8.5
Movie
Acting
Ellen Burstyn
- Born
- (age 93)
- Birthplace
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Credits
- 197 titles
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.
Signature work
Known For
8.5
Movie
8.0
Movie
Requiem for a Dream
7.7
Movie
The Exorcist
7.5
Movie
The Age of Adaline
8.0
TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0
TV
House of Cards
6.9
Movie
The Fountain
4.3
Movie
The Wicker Man
7.0
Movie
Pieces of a Woman
5.8
Movie
The Exorcist: Believer
6.7
Movie
Draft Day
7.6
Movie
The Last Picture Show
6.1
Movie
W.
7.3
TV
Mom
7.0
Movie
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
6.2
Movie
The Yards
6.9
TV
Saturday Night Live
6.7
Movie
Dying Young
Acting credits 197
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| TBA | Bathing Flo Film | |
| 2026 | Place to Be Film | Brooke |
| 2026 | Flesh Impact Film | Marilyn Monroe |
| 2025 | Breakdown: 1975 Film | Self |
| 2025 | This Ordinary Thing Film | Self (voice) |
| 2025 | Duse, the Greatest Film | |
| 2024 | E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump Film | E. Jean Carroll |
| 2024 | Mother, Couch Film | Mother |
| 2024 | Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist Film | Self |
| 2023 | The Exorcist: Believer Film | Chris MacNeil |
| 2022 | The First Lady TV | Sara Delano Roosevelt (6 ep) |
| 2022 | Three Months Film | Valerie |
| 2022 | Reframed: Marilyn Monroe TV | Self (4 ep) |
| 2021 | Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes Film | Herself |
| 2021 | Queen Bees Film | Helen Wilson |
| 2021 | Watch on the Rhine Film | Fanny |
| 2021 | Law & Order: Organized Crime TV | Bernadette Stabler (27 ep) |
| 2020 | Pieces of a Woman Film | Elizabeth Weiss |
| 2020 | Delphine and Carole Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2019 | Lucy in the Sky Film | Nana Holbrook |
| 2019 | American Woman Film | Miss Dolly |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show TV | Self (2 ep) |
| 2019 | Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies Film | Self |
| 2019 | The House of Tomorrow Film | Josephine Prendergast |
| 2018 | Friedkin Uncut Film | Self |
| 2018 | Nostalgia Film | Helen Greer |
| 2018 | All I Wish Film | Celia Berges |
| 2018 | The Tale Film | Nettie |
| 2017 | Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime Film | Self |
| 2016 | Wiener-Dog Film | Nana |
| 2016 | Custody Film | Beatrice Fisher |
| 2015 | Unity Film | Narrator (voice) |
| 2015 | About Scout Film | Gram |
| 2015 | The Age of Adaline Film | Flemming |
| 2014 | Interstellar Film | Murph (older) |
| 2014 | The Calling Film | Emily Micallef |
| 2014 | Petals on the Wind Film | Olivia Foxworth |
| 2014 | Two Men in Town Film | Mère Garnett |
| 2014 | Draft Day Film | Barb Weaver |
| 2014 | River of Fundament Film | Hathfertiti |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes To... Film | Self - Interviewee |
| 2014 | Flowers in the Attic Film | Grandmother |
| 2013 | Wish You Well Film | Louisa Mae Cardinal |
| 2013 | Mom TV | Shirley (1 ep) |
| 2013 | Love, Marilyn Film | Self |
| 2013 | House of Cards TV | Elizabeth Hale (5 ep) |
| 2012 | Coma TV | Mrs. Emerson (2 ep) |
| 2012 | Political Animals TV | Margaret Barrish (6 ep) |
| 2012 | Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You Film | Nanette |
| 2011 | Another Happy Day Film | Doris Baker |
| 2011 | The Mighty Macs Film | Mother St. John |
| 2010 | Reflections of a Philosopher King Film | Self |
| 2010 | BBStory: An American Film Renaissance Film | Self |
| 2010 | America Lost and Found: The BBS Story Film | Self |
| 2010 | Main Street Film | Georgiana Carr |
| 2009 | According to Greta Film | Katherine |
| 2009 | Lovely, Still Film | Mary |
| 2009 | PoliWood Film | Self |
| 2009 | The Velveteen Rabbit Film | Swan (voice) |
| 2008 | W. Film | Barbara Bush |
Crew credits 3
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| TBA | Bathing Flo Film | Director |
| 2019 | The House of Tomorrow Film | Executive Producer |
| 2001 | Within These Walls Film | Executive Producer |