Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: December 7, 1932

Age: 90 years old

Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan

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.

Credits

The Exorcist: Believer

Actor
Chris MacNeil
Movie
2023

The First LadyStream

Actor
Sara Delano Roosevelt
TV Show
2022
41%

Three MonthsStream

Actor
Movie
2022
79%

Screenshot

Guest
TV Show
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
TV Show
2021

Law & Order: Organized CrimeStream

Guest Star
Bernadette Stabler
TV Show
2021

Queen Bees

Actor
Helen
Movie
2021

Pieces of a WomanStream

Actor
Elizabeth
Movie
2020
75%

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
TV Show
2019

Lucy in the Sky

Actor
Nana Holbrook
Movie
2019

American Woman

Actor
Miss Dolly
Movie
2019

Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies

Self
Movie
2019

Nostalgia

Actor
Helen
Movie
2018

The TaleStream

Actor
Nettie
Movie
2018
99%

Friedkin Uncut

Self
Movie
2018

Daily Blast Live

Guest
TV Show
2017

The Sunday Project

Guest
TV Show
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
TV Show
2017

The House of Tomorrow

Actor
Josephine Prendergast
Movie
2017

The House of Tomorrow

Executive Producer
Movie
2017

A Little Something for Your Birthday

Actor
Celia
Movie
2017

Wiener-Dog

Actor
Nana
Movie
2016

CustodyStream

Actor
Beatrice Fisher
Movie
2016

The Age of AdalineStream

Actor
Flemming
Movie
2015
55%

Unity

Narrator
Movie
2015

About Scout

Actor
Gram
Movie
2015

Filmens verden: Interstellar

Actor
TV Show
2014

V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic Series

Actor
TV Show
2014

Flowers in the AtticStream

Actor
Olivia Foxworth
Movie
2014

Draft DayStream

Actor
Barb Weaver
Movie
2014

InterstellarStream

Actor
Old Murph
Movie
2014
73%

Two Men in Town

Actor
William's Mother
Movie
2014

Petals on the Wind

Actor
Olivia
Movie
2014

The Calling

Actor
Emily Micallef
Movie
2014

When Marnie Was There

Voice
Elderly Lady
Movie
2014

River of Fundament

Actor
Hathfertiti
Movie
2014

Cvijece na tavanu

Actor
Movie
2014

MomStream

Guest Star
Shirley
TV Show
2013

House of CardsStream

Guest Star
Elizabeth Hale
TV Show
2013
77%

Wish You Well

Actor
Louisa Mae Cardinal
Movie
2013

Coma

Actor
TV Show
2012

Larry King NowStream

Guest
TV Show
2012

Political AnimalsStream

Actor
Margaret Barrish
TV Show
2012
63%

National Memorial Day Concert (2012)

Guest
TV Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
TV Show
2012

Another Happy Day

Actor
Doris
Movie
2011

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

Actor
Nanette
Movie
2011

The Talk

Guest
TV Show
2010

LouieStream

Guest Star
Evanka
TV Show
2010

Main Street

Actor
Georgiana Carr
Movie
2010

The Velveteen Rabbit

Voice
Swan
Movie
2009

Greta

Actor
Katherine
Movie
2009

Poliwood

Actor
Movie
2009

The Mighty Macs

Actor
Mother St. John
Movie
2009

W.

Actor
Barbara Bush
Movie
2008

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

Actor
Miss Addie
Movie
2008

Lovely, Still

Actor
Mary
Movie
2008

For One More Day

Actor
Pauline "Posey" Benetto
Movie
2007

The Stone Angel

Actor
Hagar
Movie
2007

Big LoveStream

Actor
Nancy Davis Dutton
TV Show
2006
80%

Big LoveStream

Guest Star
Nancy Davis Dutton
TV Show
2006
80%

The Book of Daniel

Actor
Bishop Beatrice Congreve
TV Show
2006

The Fountain

Actor
Lilian
Movie
2006

The Wicker ManStream

Actor
Sister Summersisle
Movie
2006
15%

The Elephant King

Actor
Diana Hunt
Movie
2006

30 Days

Actor
Movie
2006

The Martha Stewart Show

Guest
TV Show
2005

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Actor
TV Show
2005

Mrs. Harris

Actor
Former Tarnowner "steady"
Movie
2005

Our Fathers

Actor
Mary Ryan
Movie
2005

The Madam's Family: The Truth About Canal Street Brothel

Actor
Tommie
Movie
2004

Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Actor
Ruby
Movie
2004

Brush With Fate

Actor
Rika
Movie
2003

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodStream

Actor
Vivi Abbott Walker
Movie
2002
44%

Dodson's Journey

Actor
Mother
Movie
2001

Within These Walls

Actor
Joan Thomas
Movie
2001

Within These Walls

Executive Producer
Movie
2001

That's Life

Actor
Dolly DeLucca
TV Show
2000

Mermaid

Actor
Trish
Movie
2000

The Yards

Actor
Val Handler
Movie
2000

Requiem for a DreamStream

Actor
Sara Goldfarb
Movie
2000
78%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Bernie Stabler
TV Show
1999
78%

