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Ellen Burstyn

Acting 93 years old Detroit, Michigan, USA ★ 2.5
Born: December 7, 1932

Biography

Ellen Burstyn (born Edna Rae Gillooly; December 7, 1932) is an American actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women in dramas, she has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, making her one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting". She has also received a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Burstyn made her acting debut on Broadway in Fair Game in 1957 before winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Same Time, Next Year (1975). She earned the Academy Award for Best Actress as the widow Alice Hyatt in Martin Scorsese's romantic drama Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974). Her other Oscar-nominated roles were in The Last Picture Show (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Same Time, Next Year (1978), Resurrection (1980), and Requiem for a Dream (2000). Her other notable films include Harry and Tonto (1974), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002), W. (2008), Interstellar (2014), The Age of Adaline (2015), and Pieces of a Woman (2020).

She won Primetime Emmy Awards for her guest role in the NBC legal drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2009) and supporting role in the USA Network political miniseries Political Animals (2013). Her other Emmy-nominated roles include Pack of Lies (1988), Mrs. Harris (2005), Big Love (2008), Draft Day, Flowers in the Attic (both 2014), and House of Cards (2016). Since 2000, she has been co-president of the Actors Studio, a drama school in New York City. In 2013, she was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame for her work onstage.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Interstellar
Interstellar Murph (older) 2014
The Exorcist
The Exorcist Chris MacNeil 1973
The Tale
The Tale Nettie 2018
The Fountain
The Fountain Dr. Lillian Guzetti 2006
For Those Who Think Young
For Those Who Think Young Dr. Pauline Swenson 1964

Jimmy's Seen (1)

Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver Eve Holland 1976

Filmography

Acting Credits (201)

