Ellen Burstyn
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Breakdown: 1975 as Self
- 2025 · Duse, the Greatest as
- 2023 · The Exorcist: Believer as Chris MacNeil
- 2022 · The First Lady as Sara Delano Roosevelt
- 2022 · Reframed: Marilyn Monroe as Self
- 2021 · Law & Order: Organized Crime as Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler
- 2020 · Pieces of a Woman as Elizabeth Weiss
- 2019 · Lucy in the Sky as Nana Holbrook
- 2018 · Nostalgia as Helen Greer
- 2018 · The Tale as Nettie
- 2016 · Wiener-Dog as Nana
- 2016 · Custody as Beatrice Fisher
- 2015 · Unity as Narrator (voice)
- 2015 · The Age of Adaline as Flemming
- 2014 · Interstellar as Murph (older)
- 2014 · Petals on the Wind as Olivia Foxworth
- 2014 · Two Men in Town as Mère Garnett
- 2014 · Draft Day as Barb Weaver
- 2014 · Flowers in the Attic as Grandmother
- 2013 · Wish You Well as Louisa Mae Cardinal
- 2013 · Mom as Shirley
- 2013 · House of Cards as Elizabeth Hale
- 2012 · Coma as Mrs. Emerson
- 2012 · Political Animals as Margaret Barrish
- 2010 · Main Street as Georgiana Carr
- 2009 · According to Greta as Katherine
- 2009 · Lovely, Still as Mary
- 2008 · W. as Barbara Bush
- 2006 · The Fountain as Dr. Lillian Guzetti
- 2006 · 30 Days as Maura
- 2006 · The Wicker Man as Sister Summersisle
- 2006 · Big Love as Nancy Davis Dutton
- 2006 · Mrs. Harris as Former Tarnower Steady
- 2006 · The Book of Daniel as Bishop Beatrice Congreve
- 2003 · Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood as Self
- 2002 · Red Dragon as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
- 2000 · Requiem for a Dream as Sara Goldfarb
- 2000 · That's Life as Dolly DeLucca
- 2000 · The Yards as Val Handler
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Bernie Stabler
- 1999 · Night Ride Home as Maggie
- 1998 · Playing by Heart as Mildred
- 1998 · A Will of their Own as Veronica Steward
- 1997 · Flash as Laura Strong
- 1997 · Deceiver as Mook
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1996 · The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self - Guest
- 1995 · How to Make an American Quilt as Hy Dodd
- 1995 · Roommates as Judith
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1994 · When a Man Loves a Woman as Emily
- 1991 · Picture This as Self
- 1991 · Dying Young as Mrs. O'Neil
- 1988 · Hello Actors Studio as Self
- 1988 · American Experience as Narrator (voice)
- 1987 · Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam as Mrs. Stocks (voice)
- 1986 · The Ellen Burstyn Show as Ellen Brewer
- 1986 · Act of Vengeance as Margaret Yablonski
- 1985 · Night of 100 Stars II as Self
- 1982 · I Love Liberty as Self
- 1977 · Providence as Sonia Langham
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Les Rendez-vous du dimanche as Self
- 1974 · Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore as Alice Hyatt
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1974 · Harry and Tonto as Shirley Mallard
- 1973 · The Exorcist as Chris MacNeil
- 1971 · The Last Picture Show as Lois Farrow
- 1966 · The Time Tunnel as Eve Holland
- 1965 · The Big Valley as Sister Sarah Jacob
- 1963 · Kraft Suspense Theatre as Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
- 1963 · Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre as Eva Laurelton
- 1963 · The Greatest Show on Earth as Susan Mason
- 1963 · Vacation Playhouse as Ellen
- 1962 · Going My Way as Louise
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · I'm Dickens, He's Fenster as Joan
- 1962 · The Virginian as Kate Burden
- 1961 · Ben Casey as Dr. Leslie Fraser
- 1961 · Ben Casey as Connie
- 1961 · Bus Stop as Phyllis Dunning
- 1961 · Dr. Kildare as Anne Garner
- 1961 · The Defenders as Hilda Wesley
- 1960 · Surfside 6 as Wandra Drake
- 1960 · Checkmate as Margo as Ellen McRae
- 1959 · The Detectives as Nora
- 1959 · The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis as Donna Whittaker
- 1958 · 77 Sunset Strip as Betty Benson
- 1958 · 77 Sunset Strip as Sandra Keene
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Mona Winthrope White
- 1955 · Cheyenne as Emmy Mae
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Polly
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Amy Waters
- 1953 · Letter to Loretta as Ann Walters
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1951 · Hallmark Hall of Fame as Elizabeth
- 1951 · Hallmark Hall of Fame as Barbara Jackson
- 1951 · Hallmark Hall of Fame as Maggie
- 1951 · Hallmark Hall of Fame as Rika
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Presenter
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee
- Future · Bathing Flo as
- 2025 · This Ordinary Thing as Self (voice)
- 2025 · Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies as Self - (archive footage)
