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Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn

Acting December 7, 1932 (93 years old) Detroit, Michigan, USA

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.

Movies 149

Interstellar 8.5

Interstellar

as Murph (older)

2014
The Exorcist 7.8

The Exorcist

as Chris MacNeil

1973
The Age of Adaline 7.5

The Age of Adaline

as Flemming

2015
The Exorcist: Believer 5.8

The Exorcist: Believer

as Chris MacNeil

2023
Requiem for a Dream 8.0

Requiem for a Dream

as Sara Goldfarb

2000
The Fountain 6.9

The Fountain

as Dr. Lillian Guzetti

2006
Pieces of a Woman 7.0

Pieces of a Woman

as Elizabeth Weiss

2020
The Last Picture Show 7.6

The Last Picture Show

as Lois Farrow

1971
Flowers in the Attic 6.7

Flowers in the Attic

as Grandmother

2014
The Wicker Man 4.3

The Wicker Man

as Sister Summersisle

2006
When a Man Loves a Woman 6.6

When a Man Loves a Woman

as Emily

1994
How to Make an American Quilt 6.4

How to Make an American Quilt

as Hy Dodd

1995
Draft Day 6.7

Draft Day

as Barb Weaver

2014
The Yards 6.3

The Yards

as Val Handler

2000
Dying Young 6.7

Dying Young

as Mrs. O'Neil

1991
Lucy in the Sky 5.0

Lucy in the Sky

as Nana Holbrook

2019
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore 7.0

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

as Alice Hyatt

1974
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 6.0

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

as Vivi

2002
W. 6.1

W.

as Barbara Bush

2008
Same Time, Next Year 6.5

Same Time, Next Year

as Doris

1978
Playing by Heart 6.7

Playing by Heart

as Mildred

1998
Petals on the Wind 6.6

Petals on the Wind

as Olivia Foxworth

2014
Breakdown: 1975 6.9

Breakdown: 1975

as Self

2025
Red Dragon 7.1

Red Dragon

as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)

2002
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond 5.2

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

as Miss Addie

2008
And the Oscar Goes To... 6.8

And the Oscar Goes To...

as Self - Interviewee

2014
The Tale 7.1

The Tale

as Nettie

2018
The Baby-Sitters Club 5.4

The Baby-Sitters Club

as Mrs. Haberman

1995
Deceiver 6.0

Deceiver

as Mook

1997
Nostalgia 5.3

Nostalgia

as Helen Greer

2018
Unity 7.5

Unity

as Narrator (voice)

2015
Another Happy Day 5.5

Another Happy Day

as Doris Baker

2011
Tropic of Cancer 5.0

Tropic of Cancer

as Mona (uncredited)

1970
Two Men in Town 5.5

Two Men in Town

as Mère Garnett

2014
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood 7.1

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

as Self

2003
The House of Tomorrow 6.8

The House of Tomorrow

as Josephine Prendergast

2019
Custody 6.9

Custody

as Beatrice Fisher

2016
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You 5.5

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

as Nanette

2012
Lovely, Still 6.6

Lovely, Still

as Mary

2009
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam 7.2

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

as Mrs. Stocks (voice)

1987
Three Months 7.1

Three Months

as Valerie

2022
Queen Bees 6.0

Queen Bees

as Helen Wilson

2021
Twice in a Lifetime 5.7

Twice in a Lifetime

as Kate MacKenzie

1985
Wiener-Dog 5.6

Wiener-Dog

as Nana

2016
Act of Vengeance 5.6

Act of Vengeance

as Margaret Yablonski

1986
Mother, Couch 5.6

Mother, Couch

as Mother

2024
River of Fundament 6.0

River of Fundament

as Hathfertiti

2014
Main Street 4.6

Main Street

as Georgiana Carr

2010
The King of Marvin Gardens 5.9

The King of Marvin Gardens

as Sally

1972
Harry and Tonto 7.1

Harry and Tonto

as Shirley

1974
The Five People You Meet In Heaven 7.0

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

as Ruby

2004
Providence 6.6

Providence

as Sonia Langham

1977
Flesh Impact 4.9

Flesh Impact

as Marilyn Monroe

2026
Delphine and Carole 6.4

Delphine and Carole

as Self (archive footage)

2020
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story 4.2

Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story

as Joan Delvecchio

1993
The Calling 5.9

The Calling

as Emily Micallef

2014
According to Greta 6.0

According to Greta

as Katherine

2009
Night of 100 Stars II 6.8

Night of 100 Stars II

as Self

1985
A Decade Under the Influence 7.9

A Decade Under the Influence

as Self

2003
The Mighty Macs 5.2

The Mighty Macs

as Mother St. John

2011
This Ordinary Thing

This Ordinary Thing

as Self (voice)