Breakdown: 1975
Breakdown: 1975 Self 2025
This Ordinary Thing
This Ordinary Thing Self (voice) 2025
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies Self - (archive footage) 2025
Duse, the Greatest
Duse, the Greatest 2025
E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump E. Jean Carroll 2024
Mother, Couch
Mother, Couch Mother 2024
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist Self 2024
Martin Scorsese, the Italian-American Master
Martin Scorsese, the Italian-American Master Self 2024
The Exorcist: Believer
The Exorcist: Believer Chris MacNeil 2023
The First Lady
The First Lady Sara Delano Roosevelt 2022
Three Months
Three Months Valerie 2022
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe Self 2022
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes Herself 2021
Queen Bees
Queen Bees Helen Wilson 2021
Watch on the Rhine
Watch on the Rhine Fanny 2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Law & Order: Organized Crime Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler 2021
Pieces of a Woman
Pieces of a Woman Elizabeth Weiss 2020
Delphine and Carole
Delphine and Carole Self (archive footage) 2020
Lucy in the Sky
Lucy in the Sky Nana Holbrook 2019
American Woman
American Woman Miss Dolly 2019
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies Self 2019
The House of Tomorrow
The House of Tomorrow Josephine Prendergast 2019
Friedkin Uncut
Friedkin Uncut Self 2018
Nostalgia
Nostalgia Helen Greer 2018
All I Wish
All I Wish Celia Berges 2018
The Tale
The Tale Nettie 2018
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime Self 2017
Wiener-Dog
Wiener-Dog Nana 2016
Custody
Custody Beatrice Fisher 2016
Unity
Unity Narrator (voice) 2015
About Scout
About Scout Gram 2015
The Age of Adaline
The Age of Adaline Flemming 2015
Interstellar
Interstellar Murph (older) 2014
The Calling
The Calling Emily Micallef 2014
Petals on the Wind
Petals on the Wind Olivia Foxworth 2014
Two Men in Town
Two Men in Town Mère Garnett 2014
Draft Day
Draft Day Barb Weaver 2014
River of Fundament
River of Fundament Hathfertiti 2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
And the Oscar Goes To... Self - Interviewee 2014
Flowers in the Attic
Flowers in the Attic Grandmother 2014
Wish You Well
Wish You Well Louisa Mae Cardinal 2013
Mom
Mom Shirley 2013
Love, Marilyn
Love, Marilyn Self 2013
House of Cards
House of Cards Elizabeth Hale 2013
Coma
Coma Mrs. Emerson 2012
Political Animals
Political Animals Margaret Barrish 2012
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You Nanette 2012
Another Happy Day
Another Happy Day Doris Baker 2011
The Mighty Macs
The Mighty Macs Mother St. John 2011
Reflections of a Philosopher King
Reflections of a Philosopher King Self 2010
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance Self 2010
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story Self 2010
Main Street
Main Street Georgiana Carr 2010
According to Greta
According to Greta Katherine 2009
Lovely, Still
Lovely, Still Mary 2009
PoliWood
PoliWood Self 2009
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit Swan (voice) 2009
W.
W. Barbara Bush 2008
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond Miss Addie 2008
Mitch Albom's For One More Day
Mitch Albom's For One More Day Pauline "Posey" Benetto 2007
The Stone Angel
The Stone Angel Hagar 2007
The Fountain
The Fountain Dr. Lillian Guzetti 2006
30 Days
30 Days Maura 2006
The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man Sister Summersisle 2006
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow Self 2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story Self 2006
The Elephant King
The Elephant King Diana Hunt 2006
Big Love
Big Love Nancy Davis Dutton 2006
Mrs. Harris
Mrs. Harris Former Tarnower Steady 2006
The Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel Bishop Beatrice Congreve 2006
Our Fathers
Our Fathers Mary Ryan 2005
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
The Five People You Meet In Heaven Ruby 2004
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel Tommie 2004
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances Self 2004
A Decade Under the Influence
A Decade Under the Influence Self 2003
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Self 2003
Brush with Fate
Brush with Fate Rika 2003
Red Dragon
Red Dragon Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited) 2002
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Vivi Abbott Walker 2002
Within These Walls
Within These Walls Joan Thomas 2001
Memories, Dreams & Addictions
Memories, Dreams & Addictions Self 2001
The Making of Requiem for a Dream
The Making of Requiem for a Dream Self 2001
Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream Sara Goldfarb 2000
That's Life
That's Life Dolly DeLucca 2000
Mermaid
Mermaid Trish 2000
The Yards
The Yards Val Handler 2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bernie Stabler 1999
Die letzte Vorstellung: Ein Rückblick
Die letzte Vorstellung: Ein Rückblick Self 1999
Night Ride Home
Night Ride Home Maggie 1999
Walking Across Egypt
Walking Across Egypt Mattie Rigsbee 1999
Playing by Heart
Playing by Heart Mildred 1998
A Will of their Own
A Will of their Own Veronica Steward 1998
Marilyn in Manhattan
Marilyn in Manhattan Self 1998
You Can Thank Me Later
You Can Thank Me Later Shirley Cooperberg 1998
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist Self - Chris MacNeil 1998
The Patron Saint of Liars
The Patron Saint of Liars June Clatterbuck 1998
Flash
Flash Laura Strong 1997
Deceiver
Deceiver Mook 1997
The View
The View Self 1997
A Deadly Vision
A Deadly Vision Yvette Watson 1997
Timepiece
Timepiece Maud Gannon 1996
