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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.

34
Films
6.6
Avg Score

Filmography (34)

The Exorcist: Believer

The Exorcist: Believer

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

Queen Bees

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

Pieces of a Woman

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

The House of Tomorrow

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

The Tale

2018 • Mystery, Drama • 1h 55m
72
as Nettie
Wiener-Dog

Wiener-Dog

2016 • Comedy, Drama • 1h 28m
59
as Nana
The Age of Adaline

The Age of Adaline

2015 • Drama, Fantasy • 1h 52m
72
as Flemming
Interstellar

Interstellar

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

Draft Day

2014 • Drama • 1h 50m
68
as Barb Weaver
The Calling

The Calling

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

Flowers in the Attic

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

Petals on the Wind

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

Lovely, Still

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

W.

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

The Wicker Man

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

The Fountain

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

Red Dragon

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

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

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

Requiem for a Dream

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

The Yards

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

Playing by Heart

1998 • Comedy, Drama • 2h 1m
69
as Mildred
Deceiver

Deceiver

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

The Spitfire Grill

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

How to Make an American Quilt

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

The Baby-Sitters Club

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

When a Man Loves a Woman

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

Dying Young

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

Same Time, Next Year

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

Thursday's Game

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

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

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

Harry and Tonto

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

The Exorcist

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

The Last Picture Show

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

Tropic of Cancer

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

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