2025
Wish You Well 6.3

Wish You Well

as Louisa Mae Cardinal

2013
30 Days 2.8

30 Days

as Maura

2006
Love, Marilyn 6.5

Love, Marilyn

as Self

2013
The Patron Saint of Liars 6.2

The Patron Saint of Liars

as June Clatterbuck

1998
Night of 100 Stars 5.8

Night of 100 Stars

as Self

1982
All I Wish 5.5

All I Wish

as Celia Berges

2018
The Cemetery Club 5.6

The Cemetery Club

as Esther Moskowitz

1993
Mermaid 6.7

Mermaid

as Trish

2000
Roommates 5.7

Roommates

as Judith

1995
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story 6.7

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

as Self

2006
American Woman 4.9

American Woman

as Miss Dolly

2019
Mrs. Harris 5.8

Mrs. Harris

as Former Tarnower Steady

2005
The Spitfire Grill 6.5

The Spitfire Grill

as Hannah Ferguson

1996
Getting Gotti 5.0

Getting Gotti

as Jo Giacalone

1994
The Velveteen Rabbit 6.5

The Velveteen Rabbit

as Swan (voice)

2009
Friedkin Uncut 7.1

Friedkin Uncut

as Self

2018
Our Fathers 6.5

Our Fathers

as Mary Ryan

2005
The Stone Angel 5.4

The Stone Angel

as Hagar

2007
For Those Who Think Young 5.7

For Those Who Think Young

as Dr. Pauline Swenson

1964
Flash 8.2

Flash

as Laura Strong

1997
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes 8.0

Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes

as Herself

2021
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love 5.1

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

as Lillian "Lil" Lambert

1991
Into Thin Air 7.4

Into Thin Air

as Joan Walker

1985
Earth and the American Dream 6.7

Earth and the American Dream

as Reader (voice)

1992
I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

as Self

1982
Follow The River 7.3

Follow The River

as Gretel

1995
Picture This 9.5

Picture This

as Self

1991
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist 7.4

The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist

as Self - Chris MacNeil

1998
Hello Actors Studio 6.7

Hello Actors Studio

as Self

1988
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

as Self

1989
People vs. Jean Harris

People vs. Jean Harris

as Jean Harris

1981
Within These Walls 5.6

Within These Walls

as Joan Thomas

2001
Trick of the Eye 6.4

Trick of the Eye

as Frances Griffin

1994
PoliWood 6.5

PoliWood

as Self

2009
Pack of Lies 6.8

Pack of Lies

as Barbara Jackson

1987
Place to Be

Place to Be

as Brooke

2026
When You Remember Me 6.1

When You Remember Me

as Nurse Cooder

1990
Resurrection 6.5

Resurrection

as Edna

1980
Be Pretty and Shut Up! 6.2

Be Pretty and Shut Up!

as Self

1981
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel 4.7

The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel

as Tommie

2004
Goodbye Charlie 5.8

Goodbye Charlie

as Franny Salzman

1964
About Scout 5.9

About Scout

as Gram

2015
Watch on the Rhine

Watch on the Rhine

as Fanny

2021
Mitch Albom's For One More Day 3.0

Mitch Albom's For One More Day

as Pauline "Posey" Benetto

2007
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story 8.0

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story

as Wilma

1992
Surviving 5.0

Surviving

as Tina Brogan

1985
The Elephant King 5.9

The Elephant King

as Diana Hunt

2006
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow 6.9

Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow

as Self

2006
My Brother's Keeper 1.0

My Brother's Keeper

as Helen

1995
Hanna's War 5.2

Hanna's War

as Katalin

1988
Grand Isle 4.6

Grand Isle

as Mademoiselle Reisz

1991
Alex in Wonderland 5.5

Alex in Wonderland

as Beth Morrison

1970
Getting Out 5.2

Getting Out

as Arlie's Mother

1994
Reflections of a Philosopher King

Reflections of a Philosopher King

as Self

2010
The Making of Requiem for a Dream 5.0

The Making of Requiem for a Dream

as Self

2001
Brush with Fate 6.0

Brush with Fate

as Rika

2003
When It Was a Game 2 9.0

When It Was a Game 2

as Passage Narrator (voice)

1992
You Can Thank Me Later 5.8

You Can Thank Me Later

as Shirley Cooperberg

1998
Timepiece 7.0

Timepiece

as Maud Gannon

1996
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute 7.7

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute

as Self (archive footage)

1974
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

as Self

2024
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies

Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies

as Self

2019
Thursday's Game 6.5

Thursday's Game

as Lynne Evers

1974
The Christmas Tree 2.0

The Christmas Tree

as Elizabeth

1958
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

as Self

2010
E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump 4.5

E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump

as E. Jean Carroll

2024
Something in Common 6.0

Something in Common

as Lynn Hollander

1986
Pit Stop 6.9

Pit Stop

as Ellen McCleod

1969
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story

as Self

2010
Walking Across Egypt 4.9

Walking Across Egypt

as Mattie Rigsbee

1999
Silence of the North 7.0

Silence of the North

as Olive Frederickson

1981
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back 7.7

The Last Picture Show: A Look Back

as Self

1999
Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" 10.0

Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"

as Self

2004
The Color of Evening 6.0

The Color of Evening

as Kate O'Rielly

1990
A Deadly Vision 5.6

A Deadly Vision

as Yvette Watson

1997
Ricochet

Ricochet

as Rose Maxon

1961
Marilyn in Manhattan 7.9

Marilyn in Manhattan

as Self

1998
The Ambassador 5.1

The Ambassador

as Alex Hacker

1985
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime 3.5

Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime

as Self

2017
Night Ride Home 5.8

Night Ride Home

as Maggie

1999
A Dream of Passion 6.2

A Dream of Passion

as Brenda Collins

1978
Didn't You Used to Be Satan?

Didn't You Used to Be Satan?

