Ellen Burstyn
One of the most popular actresses in film and television during the 1970s, Ellen Burstyn wowed critics and audiences alike with her enormously skilled and sympathetic performances as strong and complex women who struggle against what seem like insurmountable challenges in such films as "The Last Picture Show" (1971), "The Exorcist" (1973) and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), which earned her an Academy Award in 1975. Despite her considerable talent and skill in both heavy drama and comedies like "Same Time, Next Year" (1978), she found it difficult to find substantial parts in the '80s, so she divided her time between running the Actors Equity Association and roles in TV movies like "The People vs. Jean Harris" (1981), as well as top-billing her own short-lived sitcom, "The Ellen Burstyn Show" (ABC, 1986-87). The actress gradually returned to feature films in the 1990s, which culminated in a harrowing Academy Award-nominated turn as a woman in the grip of addiction in Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream" (2000). Now back on every director's wish list, she followed this with a succession of well-regarded projects, including "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (2002), "Mitch Albom's For One More Day" (2007) and "W." (2008) as Barbara Bush. She also penned a 2007 memoir, "Lessons in Becoming Myself," which detailed her difficult upbringing and traumatic relationship with her third husband, actor and writer Neil Burstyn (aka Neil Nephew). Continuing working steadily well into her 80s, Burstyn performed character parts in film and television, ranging from a campy series of Lifetime films based on the novels of V.C. Andrews to a moving arc on the dramedy "Louie" (FX 2010-15). Truly an inspiration, Burstyn proved that women of any age could not only land thoughtful, provocative roles, but dominate opposite their similarly aged male counterparts.
Photos
Ellen Burstyn
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fear and Love: The Story of the Exorcist | Unknown (Character) | - | 2024 |
41% |
|
Mother, Couch | Mother (Character) | - | 2023 |
22% |
|
The Exorcist: Believer | Chris MacNeil (Character) | $65.5M | 2023 |
79% |
|
Three Months | Unknown (Character) | - | 2022 |
53% |
|
Queen Bees | Helen (Character) | $1.9M | 2021 |
76% |
|
Pieces of a Woman | Elizabeth (Character) | - | 2020 |
57% |
|
American Woman | Miss Dolly (Character) | - | 2019 |
21% |
|
Lucy in the Sky | Nana Holbrook (Character) | $315.0K | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies | Self | - | 2019 |
85% |
|
Friedkin Uncut | Self | - | 2018 |
99% |
|
The Tale | Nettie (Character) | - | 2018 |
39% |
|
Nostalgia | Helen (Character) | $84.9K | 2018 |
75% |
|
The House of Tomorrow |
Josephine Prendergast (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 2017 |
18% |
|
A Little Something for Your Birthday | Celia (Character) | - | 2017 |
60% |
|
Custody | Beatrice Fisher (Character) | - | 2016 |
74% |
|
Wiener-Dog | Nana (Character) | $445.4K | 2016 |
60% |
|
About Scout | Gram (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
Unity | Narrator | - | 2015 |
55% |
|
The Age of Adaline | Flemming (Character) | $42.6M | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
River of Fundament | Hathfertiti (Character) | $43.1K | 2014 |
92% |
|
When Marnie Was There | Elderly Lady (Voice) | $314.3K | 2014 |
50% |
|
Two Men in Town | William's Mother (Character) | - | 2014 |
73% |
|
Interstellar | Old Murph (Character) | $188.0M | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
Petals on the Wind | Olivia (Character) | - | 2014 |
55% |
|
The Calling | Emily Micallef (Character) | - | 2014 |
52% |
|
Flowers in the Attic | Olivia Foxworth (Character) | - | 2014 |
60% |
|
Draft Day | Barb Weaver (Character) | $28.8M | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
Wish You Well | Louisa Mae Cardinal (Character) | - | 2013 |
9% |
|
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You | Nanette (Character) | - | 2011 |
47% |
|
Another Happy Day | Doris (Character) | $9.1K | 2011 |
13% |
|
Main Street | Georgiana Carr (Character) | $1.6K | 2010 |
47% |
|
The Mighty Macs | Mother St. John (Character) | $1.9M | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
|
Poliwood | Unknown (Character) | - | 2009 |
60% |
|
Greta | Katherine (Character) | - | 2009 |
86% |
|
The Velveteen Rabbit | Swan (Voice) | - | 2009 |
27% |
|
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond | Miss Addie (Character) | $119.4K | 2008 |
73% |
|
Lovely, Still | Mary (Character) | $124.7K | 2008 |
58% |
|
W. | Barbara Bush (Character) | $25.5M | 2008 |
44% |
|
The Stone Angel | Hagar (Character) | $31.9K | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
For One More Day | Pauline "Posey" Benetto (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
30 Days | Unknown (Character) | - | 2006 |
18% |
|
The Elephant King | Diana Hunt (Character) | - | 2006 |
52% |
|
The Fountain | Lilian (Character) | $10.1M | 2006 |
15% |
|
The Wicker Man | Sister Summersisle (Character) | $18.8K | 2006 |
43% |
|
Mrs. Harris | Former Tarnowner "steady" (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Our Fathers | Mary Ryan (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Ruby (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Madam's Family: The Truth About Canal Street Brothel | Tommie (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Brush With Fate | Rika (Character) | - | 2003 |
44% |
|
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood | Vivi Abbott Walker (Character) | $69.6M | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Within These Walls |
Joan Thomas (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Dodson's Journey | Mother (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mermaid | Trish (Character) | - | 2000 |
64% |
|
The Yards | Val Handler (Character) | $882.7K | 2000 |
78% |
|
Requiem for a Dream | Sara Goldfarb (Character) | $3.6M | 2000 |
88% |
|
Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Walking Across Egypt | Mattie Rigsbee (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Night Ride Home | Maggie (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
You Can Thank Me Later | Shirley Cooperberg (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Patron Saint of Liars | June Clatterbuck (Character) | - | 1998 |
60% |
|
