Ellen Burstyn

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 receives 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ellen Burstyn, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

More details

Known For

Filmography

2025

Duse, the Greatest
Duse, the Greatest
Movie - Released: 2/3/2025

2024

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/26/2024
Mother, Couch
Mother, Couch
as Mother
Movie - Released: 7/5/2024
E. Jean Carroll V. Donald J. Trump
E. Jean Carroll V. Donald J. Trump
as E. Jean Carroll
Movie - Released: 10/3/2024

2023

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/5/2023
Martin Scorsese, l'Italo-Américain
Martin Scorsese, l'Italo-Américain
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/8/2023
The Exorcist: Believer
The Exorcist: Believer
as Chris MacNeil
Movie - Released: 10/4/2023

2022

Three Months
Three Months
as Valerie
Movie - Released: 2/23/2022
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
as Self
TV - Released: 1/16/2022
The First Lady
The First Lady
as Sara Delano Roosevelt
TV - Released: 4/17/2022

2021

Queen Bees
Queen Bees
as Helen Wilson
Movie - Released: 6/11/2021
Watch on the Rhine
Watch on the Rhine
as Fanny
Movie - Released: 5/13/2021
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
as Herself
Movie - Released: 12/4/2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Law & Order: Organized Crime
as Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler
TV - Released: 4/1/2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Law & Order: Organized Crime
as Bernadette Stabler
TV - Released: 4/1/2021

2020

Pieces of a Woman
Pieces of a Woman
as Elizabeth Weiss
Movie - Released: 12/30/2020
Delphine and Carole
Delphine and Carole
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/14/2020

2019

The House of Tomorrow
The House of Tomorrow
as Josephine Prendergast
Movie - Released: 6/20/2019
Lucy in the Sky
Lucy in the Sky
as Nana Holbrook
Movie - Released: 9/20/2019
American Woman
American Woman
as Miss Dolly
Movie - Released: 9/12/2019
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/21/2019

2018

The Tale
The Tale
as Nettie
Movie - Released: 1/20/2018
Nostalgia
Nostalgia
as Helen Greer
Movie - Released: 2/16/2018
All I Wish
All I Wish
as Celia Berges
Movie - Released: 2/1/2018
Friedkin Uncut
Friedkin Uncut
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/5/2018

2017

Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/5/2017

2016

Wiener-Dog
Wiener-Dog
as Nana
Movie - Released: 6/24/2016
Custody
Custody
as Beatrice Fisher
Movie - Released: 4/17/2016

2015

The Age of Adaline
The Age of Adaline
as Flemming
Movie - Released: 4/16/2015
About Scout
About Scout
as Gram
Movie - Released: 4/25/2015
Unity
Unity
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 8/12/2015

2014

Interstellar
Interstellar
as Murph (older)
Movie - Released: 11/5/2014
Draft Day
Draft Day
as Barb Weaver
Movie - Released: 4/11/2014
Flowers in the Attic
Flowers in the Attic
as Grandmother
Movie - Released: 1/18/2014
River of Fundament
River of Fundament
as Hathfertiti
Movie - Released: 2/12/2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
And the Oscar Goes To...
as Self - Interviewee
Movie - Released: 2/1/2014
The Calling
The Calling
as Emily Micallef
Movie - Released: 8/5/2014
Two Men in Town
Two Men in Town
as Mère Garnett
Movie - Released: 5/7/2014
Petals on the Wind
Petals on the Wind
as Olivia Foxworth
Movie - Released: 5/26/2014

2013

Love, Marilyn
Love, Marilyn
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/30/2013
Wish You Well
Wish You Well
as Louisa Mae Cardinal
Movie - Released: 10/19/2013
Mom
Mom
as Shirley
TV - Released: 9/23/2013
House of Cards
House of Cards
as Elizabeth Hale
TV - Released: 2/1/2013

2012

Lovely, Still
Lovely, Still
as Mary
Movie - Released: 12/9/2012
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
as Nanette
Movie - Released: 2/24/2012
Political Animals
Political Animals
as Margaret Barrish
TV - Released: 7/15/2012
Coma
Coma
as Mrs. Emerson
TV - Released: 9/3/2012

2011

The Mighty Macs
The Mighty Macs
as Mother St. John
Movie - Released: 10/21/2011
Another Happy Day
Another Happy Day
as Doris Baker
Movie - Released: 11/18/2011

2010

Main Street
Main Street
as Georgiana Carr
Movie - Released: 10/21/2010
Reflections of a Philosopher King
Reflections of a Philosopher King
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/23/2010
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/23/2010
Movie
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/23/2010

2009

According to Greta
According to Greta
as Katherine
Movie - Released: 11/25/2009
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit
as Swan (voice)
Movie - Released: 2/27/2009
PoliWood
PoliWood
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/3/2009

2008

W.
W.
as Barbara Bush
Movie - Released: 10/17/2008
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
as Miss Addie
Movie - Released: 9/12/2008

2007

Mitch Albom's For One More Day
Mitch Albom's For One More Day
as Pauline "Posey" Benetto
Movie - Released: 12/9/2007
The Stone Angel
The Stone Angel
as Hagar
Movie - Released: 9/12/2007

2006

The Fountain
The Fountain
as Dr. Lillian Guzetti
Movie - Released: 11/22/2006
The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man
as Sister Summersisle
Movie - Released: 8/31/2006
The Elephant King
The Elephant King
as Diana Hunt
Movie - Released: 4/26/2006
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/22/2006
30 Days
30 Days
as Maura
Movie - Released: 10/6/2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/3/2006
Mrs. Harris
Mrs. Harris
as Former Tarnower Steady
Movie - Released: 2/25/2006
The Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel
as Bishop Beatrice Congreve
TV - Released: 1/6/2006
Big Love
Big Love
as Nancy Davis Dutton
TV - Released: 3/12/2006

2005

Our Fathers
Our Fathers
as Mary Ryan
Movie - Released: 5/11/2005

2004

The Five People You Meet In Heaven
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
as Ruby
Movie - Released: 12/5/2004
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
Movie
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/2004

2003

Brush with Fate
Brush with Fate
as Rika
Movie - Released: 1/1/2003
A Decade Under the Influence
A Decade Under the Influence
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/25/2003

2002

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
as Vivi Abbott Walker
Movie - Released: 6/7/2002
Red Dragon
Red Dragon
as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 10/2/2002

2001

Within These Walls
Within These Walls
as Joan Thomas
Movie - Released: 8/20/2001
Memories, Dreams & Addictions
Memories, Dreams & Addictions
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/22/2001
The Making of Requiem for a Dream
The Making of Requiem for a Dream
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/22/2001

2000

Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream
as Sara Goldfarb
Movie - Released: 10/6/2000
The Yards
The Yards
as Val Handler
Movie - Released: 4/27/2000
Mermaid
Mermaid
as Trish
Movie - Released: 5/21/2000
That's Life
That's Life
as Dolly DeLucca
TV - Released: 10/1/2000

1999

Walking Across Egypt
Walking Across Egypt
as Mattie Rigsbee
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
Night Ride Home
Night Ride Home
as Maggie
Movie - Released: 2/7/1999
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/25/1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Bernie Stabler
TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1998

Playing by Heart
Playing by Heart
as Mildred
Movie - Released: 12/30/1998
The Patron Saint of Liars
The Patron Saint of Liars
as June Clatterbuck
Movie - Released: 4/5/1998
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
as Self - Chris MacNeil
Movie - Released: 6/13/1998
Marilyn in Manhattan
Marilyn in Manhattan
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/5/1998
You Can Thank Me Later
You Can Thank Me Later
as Shirley Cooperberg
Movie - Released: 5/23/1998
A Will of their Own
A Will of their Own
as Veronica Steward
TV - Released: 10/18/1998

1997

Deceiver
Deceiver
as Mook
Movie - Released: 8/31/1997
Flash
Flash
as Laura Strong
Movie - Released: 12/21/1997
A Deadly Vision
A Deadly Vision
as Yvette Watson
Movie - Released: 4/21/1997
The View
The View
as Self
TV - Released: 8/11/1997

1996

The Spitfire Grill
The Spitfire Grill
as Hannah Ferguson
Movie - Released: 8/23/1996
Timepiece
Timepiece
as Maud Gannon
Movie - Released: 12/22/1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 6/10/1996

1995

How to Make an American Quilt
How to Make an American Quilt
as Hy Dodd
Movie - Released: 10/6/1995
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club
as Mrs. Haberman
Movie - Released: 8/18/1995
Movie
My Brother's Keeper
as Helen
Movie - Released: 3/19/1995
Roommates
Roommates
as Judith
Movie - Released: 3/3/1995
Follow The River
Follow The River
as Gretel
Movie - Released: 4/22/1995

1994

When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman
as Emily
Movie - Released: 4/29/1994
Getting Gotti
Getting Gotti
as Jo Giacalone
Movie - Released: 5/10/1994
Trick of the Eye
Trick of the Eye
as Frances Griffin
Movie - Released: 10/22/1994
Getting Out
Getting Out
as Arlie's Mother
Movie - Released: 4/25/1994
Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio
as Self
TV - Released: 8/14/1994

1993

The Cemetery Club
The Cemetery Club
as Esther Moskowitz
Movie - Released: 2/3/1993
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
as Joan Delvecchio
Movie - Released: 9/27/1993

1992

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
as Wilma
Movie - Released: 3/15/1992
Earth and the American Dream
Earth and the American Dream
as Reader (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/1/1992
When It Was a Game 2
When It Was a Game 2
as Passage Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 7/13/1992

1991

Dying Young
Dying Young
as Mrs. O'Neil
Movie - Released: 6/20/1991
Grand Isle
Grand Isle
as Mademoiselle Reisz
Movie - Released: 8/23/1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
as Lillian "Lil" Lambert
Movie - Released: 5/12/1991

1990

When You Remember Me
When You Remember Me
as Nurse Cooder
Movie - Released: 10/7/1990
The Color of Evening
The Color of Evening
as Kate O'Rielly
Movie - Released: 9/1/1990

1989

Movie
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/26/1989
Movie
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
as Herself
Movie - Released: 6/26/1989

1988

Hello Actors Studio
Hello Actors Studio
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/9/1988
Hanna's War
Hanna's War
as Katalin
Movie - Released: 4/14/1988
American Experience
American Experience
as Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 10/4/1988

1987

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
as Mrs. Stocks (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/1/1987
Pack of Lies
Pack of Lies
as Barbara Jackson
Movie - Released: 4/26/1987

1986

Act of Vengeance
Act of Vengeance
as Margaret Yablonski
Movie - Released: 9/4/1986
Something in Common
Something in Common
as Lynn Hollander
Movie - Released: 11/2/1986
The Ellen Burstyn Show
The Ellen Burstyn Show
as Ellen Brewer
TV - Released: 9/20/1986

1985

Twice in a Lifetime
Twice in a Lifetime
as Kate MacKenzie
Movie - Released: 10/23/1985
The Ambassador
The Ambassador
as Alex Hacker
Movie - Released: 1/11/1985
Surviving
Surviving
as Tina Brogan
Movie - Released: 2/10/1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Night of 100 Stars II
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/10/1985
Into Thin Air
Into Thin Air
as Joan Walker
Movie - Released: 10/29/1985

1982

I Love Liberty
I Love Liberty
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/21/1982
Night of 100 Stars
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/8/1982

1981

People vs. Jean Harris
People vs. Jean Harris
as Jean Harris
Movie - Released: 5/7/1981
Silence of the North
Silence of the North
as Olive Frederickson
Movie - Released: 10/23/1981
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/4/1981

1980

Resurrection
Resurrection
as Edna
Movie - Released: 9/26/1980

1978

Same Time, Next Year
Same Time, Next Year
as Doris
Movie - Released: 4/23/1978
A Dream of Passion
A Dream of Passion
as Brenda Collins
Movie - Released: 5/21/1978

1977

Providence
Providence
as Sonia Langham
Movie - Released: 1/25/1977

1975

Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
TV - Released: 10/11/1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
as Self
TV - Released: 1/12/1975

1974

Harry and Tonto
Harry and Tonto
as Shirley Mallard
Movie - Released: 8/12/1974
Movie
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 2/20/1974
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
as Alice Hyatt
Movie - Released: 12/9/1974
Thursday's Game
Thursday's Game
as Lynne Evers
Movie - Released: 4/14/1974
Dinah!
Dinah!
as Self
TV - Released: 10/21/1974

1973

The Exorcist
The Exorcist
as Chris MacNeil
Movie - Released: 12/26/1973

1972

The King of Marvin Gardens
The King of Marvin Gardens
as Sally
Movie - Released: 10/12/1972

1971

The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show
as Lois Farrow
Movie - Released: 10/3/1971

1970

Alex in Wonderland
Alex in Wonderland
as Beth Morrison
Movie - Released: 12/22/1970
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
as Mona (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 2/27/1970

1969

Pit Stop
Pit Stop
as Ellen McCleod
Movie - Released: 5/14/1969

1966

The Time Tunnel
The Time Tunnel
as Eve Holland
TV - Released: 9/9/1966

1965

The Big Valley
The Big Valley
as Sister Sarah Jacob
TV - Released: 9/15/1965

1964

Goodbye Charlie
Goodbye Charlie
as Franny Salzman
Movie - Released: 11/18/1964
For Those Who Think Young
For Those Who Think Young
as Dr. Pauline Swenson
Movie - Released: 6/1/1964

1963

Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre
as Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
TV - Released: 10/10/1963
TV
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Susan Mason
TV - Released: 9/17/1963
TV
Vacation Playhouse
as Ellen
TV - Released: 7/22/1963

1962

Going My Way
Going My Way
as Louise
TV - Released: 10/3/1962
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster
as Joan
TV - Released: 9/28/1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
TV - Released: 10/1/1962

1961

Ricochet
Ricochet
as Rose Maxon
Movie - Released: 10/3/1961
Bus Stop
Bus Stop
as Phyllis Dunning
TV - Released: 10/1/1961
Ben Casey
Ben Casey
as Dr. Leslie Fraser
TV - Released: 10/2/1961
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare
as Anne Garner
TV - Released: 9/27/1961
The Defenders
The Defenders
as Hilda Wesley
TV - Released: 9/16/1961
Ben Casey
Ben Casey
as Connie
TV - Released: 10/2/1961

1960

Surfside 6
Surfside 6
as Wandra Drake
TV - Released: 10/6/1960
Checkmate
Checkmate
as Margo as Ellen McRae
TV - Released: 9/17/1960

1959

The Detectives
The Detectives
as Nora
TV - Released: 10/16/1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
as Donna Whittaker
TV - Released: 9/29/1959

1958

Movie
The Christmas Tree
as Elizabeth
Movie - Released: 12/14/1958
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
as Betty Benson
TV - Released: 10/10/1958
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
as Sandra Keene
TV - Released: 10/10/1958

1957

Perry Mason
Perry Mason
as Mona Winthrope White
TV - Released: 9/21/1957

1956

Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Host/Presenter
TV - Released: 4/1/1956
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Winner
TV - Released: 4/1/1956
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
TV - Released: 4/1/1956
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Host
TV - Released: 4/1/1956
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Audience Member
TV - Released: 4/1/1956

1955

Cheyenne
Cheyenne
as Emmy Mae
TV - Released: 9/20/1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
as Polly
TV - Released: 9/10/1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
as Amy Waters
TV - Released: 9/10/1955

1953

The Oscars
The Oscars
as Self
TV - Released: 3/19/1953
Letter to Loretta
Letter to Loretta
as Ann Walters
TV - Released: 9/20/1953

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Elizabeth
TV - Released: 12/24/1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Barbara Jackson
TV - Released: 12/24/1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Maggie
TV - Released: 12/24/1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Rika
TV - Released: 12/24/1951

1948

Easy Out?
Easy Out?
as Mary
Movie - Released: 1/1/1948

1944

Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
TV - Released: 1/20/1944
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
TV - Released: 1/20/1944

Unknown

Fuddy Meers
Fuddy Meers
as Gertie
Movie
Movie
Movie
Place To Be
as Brooke
Movie