The Spitfire Grill
The Spitfire Grill Hannah Ferguson 1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show Self - Guest 1996
How to Make an American Quilt
How to Make an American Quilt Hy Dodd 1995
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club Mrs. Haberman 1995
Follow The River
Follow The River Gretel 1995
My Brother's Keeper
My Brother's Keeper Helen 1995
Roommates
Roommates Judith 1995
Trick of the Eye
Trick of the Eye Frances Griffin 1994
Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio Self 1994
Getting Gotti
Getting Gotti Jo Giacalone 1994
When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman Emily 1994
Getting Out
Getting Out Arlie's Mother 1994
Roots of Roe
Roots of Roe Narrator (voice) 1993
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story Joan Delvecchio 1993
The Cemetery Club
The Cemetery Club Esther Moskowitz 1993
Earth and the American Dream
Earth and the American Dream Reader (voice) 1992
When It Was a Game 2
When It Was a Game 2 Passage Narrator (voice) 1992
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story Wilma 1992
Picture This
Picture This Self 1991
Grand Isle
Grand Isle Mademoiselle Reisz 1991
Dying Young
Dying Young Mrs. O'Neil 1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love Lillian "Lil" Lambert 1991
When You Remember Me
When You Remember Me Nurse Cooder 1990
The Color of Evening
The Color of Evening Kate O'Rielly 1990
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre Self 1989
Hello Actors Studio
Hello Actors Studio Self 1988
American Experience
American Experience Narrator (voice) 1988
Hanna's War
Hanna's War Katalin 1988
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam Mrs. Stocks (voice) 1987
Pack of Lies
Pack of Lies Barbara Jackson 1987
Something in Common
Something in Common Lynn Hollander 1986
The Ellen Burstyn Show
The Ellen Burstyn Show Ellen Brewer 1986
Act of Vengeance
Act of Vengeance Margaret Yablonski 1986
Into Thin Air
Into Thin Air Joan Walker 1985
Twice in a Lifetime
Twice in a Lifetime Kate MacKenzie 1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Night of 100 Stars II Self 1985
Surviving
Surviving Tina Brogan 1985
The Ambassador
The Ambassador Alex Hacker 1985
I Love Liberty
I Love Liberty Self 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Night of 100 Stars Self 1982
Silence of the North
Silence of the North Olive Frederickson 1981
People vs. Jean Harris
People vs. Jean Harris Jean Harris 1981
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
Be Pretty and Shut Up! Self 1981
Resurrection
Resurrection Edna 1980
A Dream of Passion
A Dream of Passion Brenda Collins 1978
Same Time, Next Year
Same Time, Next Year Doris 1978
Providence
Providence Sonia Langham 1977
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host 1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche Self 1975
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Alice Hyatt 1974
Dinah!
Dinah! Self 1974
Harry and Tonto
Harry and Tonto Shirley Mallard 1974
Thursday's Game
Thursday's Game Lynne Evers 1974
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute Self (archive footage) 1974
The Exorcist
The Exorcist Chris MacNeil 1973
The King of Marvin Gardens
The King of Marvin Gardens Sally 1972
The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show Lois Farrow 1971
Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland Beth Morrison 1970
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer Mona (uncredited) 1970
Pit Stop
Pit Stop Ellen McCleod 1969
The Time Tunnel
The Time Tunnel Eve Holland 1966
The Big Valley
The Big Valley Sister Sarah Jacob 1965
Goodbye Charlie
Goodbye Charlie Franny Salzman 1964
For Those Who Think Young
For Those Who Think Young Dr. Pauline Swenson 1964
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Eva Laurelton 1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth Susan Mason 1963
Vacation Playhouse
Vacation Playhouse Ellen 1963
Going My Way
Going My Way Louise 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self 1962
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster Joan 1962
The Virginian
The Virginian Kate Burden 1962
Ricochet
Ricochet Rose Maxon 1961
Ben Casey
Ben Casey Dr. Leslie Fraser 1961
Ben Casey
Ben Casey Connie 1961
Bus Stop
Bus Stop Phyllis Dunning 1961
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare Anne Garner 1961
The Defenders
The Defenders Hilda Wesley 1961
Surfside 6
Surfside 6 Wandra Drake 1960
Checkmate
Checkmate Margo as Ellen McRae 1960
The Detectives
The Detectives Nora 1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Donna Whittaker 1959
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree Elizabeth 1958
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip Betty Benson 1958
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip Sandra Keene 1958
Perry Mason
Perry Mason Mona Winthrope White 1957
Cheyenne
Cheyenne Emmy Mae 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Polly 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Amy Waters 1955
Letter to Loretta
Letter to Loretta Ann Walters 1953
The Oscars
The Oscars Self 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Elizabeth 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Barbara Jackson 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Maggie 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Rika 1951
Easy Out?
Easy Out? Mary 1948
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Presenter 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards Self - Nominee 1944
Bathing Flo
Bathing Flo
Place To Be
Place To Be Brooke

Directing Credits (1)

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