Acting · Detroit, Michigan, USA · Born December 7, 1932
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.
MovieBreakdown: 1975
2025
as Self
MovieThis Ordinary Thing
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as Self (voice)
MovieDuse, the Greatest
2025
MovieE. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
2024
as E. Jean Carroll
MovieMother, Couch
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as Mother
MovieFear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
2024
as Self
MovieThe Exorcist: Believer
2023
as Chris MacNeil
TVThe First Lady
2022
as Sara Delano Roosevelt
MovieThree Months
2022
as Valerie
TVReframed: Marilyn Monroe
2022
as Self
MoviePaul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
2021
as Herself
MovieQueen Bees
2021
as Helen Wilson
MovieWatch on the Rhine
2021
as Fanny
TVLaw & Order: Organized Crime
2021
as Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler
MoviePieces of a Woman
2020
as Elizabeth Weiss
MovieDelphine and Carole
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLucy in the Sky
2019
as Nana Holbrook
MovieAmerican Woman
2019
as Miss Dolly
TVThe Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
MovieSteven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
2019
as Self
MovieThe House of Tomorrow
2019
as Josephine Prendergast
MovieFriedkin Uncut
2018
as Self
MovieNostalgia
2018
as Helen Greer
MovieAll I Wish
2018
as Celia Berges
MovieThe Tale
2018
as Nettie
MovieMarilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
2017
as Self
MovieWiener-Dog
2016
as Nana
MovieCustody
2016
as Beatrice Fisher
MovieUnity
2015
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAbout Scout
2015
as Gram
MovieThe Age of Adaline
2015
as Flemming
MovieInterstellar
2014
as Murph (older)
MovieThe Calling
2014
as Emily Micallef
MoviePetals on the Wind
2014
as Olivia Foxworth
MovieTwo Men in Town
2014
as Mère Garnett
MovieDraft Day
2014
as Barb Weaver
MovieRiver of Fundament
2014
as Hathfertiti
MovieAnd the Oscar Goes To...
2014
as Self - Interviewee
MovieFlowers in the Attic
2014
as Grandmother
MovieWish You Well
2013
as Louisa Mae Cardinal
TVMom
2013
as Shirley
MovieLove, Marilyn
2013
as Self
TVHouse of Cards
2013
as Elizabeth Hale
TVComa
2012
as Mrs. Emerson
TVPolitical Animals
2012
as Margaret Barrish
MovieSomeday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
2012
as Nanette
MovieAnother Happy Day
2011
as Doris Baker
MovieThe Mighty Macs
2011
as Mother St. John
MovieReflections of a Philosopher King
2010
as Self
MovieBBStory: An American Film Renaissance
2010
as Self
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
2010
as Self
MovieMain Street
2010
as Georgiana Carr
MovieAccording to Greta
2009
as Katherine
MovieLovely, Still
2009
as Mary
MoviePoliWood
2009
as Self
MovieThe Velveteen Rabbit
2009
as Swan (voice)
MovieW.
2008
as Barbara Bush
MovieThe Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
2008
as Miss Addie
MovieMitch Albom's For One More Day
2007
as Pauline "Posey" Benetto
MovieThe Stone Angel
2007
as Hagar
MovieThe Fountain
2006
as Dr. Lillian Guzetti
Movie30 Days
2006
as Maura
MovieThe Wicker Man
2006
as Sister Summersisle
MovieHubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
2006
as Self
MovieStardust: The Bette Davis Story
2006
as Self
MovieThe Elephant King
2006
as Diana Hunt
TVBig Love
2006
as Nancy Davis Dutton
MovieMrs. Harris
2006
as Former Tarnower Steady
TVThe Book of Daniel
2006
as Bishop Beatrice Congreve
MovieOur Fathers
2005
as Mary Ryan
MovieThe Five People You Meet In Heaven
2004
as Ruby
MovieThe Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
2004
as Tommie
MovieSecond Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
2004
as Self
MovieA Decade Under the Influence
2003
as Self
MovieEasy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
2003
as Self
MovieBrush with Fate
2003
as Rika
MovieRed Dragon
2002
as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
MovieDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
2002
as Vivi
MovieWithin These Walls
2001
as Joan Thomas
MovieMemories, Dreams & Addictions
2001
as Self
MovieThe Making of Requiem for a Dream
2001
as Self
MovieRequiem for a Dream
2000
as Sara Goldfarb
TVThat's Life
2000
as Dolly DeLucca
MovieMermaid
2000
as Trish
MovieThe Yards
2000
as Val Handler
MovieWalking Across Egypt
1999
as Mattie Rigsbee
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Bernie Stabler
MovieThe Last Picture Show: A Look Back
1999
as Self
MovieNight Ride Home
1999
as Maggie
MoviePlaying by Heart
1998
as Mildred
TVA Will of their Own
1998
as Veronica Steward
MovieMarilyn in Manhattan
1998
as Self
MovieYou Can Thank Me Later
1998
as Shirley Cooperberg
MovieThe Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
1998
as Self - Chris MacNeil