Playing by Heart | Mildred (Character) | $4.0M | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Deadly Vision | Yvette Watson (Character) | - | 1997 |
42% |
|
Liar | Mook (Character) | $545.6K | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Flash | Laura Strong (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Timepiece | Maud Gannon (Character) | - | 1996 |
38% |
|
The Spitfire Grill | Hannah Ferguson (Character) | $12.6M | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Our Son, the Matchmaker | Iva Mae Longwell (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
My Brother's Keeper | Helen (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
Follow the River | Gretel (Character) | - | 1995 |
62% |
|
How to Make an American Quilt | Hy Dodd (Character) | $23.6M | 1995 |
29% |
|
Roommates | Judith (Character) | $12.1M | 1995 |
67% |
|
The Baby-Sitters Club | Emily Haberman (Character) | $9.0M | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
Getting Gotti | Jo Giacalone (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Getting Out | Arlie's Mother (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Trick of the Eye | Frances Griffin (Character) | - | 1994 |
69% |
|
When a Man Loves a Woman | Emily (Character) | $50.0M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Color of Evening | Kate O'Rielly (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story | Joan Delvecchio (Character) | - | 1993 |
57% |
|
The Cemetery Club | Esther Moskowitz (Character) | $5.6M | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story | Wilma (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Grand Isle | Mademoiselle Reisz (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love | Lillian "Lil" Lambert (Character) | - | 1991 |
25% |
|
Dying Young | Mrs. O'Neil (Character) | $32.3M | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
When You Remember Me | Nurse Cooder (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Hanna's War | Katalin (Character) | $86.7K | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Pack of Lies | Barbara Jackson (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Something in Common | Lynn Hollander (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
|
Act of Vengeance | Margaret Yablonski (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
|
Into Thin Air | Joan Walker (Character) | - | 1985 |
83% |
|
Twice in a Lifetime | Kate MacKenzie (Character) | $8.4M | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
Surviving | Tina Brogan (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Ambassador | Alex Hacker (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The People vs. Jean Harris | Jean Harris (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Acting: Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio | Self | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet |
|
Silence of the North | Olive Frederickson (Character) | - | 1981 |
83% |
|
Resurrection | Edna (Character) | - | 1980 |
40% |
|
Same Time, Next Year | Doris (Character) | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Dream of Passion | Brenda Collins (Character) | - | 1978 |
73% |
|
Providence | Sonia Langham (Character) | - | 1977 |
88% |
|
Harry and Tonto | Shirley Mallard (Character) | - | 1974 |
92% |
|
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore | Alice Hyatt (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet |
|
Thursday's Game | Lynne Evers (Character) | - | 1974 |
78% |
|
The Exorcist | Chris MacNeil (Character) | $441.4M | 1973 |
70% |
|
The King of Marvin Gardens | Sally (Character) | - | 1972 |
98% |
|
The Last Picture Show | Lois Farrow (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
|
Alex in Wonderland | Beth Morrison (Character) | - | 1970 |
75% |
|
Tropic of Cancer | Mona (Character) | - | 1970 |
No Score Yet |
|
Pit Stop | Ellen McLeod (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet |
|
For Those Who Think Young | Dr. Pauline Swenson (Character) | - | 1964 |
50% |
|
Goodbye Charlie | Franny Salzman (Character) | - | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon | Unknown (Character) | - | 1961 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 82% | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Bernadette Stabler (Guest Star) | 2021-2024 |
41% | 56% | The First Lady | Sara Delano Roosevelt (Character) | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Inside the Actors Studio |
Guest, Host |
1996 2019 |
77% | 76% | House of Cards | Elizabeth Hale (Guest Star) | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic Series | Unknown (Character) | 2014-2016 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Mom | Shirley (Guest Star) | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Larry King Now | Guest | 2014 |
93% | 95% | Louie | Evanka (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Coma | Unknown (Character) | 2012 |
63% | 78% | Political Animals | Margaret Barrish (Character) | 2012 |
80% | 82% | Big Love | Nancy Davis Dutton (Guest Star) | 2007 2009 2011 |
78% | 83% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Bernie Stabler (Guest Star) | 2008 |
54% | No Score Yet | The Book of Daniel | Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Character) | 2006 |
83% | No Score Yet | That's Life | Dolly DeLucca (Character) | 2000-2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ellen Burstyn Show | Ellen Brewer (Character) | 1986 |
No Score Yet | 57% | Saturday Night Live | Host | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunsmoke | Polly Mims (Guest Star) | 1962 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Iron Horse | Julie Parsons (Character) | 1967-1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Big Valley | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wagon Train | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 77 Sunset Strip | Betty Benson (Guest Star) | 1961 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Laramie | Amy (Guest Star) | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Perry Mason | Mona Winthrope White (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ben Casey | Dr. Leslie Fraser (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bus Stop | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dr. Kildare | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cheyenne | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Surfside 6 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |