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Ellen Burstyn
Actor, ProducerBorn December 7, 1932 (93 years)
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.
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 & Shows on Plex
Known For
Featured Videos
Ellen Burstyn Filmography
| 2023 | Mother Couch · as Mother |
| 2023 | The Exorcist: Believer · as Chris Macneil |
| 2022 | The First Lady (2022) (TV Series) · as Sara Delano Roosevelt |
| 2022 | Three Months · as Valerie |
| 2021 | Queen Bees · as Helen Wilson |
| 2021 | Law & Order: Organized Crime (TV Series) · as Bernadette 'bernie' Stabler |
| 2020 | Pieces of a Woman · as Elizabeth Weiss |
| 2019 | Lucy in the Sky · as Nana Holbrook |
| 2019 | American Woman · as Miss Dolly |
| 2018 | The Tale · as Nettie |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | A Little Something for Your Birthday · as Celia Berges |
| 2017 | The House of Tomorrow · as Josephine Prendergast |
| 2016 | Wiener-Dog · as Nana |
| 2016 | Custody · as Beatrice Fisher |
| 2015 | Unity · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2015 | About Scout · as Gram |
| 2015 | The Age of Adaline · as Flemming |
| 2014 | Interstellar · as Murph (older) |
| 2014 | The Calling · as Emily Micallef |
| 2014 | When Marnie Was There · as Nan |
| 2014 | Petals on the Wind · as Olivia Foxworth |
| 2014 | Two Men in Town · as Mère Garnett |
| 2014 | Draft Day · as Barb Weaver |
| 2014 | River of Fundament · as Hathfertiti |
| 2014 | Flowers in the Attic · as Grandmother |
| 2014 | The Dollanganger Saga (TV Series) · as Grandmother |
| 2013 | Wish You Well · as Louisa Mae Cardinal |
| 2013 | Mom (TV Series) · as Shirley |
| 2013 | House of Cards (US) (TV Series) · as Elizabeth Hale |
| 2012 | Coma (2012) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Emerson |
| 2012 | Political Animals (TV Series) · as Margaret Barrish |
| 2011 | Another Happy Day · as Doris Baker |
| 2011 | Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You · as Nanette |
| 2010 | Main Street · as Georgiana Carr |
| 2010 | Louie (2010) (TV Series) · as Evanka |
| 2009 | According to Greta · as Katherine |
| 2009 | The Mighty Macs · as Mother St. John |
| 2009 | The Velveteen Rabbit · as Swan (voice) |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond · as Miss Addie |
| 2008 | Lovely, Still · as Mary |
| 2007 | Mitch Albom's for One More Day · as Pauline "posey" Benetto |
| 2007 | The Stone Angel · as Hagar |
| 2006 | The Fountain · as Dr. Lillian Guzetti |
| 2006 | 30 Days · as Maura |
| 2006 | The Wicker Man · as Sister Summersisle |
| 2006 | The Elephant King · as Diana Hunt |
| 2006 | Big Love (TV Series) · as Nancy Davis Dutton |
| 2006 | The Book of Daniel (TV Series) · as Bishop Beatrice Congreve |
| 2005 | Mrs. Harris · as Former Tarnower Steady |
| 2005 | Our Fathers · as Mary Ryan |
| 2004 | The Five People You Meet in Heaven · as Ruby |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | Brush with Fate · as Rika |
| 2002 | Red Dragon · as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood · as Vivi Abbott Walker |
| 2001 | Within These Walls · as Joan Thomas |
| 2001 | Dodson's Journey · as Mother |
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream · as Sara Goldfarb |
| 2000 | That's Life (TV Series) · as Dolly Delucca |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | The Yards · as Val Handler |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Bernie Stabler |
| 1999 | Night Ride Home · as Maggie |
| 1999 | Walking Across Egypt · as Mattie Rigsbee |
| 1998 | Playing by Heart · as Mildred |
| 1998 | A Will of Their Own (TV Series) · as Veronica Steward |
| 1998 | You Can Thank Me Later · as Shirley Cooperberg |
| 1998 | The Patron Saint of Liars · as June Clatterbuck |
| 1997 | Flash · as Laura Strong |
| 1997 | Deceiver · as Mook |
| 1997 | A Deadly Vision · as Yvette Watson |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Our Son, the Matchmaker · as Iva Mae |
| 1996 | The Spitfire Grill · as Hannah Ferguson |
| 1995 | How to Make an American Quilt · as Hy Dodd |
| 1995 | The Baby-Sitters Club · as Mrs. Haberman |
| 1995 | Follow the River · as Gretel |
| 1995 | My Brother's Keeper · as Helen |
| 1995 | Roommates · as Judith |
| 1994 | Primal Secrets · as Frances Griffin |
| 1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman · as Emily |
| 1994 | Getting Gotti · as Jo Giacalone |
| 1994 | Getting Out · as Arlie's Mother |
| 1993 | The Roots of Roe · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1993 | Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story · as Joan Delvecchio |
| 1993 | The Cemetery Club · as Esther Moskowitz |
| 1992 | Earth and the American Dream · as Reader (voice) |
| 1992 | When It Was a Game 2 · as Passage Narrator (voice) |
| 1992 | |
| 1991 | Grand Isle · as Mademoiselle Reisz |
| 1991 | Dying Young · as Mrs. O'neil |
| 1991 | Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love · as Lillian "lil" Lambert |
| 1990 | When You Remember Me · as Nurse Cooder |
| 1990 | The Color of Evening · as Kate O'rielly |
| 1988 | American Experience (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1988 | Hanna's War · as Katalin |
| 1987 | Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam · as Mrs. Stocks (voice) |
| 1987 | Pack of Lies · as Barbara Jackson |
| 1986 | Something in Common · as Lynn Hollander |
| 1986 | The Ellen Burstyn Show (TV Series) · as Ellen Brewer |
| 1986 | Act of Vengeance · as Margaret Yablonski |
| 1985 | Twice in a Lifetime · as Kate Mackenzie |
| 1985 | Into Thin Air · as Joan Walker |
| 1985 | Surviving · as Tina Brogan |
| 1984 | The Ambassador · as Alex Hacker |
| 1981 | Silence of the North · as Olive Frederickson |
| 1981 | The People vs. Jean Harris · as Jean Harris |
| 1980 | Resurrection · as Edna |
| 1978 | A Dream of Passion · as Brenda Collins |
| 1978 | Same Time, Next Year · as Doris |
| 1977 | Providence · as Sonia Langham |
| 1974 | Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore · as Alice Hyatt |
| 1974 | Harry and Tonto · as Shirley Mallard |
| 1974 | Thursday's Game · as Lynne Evers |
| 1973 | The Exorcist · as Chris Macneil |
| 1972 | The King of Marvin Gardens · as Sally |
| 1971 | The Last Picture Show · as Lois Farrow |
| 1970 | Alex in Wonderland · as Beth Morrison |
| 1970 | Tropic of Cancer · as Mona (uncredited) |
| 1969 | The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (TV Series) · as Rachel Lambert |