MovieThe Patron Saint of Liars
1998
as June Clatterbuck
MovieFlash
1997
as Laura Strong
MovieDeceiver
1997
as Mook
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieA Deadly Vision
1997
as Yvette Watson
TVHARDtalk
1997
MovieTimepiece
1996
as Maud Gannon
MovieThe Spitfire Grill
1996
as Hannah Ferguson
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self - Guest
MovieHow to Make an American Quilt
1995
as Hy Dodd
MovieThe Baby-Sitters Club
1995
as Mrs. Haberman
MovieFollow The River
1995
as Gretel
My Brother's Keeper
1995
as Helen
MovieRoommates
1995
as Judith
MovieTrick of the Eye
1994
as Frances Griffin
TVInside the Actors Studio
1994
as Self
MovieGetting Gotti
1994
as Jo Giacalone
MovieWhen a Man Loves a Woman
1994
as Emily
MovieGetting Out
1994
as Arlie's Mother
Roots of Roe
1993
as Narrator (voice)
MovieShattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
1993
as Joan Delvecchio
MovieThe Cemetery Club
1993
as Esther Moskowitz
MovieEarth and the American Dream
1992
as Reader (voice)
MovieWhen It Was a Game 2
1992
as Passage Narrator (voice)
MovieTaking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
1992
as Wilma
MoviePicture This
1991
as Self
MovieGrand Isle
1991
as Mademoiselle Reisz
MovieDying Young
1991
as Mrs. O'Neil
MovieMrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991
as Lillian "Lil" Lambert
MovieWhen You Remember Me
1990
as Nurse Cooder
MovieThe Color of Evening
1990
as Kate O'Rielly
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
1989
as Self
MovieHello Actors Studio
1988
as Self
TVAmerican Experience
1988
as Narrator (voice)
MovieHanna's War
1988
as Katalin
MovieDear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
1987
as Mrs. Stocks (voice)
MoviePack of Lies
1987
as Barbara Jackson
MovieSomething in Common
1986
as Lynn Hollander
TVThe Ellen Burstyn Show
1986
as Ellen Brewer
MovieAct of Vengeance
1986
as Margaret Yablonski
MovieInto Thin Air
1985
as Joan Walker
MovieTwice in a Lifetime
1985
as Kate MacKenzie
MovieNight of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self
MovieSurviving
1985
as Tina Brogan
MovieThe Ambassador
1985
as Alex Hacker
MovieI Love Liberty
1982
as Self
MovieNight of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
MovieSilence of the North
1981
as Olive Frederickson
MoviePeople vs. Jean Harris
1981
as Jean Harris
MovieBe Pretty and Shut Up!
1981
as Self
MovieResurrection
1980
as Edna
MovieA Dream of Passion
1978
as Brenda Collins
MovieSame Time, Next Year
1978
as Doris
MovieProvidence
1977
as Sonia Langham
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
TVLes Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
MovieAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
1974
as Alice Hyatt
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
MovieHarry and Tonto
1974
as Shirley Mallard
MovieThursday's Game
1974
as Lynne Evers
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
1974
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Exorcist
1973
as Chris MacNeil
MovieThe King of Marvin Gardens
1972
as Sally
MovieThe Last Picture Show
1971
as Lois Farrow
MovieAlex in Wonderland
1970
as Beth Morrison
MovieTropic of Cancer
1970
as Mona (uncredited)
MoviePit Stop
1969
as Ellen McCleod
TVThe Time Tunnel
1966
as Eve Holland
TVThe Big Valley
1965
as Sister Sarah Jacob
MovieGoodbye Charlie
1964
as Franny Salzman
MovieFor Those Who Think Young
1964
as Dr. Pauline Swenson
TVKraft Suspense Theatre
1963
as Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Eva Laurelton
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963
as Susan Mason
Vacation Playhouse
1963
as Ellen
TVGoing My Way
1962
as Louise
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVI'm Dickens, He's Fenster
1962
as Joan
TVThe Virginian
1962
as Kate Burden
MovieRicochet
1961
as Rose Maxon
TVBen Casey
1961
as Dr. Leslie Fraser
TVBus Stop
1961
as Phyllis Dunning
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Anne Garner
TVThe Defenders
1961
as Hilda Wesley
TVKraft Mystery Theatre
1961
as Greta Dryden
TVSurfside 6
1960
as Wandra Drake
TVCheckmate
1960
as Margo as Ellen McRae
TVThe Detectives
1959
as Nora
TVThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959
as Donna Whittaker
The Christmas Tree
1958
as Elizabeth
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Betty Benson
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Mona Winthrope White
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Host
TVCheyenne
1955
as Emmy Mae
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Polly
TVLetter to Loretta
1953
as Ann Walters
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Elizabeth
MovieEasy Out?
1948
as Mary
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
Bathing Flo
Place to Be
as Brooke
Flesh Impact
as Marilyn Monroe
