Ellen Burstyn
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Dec 7, 1932 (age 93)
- Place of birth
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Credits
- 197
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.
Known for
Interstellar
2014Movie
Murph (older)
Requiem for a Dream
2000Movie
Sara Goldfarb
The Exorcist
1973Movie
Chris MacNeil
The Age of Adaline
2015Movie
Flemming
Red Dragon
2002Movie
Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999TV
Bernie Stabler
Filmography
Place to Be
2026Movie
Brooke
Flesh Impact
2026Movie
Marilyn Monroe
Breakdown: 1975
2025Movie
Self
This Ordinary Thing
2025Movie
Self (voice)
Duse, the Greatest
2025Movie
E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
2024Movie
E. Jean Carroll
Mother, Couch
2024Movie
Mother
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
2024Movie
Self
The Exorcist: Believer
2023Movie
Chris MacNeil
The First Lady
2022TV
Sara Delano Roosevelt
Three Months
2022Movie
Valerie
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
2022TV
Self
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
2021Movie
Herself
Queen Bees
2021Movie
Helen Wilson
Watch on the Rhine
2021Movie
Fanny
Law & Order: Organized Crime
2021TV
Bernadette Stabler
Pieces of a Woman
2020Movie
Elizabeth Weiss
Delphine and Carole
2020Movie
Self (archive footage)
Lucy in the Sky
2019Movie
Nana Holbrook
American Woman
2019Movie
Miss Dolly
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019TV
Self
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
2019Movie
Self
The House of Tomorrow
2019Movie
Josephine Prendergast
Friedkin Uncut
2018Movie
Self
Nostalgia
2018Movie
Helen Greer
All I Wish
2018Movie
Celia Berges
The Tale
2018Movie
Nettie
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
2017Movie
Self
Wiener-Dog
2016Movie
Nana
Custody
2016Movie
Beatrice Fisher
Unity
2015Movie
Narrator (voice)
About Scout
2015Movie
Gram
The Age of Adaline
2015Movie
Flemming
Interstellar
2014Movie
Murph (older)
The Calling
2014Movie
Emily Micallef
Petals on the Wind
2014Movie
Olivia Foxworth
Two Men in Town
2014Movie
Mère Garnett
Draft Day
2014Movie
Barb Weaver
River of Fundament
2014Movie
Hathfertiti
And the Oscar Goes To...
2014Movie
Self - Interviewee
Flowers in the Attic
2014Movie
Grandmother
Wish You Well
2013Movie
Louisa Mae Cardinal
Mom
2013TV
Shirley
Love, Marilyn
2013Movie
Self
House of Cards
2013TV
Elizabeth Hale
Coma
2012TV
Mrs. Emerson
Political Animals
2012TV
Margaret Barrish
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
2012Movie
Nanette
Another Happy Day
2011Movie
Doris Baker
The Mighty Macs
2011Movie
Mother St. John
Reflections of a Philosopher King
2010Movie
Self
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
2010Movie
Self
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
2010Movie
Self
Main Street
2010Movie
Georgiana Carr
According to Greta
2009Movie
Katherine
Lovely, Still
2009Movie
Mary
PoliWood
2009Movie
Self
The Velveteen Rabbit
2009Movie
Swan (voice)
W.
2008Movie
Barbara Bush
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
2008Movie
Miss Addie
Mitch Albom's For One More Day
2007Movie
Pauline "Posey" Benetto
The Stone Angel
2007Movie
Hagar
The Fountain
2006Movie
Dr. Lillian Guzetti
30 Days
2006Movie
Maura
The Wicker Man
2006Movie
Sister Summersisle
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
2006Movie
Self
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
2006Movie
Self
The Elephant King
2006Movie
Diana Hunt
Big Love
2006TV
Nancy Davis Dutton
The Book of Daniel
2006TV
Bishop Beatrice Congreve
Mrs. Harris
2005Movie
Former Tarnower Steady
Our Fathers
2005Movie
Mary Ryan
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
2004Movie
Ruby
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
2004Movie
Tommie
Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
2004Movie
Self
A Decade Under the Influence
2003Movie
Self
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
2003Movie
Self
Brush with Fate
2003Movie
Rika
Red Dragon
2002Movie
Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
2002Movie
Vivi
Within These Walls
2001Movie
Joan Thomas
Memories, Dreams & Addictions
2001Movie
Self
The Making of Requiem for a Dream
2001Movie
Self
Requiem for a Dream
2000Movie
Sara Goldfarb
That's Life
2000TV
Dolly DeLucca
Mermaid
2000Movie
Trish
The Yards
2000Movie
Val Handler
Walking Across Egypt
1999Movie
Mattie Rigsbee
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999TV
Bernie Stabler
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back
1999Movie
Self
Night Ride Home
1999Movie
Maggie
Playing by Heart
1998Movie
Mildred
A Will of their Own
1998TV
