which is a total dream for movie buffs.
His house is filled with film posters of various kinds, movie memorabilia, cameras, and even director’s chairs!
Does Martin Scorsese have Social Media?
Yes, Martin Scorsese is active on social media and even posts fun videos, mostly because of his Gen Z daughter Francesca.
You can follow him here:
- Instagram (2.1 M followers as of December 2025)
- Facebook (2.2 M followers)
- Letterboxd (457K followers)
You’ll also find him being a certified TikTok star on Francesca’s TikTok account.
See What Your Favorite Celebrities Looked Like in High School
Want to see what your other favorite filmmakers and actors looked like in their teens? Or maybe this trek down memory lane is bringing back fond memories of enjoying Martin Scorsese’s movies in drive-in theatres.
Take your nostalgia one step further and search for old high school yearbook photos on Classmates®. Search for yearbooks that may feature your beloved celebrities, and maybe even school pictures of you and your loved one if they’re in the archive.
Register and upgrade to CM+ to browse yearbooks and get started now!
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