- 2024 · Mother, Couch as Mother
- 2024 · Martin Scorsese, the Italian-American Master as Self
- 2022 · Three Months as Valerie
- 2021 · Queen Bees as Helen Wilson
- 2020 · Delphine and Carole as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · American Woman as Miss Dolly
- 2019 · The House of Tomorrow as Josephine Prendergast
- 2018 · Friedkin Uncut as Self
- 2018 · All I Wish as Celia Berges
- 2015 · About Scout as Gram
- 2014 · The Calling as Emily Micallef
- 2014 · River of Fundament as Hathfertiti
- 2014 · And the Oscar Goes To... as Self - Interviewee
- 2013 · Love, Marilyn as Self
- 2012 · Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You as Nanette
- 2011 · Another Happy Day as Doris Baker
- 2011 · The Mighty Macs as Mother St. John
- 2009 · PoliWood as Self
- 2009 · The Velveteen Rabbit as Swan (voice)
- 2008 · The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond as Miss Addie
- 2007 · The Stone Angel as Hagar
- 2004 · The Five People You Meet In Heaven as Ruby
- 2004 · The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel as Tommie
- 2003 · A Decade Under the Influence as Self
- 2003 · Brush with Fate as Rika
- 2002 · Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood as Vivi Abbott Walker
- 2001 · The Making of Requiem for a Dream as Self
- 2000 · Mermaid as Trish
- 1998 · The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist as Self - Chris MacNeil
- 1998 · The Patron Saint of Liars as June Clatterbuck
- 1996 · The Spitfire Grill as Hannah Ferguson
- 1995 · The Baby-Sitters Club as Mrs. Haberman
- 1995 · My Brother's Keeper as Helen
- 1993 · The Cemetery Club as Esther Moskowitz
- 1991 · Grand Isle as Mademoiselle Reisz
- 1990 · When You Remember Me as Nurse Cooder
- 1988 · Hanna's War as Katalin
- 1987 · Pack of Lies as Barbara Jackson
- 1985 · Twice in a Lifetime as Kate MacKenzie
- 1985 · Surviving as Tina Brogan
- 1985 · The Ambassador as Alex Hacker
- 1982 · Night of 100 Stars as Self
- 1981 · Silence of the North as Olive Frederickson
- 1980 · Resurrection as Edna
- 1978 · Same Time, Next Year as Doris
- 1972 · The King of Marvin Gardens as Sally
- 1970 · Alex in Wonderland as Beth Morrison
- 1970 · Tropic of Cancer as Mona (uncredited)
- 1969 · Pit Stop as Ellen McCleod
- 1964 · Goodbye Charlie as Franny Salzman
- 1964 · For Those Who Think Young as Dr. Pauline Swenson
- 1948 · Easy Out? as Mary
- Future · Place To Be as Brooke
- 2024 · E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump as E. Jean Carroll
- 2024 · Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist as Self
- 2021 · Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes as Herself
- 2021 · Watch on the Rhine as Fanny
- 2019 · Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies as Self
- 2017 · Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime as Self
- 2010 · America Lost and Found: The BBS Story as Self
- 2010 · Reflections of a Philosopher King as Self
- 2010 · BBStory: An American Film Renaissance as Self
- 2007 · Mitch Albom's For One More Day as Pauline "Posey" Benetto
- 2006 · Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow as Self
- 2006 · Stardust: The Bette Davis Story as Self
- 2006 · The Elephant King as Diana Hunt
- 2005 · Our Fathers as Mary Ryan
- 2004 · Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances as Self
- 2001 · Within These Walls as Joan Thomas
- 2001 · Memories, Dreams & Addictions as Self
- 1999 · Die letzte Vorstellung: Ein Rückblick as Self
- 1999 · Walking Across Egypt as Mattie Rigsbee
- 1998 · Marilyn in Manhattan as Self
- 1998 · You Can Thank Me Later as Shirley Cooperberg
- 1997 · A Deadly Vision as Yvette Watson
- 1996 · Timepiece as Maud Gannon
- 1995 · Follow The River as Gretel
- 1994 · Trick of the Eye as Frances Griffin
- 1994 · Getting Gotti as Jo Giacalone
- 1994 · Getting Out as Arlie's Mother
- 1993 · Roots of Roe as Narrator (voice)
- 1993 · Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story as Joan Delvecchio
- 1992 · Earth and the American Dream as Reader (voice)
- 1992 · When It Was a Game 2 as Passage Narrator (voice)
- 1992 · Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story as Wilma
- 1991 · Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love as Lillian "Lil" Lambert
- 1990 · The Color of Evening as Kate O'Rielly
- 1989 · Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre as Self
- 1986 · Something in Common as Lynn Hollander
- 1985 · Into Thin Air as Joan Walker
- 1981 · People vs. Jean Harris as Jean Harris
- 1981 · Be Pretty and Shut Up! as Self
- 1978 · A Dream of Passion as Brenda Collins
- 1974 · Thursday's Game as Lynne Evers
- 1974 · The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute as Self (archive footage)
- 1961 · Ricochet as Rose Maxon
- 1958 · The Christmas Tree as Elizabeth