Veronica Steward
Marilyn in Manhattan
1998Movie
Self
You Can Thank Me Later
1998Movie
Shirley Cooperberg
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
1998Movie
Self - Chris MacNeil
The Patron Saint of Liars
1998Movie
June Clatterbuck
Flash
1997Movie
Laura Strong
Deceiver
1997Movie
Mook
The View
1997TV
Self
A Deadly Vision
1997Movie
Yvette Watson
HARDtalk
1997TV
Timepiece
1996Movie
Maud Gannon
The Spitfire Grill
1996Movie
Hannah Ferguson
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996TV
Self - Guest
How to Make an American Quilt
1995Movie
Hy Dodd
The Baby-Sitters Club
1995Movie
Mrs. Haberman
Follow The River
1995Movie
Gretel
My Brother's Keeper
1995Movie
Helen
Roommates
1995Movie
Judith
Trick of the Eye
1994Movie
Frances Griffin
Inside the Actors Studio
1994TV
Self
Getting Gotti
1994Movie
Jo Giacalone
When a Man Loves a Woman
1994Movie
Emily
Getting Out
1994Movie
Arlie's Mother
Roots of Roe
1993Movie
Letters of Margaret Sanger (voice)
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
1993Movie
Joan Delvecchio
The Cemetery Club
1993Movie
Esther Moskowitz
Earth and the American Dream
1992Movie
Reader (voice)
When It Was a Game 2
1992Movie
Passage Narrator (voice)
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992Movie
Wilma
Picture This
1991Movie
Self
Grand Isle
1991Movie
Mademoiselle Reisz
Dying Young
1991Movie
Mrs. O'Neil
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991Movie
Lillian "Lil" Lambert
When You Remember Me
1990Movie
Nurse Cooder
The Color of Evening
1990Movie
Kate O'Rielly
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
1989Movie
Self
Hello Actors Studio
1988Movie
Self
American Experience
1988TV
Narrator (voice)
Hanna's War
1988Movie
Katalin
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
1987Movie
Mrs. Stocks (voice)
Pack of Lies
1987Movie
Barbara Jackson
Something in Common
1986Movie
Lynn Hollander
The Ellen Burstyn Show
1986TV
Ellen Brewer
Act of Vengeance
1986Movie
Margaret Yablonski
Into Thin Air
1985Movie
Joan Walker
Twice in a Lifetime
1985Movie
Kate MacKenzie
Night of 100 Stars II
1985Movie
Self
Surviving
1985Movie
Tina Brogan
The Ambassador
1985Movie
Alex Hacker
I Love Liberty
1982Movie
Self
Night of 100 Stars
1982Movie
Self
Silence of the North
1981Movie
Olive Frederickson
People vs. Jean Harris
1981Movie
Jean Harris
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
1981Movie
Self
Resurrection
1980Movie
Edna
A Dream of Passion
1978Movie
Brenda Collins
Same Time, Next Year
1978Movie
Doris
Providence
1977Movie
Sonia Langham
Saturday Night Live
1975TV
Self - Host
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975TV
Self
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
1974Movie
Alice Hyatt
Dinah!
1974TV
Self
Harry and Tonto
1974Movie
Shirley
Thursday's Game
1974Movie
Lynne Evers
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
1974Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Exorcist
1973Movie
Chris MacNeil
The King of Marvin Gardens
1972Movie
Sally
The Last Picture Show
1971Movie
Lois Farrow
Alex in Wonderland
1970Movie
Beth Morrison
Tropic of Cancer
1970Movie
Mona (uncredited)
Pit Stop
1969Movie
Ellen McCleod
The Time Tunnel
1966TV
Eve Holland
The Big Valley
1965TV
Sister Sarah Jacob
Goodbye Charlie
1964Movie
Franny Salzman
For Those Who Think Young
1964Movie
Dr. Pauline Swenson
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963TV
Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963TV
Eva Laurelton
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963TV
Susan Mason
Vacation Playhouse
1963TV
Ellen
Going My Way
1962TV
Louise
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster
1962TV
Joan
The Virginian
1962TV
Kate Burden
Ricochet
1961Movie
Rose Maxon
Ben Casey
1961TV
Dr. Leslie Fraser, Connie
Bus Stop
1961TV
Phyllis Dunning
Dr. Kildare
1961TV
Anne Garner
The Defenders
1961TV
Hilda Wesley
Kraft Mystery Theatre
1961TV
Greta Dryden
Surfside 6
1960TV
Wandra Drake
Checkmate
1960TV
Margo as Ellen McRae
The Detectives
1959TV
Nora
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959TV
Donna Whittaker
The Christmas Tree
1958Movie
Elizabeth
77 Sunset Strip
1958TV
Betty Benson, Sandra Keene
Perry Mason
1957TV
Mona Winthrope White
Tony Awards
1956TV
Self - Host, Self - Winner, Self - Presenter, Self - Host/Presenter, Self - Audience Member
Cheyenne
1955TV
Emmy Mae
Gunsmoke
1955TV
Polly, Amy Waters
Letter to Loretta
1953TV
Ann Walters
The Oscars
1953TV
Self
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951TV
Elizabeth, Barbara Jackson, Maggie, Rika
Easy Out?
1948Movie
Mary
Golden Globe Awards
1944TV
Self - Presenter, Self - Nominee
Bathing Flo
Movie