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Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn

Acting Detroit, Michigan, USA Born December 7, 1932

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.

33
Films
6.6
Avg Score

Filmography (33)

The Exorcist: Believer

The Exorcist: Believer

2023 Horror, Thriller 1h 51min
48
as Chris MacNeil
Queen Bees

Queen Bees

2021 Comedy, Drama 1h 41min
64
as Helen Wilson
Pieces of a Woman

Pieces of a Woman

2020 Drama 2h 7min
70
as Elizabeth Weiss
The House of Tomorrow

The House of Tomorrow

2019 Comedy, Drama 1h 25min
62
as Josephine Prendergast
Executive Producer
The Tale

The Tale

2018 Mystery, Drama 1h 55min
72
as Nettie
The Age of Adaline

The Age of Adaline

2015 Drama, Fantasy 1h 52min
72
as Flemming
Interstellar

Interstellar

2014 Science Fiction, Adventure 2h 49min
87
as Murph (older)
Draft Day

Draft Day

2014 Drama 1h 50min
68
as Barb Weaver
The Calling

The Calling

2014 Thriller 1h 48min
59
as Emily Micallef
Flowers in the Attic

Flowers in the Attic

2014 Mystery, Thriller 1h 30min
61
as Grandmother
Petals on the Wind

Petals on the Wind

2014 Thriller, Romance 1h 25min
61
as Olivia Foxworth
Lovely, Still

Lovely, Still

2009 Drama, Romance 1h 32min
70
as Mary
W.

W.

2008 Drama, History 2h 9min
63
as Barbara Bush
The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man

2006 Horror, Mystery 1h 42min
38
as Sister Summersisle
The Fountain

The Fountain

2006 Science Fiction, Adventure 1h 36min
71
as Dr. Lillian Guzetti
Red Dragon

Red Dragon

2002 Horror, Thriller 2h 4min
72
as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2002 Comedy, Drama 1h 56min
61
as Vivi
Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream

2000 Crime, Drama 1h 42min
83
as Sara Goldfarb
The Yards

The Yards

2000 Thriller, Crime 1h 55min
64
as Val Handler
Playing by Heart

Playing by Heart

1998 Comedy, Drama 2h 1min
69
as Mildred
Deceiver

Deceiver

1997 Mystery, Thriller 1h 46min
65
as Mook
The Spitfire Grill

The Spitfire Grill

1996 Comedy, Drama 1h 57min
70
as Hannah Ferguson
How to Make an American Quilt

How to Make an American Quilt

1995 Drama, Romance 1h 56min
63
as Hy Dodd
The Baby-Sitters Club

The Baby-Sitters Club

1995 Comedy, Drama 1h 34min
57
as Mrs. Haberman
When a Man Loves a Woman

When a Man Loves a Woman

1994 Drama, Romance 2h 6min
66
as Emily
Dying Young

Dying Young

1991 Drama, Romance 1h 51min
60
as Mrs. O'Neil
Same Time, Next Year

Same Time, Next Year

1978 Comedy, Drama 1h 59min
72
as Doris
Thursday's Game

Thursday's Game

1974 Comedy, Drama 1h 40min
64
as Lynne Evers
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

1974 Drama, Romance 1h 52min
73
as Alice Hyatt
Harry and Tonto

Harry and Tonto

1974 Adventure, Comedy 1h 55min
73
as Shirley Mallard
The Exorcist

The Exorcist

1973 Horror 2h 2min
81
as Chris MacNeil
The Last Picture Show

The Last Picture Show

1971 Drama, Romance 1h 59min
80
as Lois Farrow
Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Cancer

1970 Drama, Romance 1h 27min
55
as Mona (uncredited)

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