as Self

1996
Bathing Flo

Bathing Flo

Duse, the Greatest

Duse, the Greatest

2025
Easy Out?

Easy Out?

as Mary

1948
Roots of Roe 7.0

Roots of Roe

as Letters of Margaret Sanger (voice)

1993
Presenting Geraldine Page

Presenting Geraldine Page

Memories, Dreams & Addictions 7.0

Memories, Dreams & Addictions

as Self

2001

TV Shows 63

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Bernie Stabler

1999
The Kelly Clarkson Show 6.2

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self

2019
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 7.6

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

1962
Saturday Night Live 6.9

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

1975
The View 4.3

The View

as Self

1997
Perry Mason 7.7

Perry Mason

as Mona Winthrope White

1957
Mom 7.3

Mom

as Shirley

2013
House of Cards 8.0

House of Cards

as Elizabeth Hale

2013
Golden Globe Awards 7.0

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Presenter

1944
Golden Globe Awards 7.0

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee

1944
American Experience 6.5

American Experience

as Narrator (voice)

1988
The Virginian 6.5

The Virginian

as Kate Burden

1962
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Host

1956
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Winner

1956
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Presenter

1956
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Host/Presenter

1956
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Audience Member

1956
Cheyenne 6.2

Cheyenne

as Emmy Mae

1955
Law & Order: Organized Crime 7.9

Law & Order: Organized Crime

as Bernadette Stabler

2021
Dr. Kildare 5.7

Dr. Kildare

as Anne Garner

1961
The Big Valley 6.2

The Big Valley

as Sister Sarah Jacob

1965
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre 5.9

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

as Eva Laurelton

1963
Ben Casey 5.9

Ben Casey

as Dr. Leslie Fraser

1961
Ben Casey 5.9

Ben Casey

as Connie

1961
Dinah! 7.0

Dinah!

as Self

1974
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche 6.0

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as Self

1975
Big Love 6.9

Big Love

as Nancy Davis Dutton

2006
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis 6.3

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

as Donna Whittaker

1959
The Defenders 6.3

The Defenders

as Hilda Wesley

1961
The Oscars 7.1

The Oscars

as Self

1953
Gunsmoke 6.7

Gunsmoke

as Polly

1955
Gunsmoke 6.7

Gunsmoke

as Amy Waters

1955
77 Sunset Strip 7.2

77 Sunset Strip

as Betty Benson

1958
77 Sunset Strip 7.2

77 Sunset Strip

as Sandra Keene

1958
Laramie 6.7

Laramie

as Amy

1959
The Detectives 6.7

The Detectives

as Nora

1959
Kraft Suspense Theatre 6.5

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton

1963
The Time Tunnel 7.7

The Time Tunnel

as Eve Holland

1966
Surfside 6 6.3

Surfside 6

as Wandra Drake

1960
HARDtalk 8.7

HARDtalk

1997
Checkmate 4.8

Checkmate

as Margo as Ellen McRae

1960
The Rosie O'Donnell Show 4.1

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

as Self - Guest

1996
That's Life 7.0

That's Life

as Dolly DeLucca

2000
The Greatest Show on Earth 7.5

The Greatest Show on Earth

as Susan Mason

1963
Vacation Playhouse 8.0

Vacation Playhouse

as Ellen

1963
Going My Way 5.8

Going My Way

as Louise

1962
The First Lady 5.7

The First Lady

as Sara Delano Roosevelt

2022
Letter to Loretta 6.6

Letter to Loretta

as Ann Walters

1953
Bus Stop 10.0

Bus Stop

as Phyllis Dunning

1961
Political Animals 7.1

Political Animals

as Margaret Barrish

2012
Kraft Mystery Theatre 7.2

Kraft Mystery Theatre

as Greta Dryden

1961
Hallmark Hall of Fame 8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Elizabeth

1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame 8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Barbara Jackson

1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame 8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Maggie

1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame 8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Rika

1951
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster 7.0

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster

as Joan

1962
The Book of Daniel 7.0

The Book of Daniel

as Bishop Beatrice Congreve

2006
Coma 6.4

Coma

as Mrs. Emerson

2012
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe 8.1

Reframed: Marilyn Monroe

as Self

2022
A Will of their Own 7.5

A Will of their Own

as Veronica Steward

1998
The Ellen Burstyn Show 7.5

The Ellen Burstyn Show

as Ellen Brewer

1986
Inside the Actors Studio

Inside the Actors Studio

as Self

1994
Possible Side Effects 10.0

Possible Side Effects

as Marnie Hunt

2009

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