Night Ride Home

Actor
Maggie
Movie
1999

Walking Across Egypt

Actor
Mattie Rigsbee
Movie
1999

A Will of Their Own

Actor
TV Show
1998

The Patron Saint of Liars

Actor
June Clatterbuck
Movie
1998

You Can Thank Me Later

Actor
Shirley Cooperberg
Movie
1998

Playing by Heart

Actor
Mildred
Movie
1998

A Deadly Vision

Actor
Yvette Watson
Movie
1997

Flash

Actor
Laura Strong
Movie
1997

Liar

Actor
Mook
Movie
1997

Our Son, the Matchmaker

Actor
Iva Mae Longwell
Movie
1996

Timepiece

Actor
Maud Gannon
Movie
1996

Care of the Spitfire Grill

Actor
Hannah Ferguson
Movie
1996

My Brother's Keeper

Actor
Helen
Movie
1995

Roommates

Actor
Judith
Movie
1995

Follow the River

Actor
Gretel
Movie
1995

The Baby-Sitters Club

Actor
Emily Haberman
Movie
1995

How to Make an American Quilt

Actor
Hy Dodd
Movie
1995

Inside the Actors Studio

Guest
TV Show
1994

Inside the Actors Studio

Host
TV Show
1994

Getting Out

Actor
Arlie's Mother
Movie
1994

Getting Gotti

Actor
Jo Giacalone
Movie
1994

When a Man Loves a Woman

Actor
Emily
Movie
1994

Trick of the Eye

Actor
Frances Griffin
Movie
1994

Color of Evening

Actor
Kate O'Rielly
Movie
1994

Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story

Actor
Joan Delvecchio
Movie
1993

The Cemetery Club

Actor
Esther Moskowitz
Movie
1992

Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story

Actor
Wilma
Movie
1992

Romance en la Gran Isla

Actor
Movie
1991

El Fuego de la Pasión

Actor
Movie
1991

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

Actor
Lillian "Lil" Lambert
Movie
1991

Dying Young

Actor
Mrs. O'Neil
Movie
1991

Grand Isle

Actor
Mademoiselle Reisz
Movie
1991

When You Remember Me

Actor
Nurse Cooder
Movie
1990

Héroes Inocentes

Actor
Movie
1988

Hanna's War

Actor
Katalin
Movie
1988

La Guerre d'Hannah

Actor
Movie
1988

Pack of Lies

Actor
Barbara Jackson
Movie
1987

The Ellen Burstyn Show

Actor
Ellen Brewer
TV Show
1986

The ABC Fall Preview Special

Actor
TV Show
1986

Something in Common

Actor
Lynn Hollander
Movie
1986

Act of Vengeance

Actor
Margaret Yablonski
Movie
1986

Una Segunda Vez en la Vida

Actor
Movie
1985

Surviving

Actor
Tina Brogan
Movie
1985

Into Thin Air

Actor
Joan Walker
Movie
1985

Twice in a Lifetime

Actor
Kate MacKenzie
Movie
1985
83%

Suicide fatal

Actor
Movie
1985

The Ambassador

Actor
Alex Hacker
Movie
1984

The 35th Annual Tony Awards

Host
TV Show
1981

La Calada del Norte

Actor
Movie
1981

Silence of the North

Actor
Olive Frederickson
Movie
1981

Acting: Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio

Self
Movie
1981

The People vs. Jean Harris

Actor
Jean Harris
Movie
1981

Resurrection

Actor
Edna
Movie
1980

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
TV Show
1979

Same Time, Next Year

Actor
Doris
Movie
1978

A Dream of Passion

Actor
Brenda Collins
Movie
1978

Cri de Femmes

Actor
Movie
1978

Providencia

Actor
Movie
1977

Providence

Actor
Sonia Langham
Movie
1977

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
TV Show
1975

Alice Doesn't Live Here AnymoreStream

Actor
Alice Hyatt
Movie
1974
89%

Harry and Tonto

Actor
Shirley Mallard
Movie
1974

Thursday's Game

Actor
Lynne Evers
Movie
1974

The ExorcistStream

Actor
Chris MacNeil
Movie
1973
84%

The King of Marvin Gardens

Actor
Sally
Movie
1972

The Last Picture ShowStream

Actor
Lois Farrow
Movie
1971
100%

Tropic of Cancer

Actor
Mona
Movie
1970

Alex in Wonderland

Actor
Beth Morrison
Movie
1970

Pit Stop

Actor
Ellen McLeod
Movie
1969

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
TV Show
1968

Iron HorseStream

Actor
Julie Parsons
TV Show
1966

The Big ValleyStream

Guest Star
TV Show
1965

For Those Who Think Young

Actor
Dr. Pauline Swenson
Movie
1964

Goodbye Charlie

Actor
Franny Salzman
Movie
1964

The Big Brain

Actor
Ellen
TV Show
1963

The Tonight ShowStream

Guest
TV Show
1962

Ben Casey

Guest Star
Dr. Leslie Fraser
TV Show
1961

Bus Stop

Guest Star
TV Show
1961

Dr. Kildare

Guest Star
TV Show
1961

Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon

Actor
Movie
1961

Surfside 6

Guest Star
TV Show
1960

LaramieStream

Guest Star
Amy
TV Show
1959

77 Sunset Strip

Guest Star
Betty Benson
TV Show
1958

Perry MasonStream

Guest Star
Mona Winthrope White
TV Show
1957

Wagon TrainStream

Guest Star
TV Show
1957

Cheyenne

Guest Star
TV Show
1955

GunsmokeStream

Guest Star
Amy Waters
TV Show
1955

Death Valley DaysStream

Actor
Jenny
TV Show
1952

TodayStream

Guest
TV Show
1952

News about
Ellen Burstyn