| 1969 | |
| 1966 | The Iron Horse (TV Series) · as Julie Parsons |
| 1966 | The Time Tunnel (TV Series) · as Eve Holland |
| 1965 | The Big Valley (TV Series) · as Sister Sarah Jacob |
| 1965 | For the People (TV Series) · as Maria Haviland |
| 1964 | Goodbye Charlie · as Franny Salzman |
| 1964 | For Those Who Think Young · as Dr. Pauline Swenson |
| 1963 | Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) · as Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) · as Eva Laurelton |
| 1963 | The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series) · as Susan Mason |
| 1963 | Vacation Playhouse (TV Series) · as Ellen |
| 1963 | The Doctors (TV Series) · as Dr. Kate Bartok |
| 1962 | Going My Way (TV Series) · as Louise |
| 1962 | I'm Dickens... He's Fenster (TV Series) · as Joan |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Kate Burden |
| 1961 | Ben Casey (TV Series) · as Connie |
| 1961 | Bus Stop (TV Series) · as Phyllis Dunning |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Anne Garner |
| 1961 | The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Rose Maxon |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Hilda Wesley |
| 1961 | Kraft Mystery Theatre (TV Series) · as Greta Dryden |
| 1960 | SurfSide 6 (TV Series) · as Wandra Drake |
| 1960 | Insight (TV Series) · as Janet |
| 1960 | Michael Shayne (TV Series) · as Carol |
| 1960 | Checkmate (TV Series) · as Margo As Ellen Mcrae |
| 1959 | The Detectives (1959) (TV Series) · as Nora |
| 1959 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series) · as Donna Whittaker |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) · as Amy |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Sandra Keene |
| 1957 | The Real McCoys (TV Series) · as Dorothy Carter |
| 1957 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Mona Winthrope White |
| 1957 | Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Margaret Whitlow |
| 1955 | |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Amy Waters |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Ann Walters |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Jenny |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Rika |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Linda |
| 2025 | Breakdown: 1975 · as Self |
| 2024 | Faye · as Self - Actor: 'the Yards' |
| 2024 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | Being Mary Tyler Moore · as Self |
| 2022 | Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe · as Self |
| 2022 | Alain Resnais, l'audacieux · as Self |
| 2022 | Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Paul Newman, Behind Blues Eyes · as Herself |
| 2019 | The Movies (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 2019 | Delphine and Carole · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | Friedkin Uncut · as Self |
| 2017 | Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime · as Self |
| 2015 | Daily Blast Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2014 | The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes to... · as Self - Interviewee |
| 2013 | The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2012 | Love, Marilyn · as Self |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self - Actress |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | The 2009 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2009 | PoliWood · as Self |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | I Love The 70s Volume 2 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | Stardust: The Bette Davis Story · as Self |
| 2006 | Efter tio (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2005 | |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2003 | A Decade Under the Influence · as Self |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | HypaSpace (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2001 | The 73rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2001 | The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2001 | 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 1999 | The Hurricane · as Self |
| 1999 | The Last Picture Show: A Look Back · as Self |
| 1998 | Marilyn in Manhattan · as Self |
| 1998 | The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' · as Self - Chris Macneil |
| 1998 | The 70th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Past Winner |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1995 | Empire of the Censors · as Self |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | The 47th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1993 | The 65th Annual Academy Awards · as Self |
| 1992 | HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | Oscar's Greatest Moments · as Self |
| 1991 | Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1991 | Maury (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1991 | |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | National Memorial Day Concert (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II · as Self |
| 1983 | In Our Hands · as Self |
| 1982 | I Love Liberty · as Self |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | The 35th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Host & Presenter |
| 1981 | The 53rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1981 | Sois belle et tais-toi! · as Self |
| 1981 | The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1980 | Hour Magazine (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | Friday Night Saturday Morning (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | The 33rd Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1979 | The 51st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1979 | CBS Sunday Morning With Jane Pauley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1977 | The 49th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1975 | Sunday meetings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | The 46th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1974 | The Horror Hall of Fame · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1956 | Tony Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 1954 | Camera Three (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 2017 | The House of Tomorrow · as Executive Producer |
| 2001 | Within These Walls · as Executive Producer |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |