Actor

Ellen Burstyn

1932

Who they are

Born: 7 December 1932, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Known for: The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Ellen Burstyn (born 1932) is an American actress and stage veteran, admired for intense, layered portrayals of women under pressure. She rose to fame in the 1970s New Hollywood era and won the Best Actress Oscar for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She has also won a Tony and two Emmys.

Where to start

The Last Picture Show (1971)In the library
Her first Oscar-nominated role, a key early film of the New Hollywood movement.
The Exorcist (1973)Full guide
Her searing turn as a desperate mother anchored a landmark horror film and earned an Oscar nomination.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)Log in to add it to the library
Martin Scorsese's drama gave her the Best Actress Oscar as a widow starting over.
Requiem for a Dream (2000)Full guide
Her devastating performance as an addicted widow earned a sixth Oscar nomination and a career revival.
Interstellar (2014)Full guide
A late-career role in Christopher Nolan's hit showed her enduring presence in major films.

Their films in the library

Awards

1975 Academy Award for Best Actress (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore)
1975 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (Same Time, Next Year)
1979 Golden Globe for Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Same Time, Next Year)
2009 Primetime Emmy Award (guest role, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
2013 Primetime Emmy Award (supporting role, Political Animals)

The full list · 146

1948Easy Out?Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Mary
1958The Christmas TreeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Elizabeth
1961RicochetLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Rose Maxon
1964Goodbye CharlieLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Franny Salzman
1964For Those Who Think YoungLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Pauline Swenson
1969Pit StopLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Ellen McCleod
1970Tropic of CancerLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mona (uncredited)
1970Alex in WonderlandLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Beth Morrison
1971The Last Picture ShowLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Lois Farrow
1972The King of Marvin GardensLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sally
1973The ExorcistLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Chris MacNeil
1974Alice Doesn't Live Here AnymoreLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Alice Hyatt
1974Harry and TontoLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Shirley
1974Thursday's GameLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Lynne Evers
1974The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster SaluteLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self (archive footage)
1977ProvidenceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sonia Langham
1978Same Time, Next YearLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Doris
1978A Dream of PassionLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Brenda Collins
1980ResurrectionLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Edna
1981Be Pretty and Shut Up!Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1981Silence of the NorthLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Olive Frederickson
1981People vs. Jean HarrisLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jean Harris
1982Night of 100 StarsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1982I Love LibertyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1985The AmbassadorLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Alex Hacker
1985Twice in a LifetimeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Kate MacKenzie
1985Into Thin AirLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Joan Walker
1985SurvivingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Tina Brogan
1985Night of 100 Stars IILog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1986Act of VengeanceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Margaret Yablonski
1986Something in CommonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Lynn Hollander
1987Dear America: Letters Home from VietnamLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mrs. Stocks (voice)
1987Pack of LiesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Barbara Jackson
1988Hanna's WarLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Katalin
1988Hello Actors StudioLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1989Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group TheatreLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1990When You Remember MeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nurse Cooder
1990The Color of EveningLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Kate O'Rielly
1991Dying YoungLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mrs. O'Neil
1991Mrs. Lambert Remembers LoveLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Lillian "Lil" Lambert
1991Grand IsleLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mademoiselle Reisz
1991Picture ThisLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1992Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer StoryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Wilma
1992Earth and the American DreamLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Reader (voice)
1992When It Was a Game 2Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Passage Narrator (voice)
1993The Cemetery ClubLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Esther Moskowitz
1993Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney StoryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Joan Delvecchio
1993Roots of RoeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Letters of Margaret Sanger (voice)
1994When a Man Loves a WomanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Emily
1994Getting GottiLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jo Giacalone
1994Getting OutLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Arlie's Mother
1994Trick of the EyeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Frances Griffin
1995How to Make an American QuiltLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Hy Dodd
1995The Baby-Sitters ClubLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mrs. Haberman
1995RoommatesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Judith
1995Follow The RiverLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Gretel
1995My Brother's KeeperLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Helen
1996The Spitfire GrillLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Hannah Ferguson
1996TimepieceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Maud Gannon
1997DeceiverLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mook
1997FlashLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Laura Strong
1997A Deadly VisionLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Yvette Watson
1998Playing by HeartLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mildred
1998The Fear of God: 25 Years of The ExorcistLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self - Chris MacNeil
1998You Can Thank Me LaterLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Shirley Cooperberg
1998The Patron Saint of LiarsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as June Clatterbuck
1998Marilyn in ManhattanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1999Walking Across EgyptLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mattie Rigsbee
1999Night Ride HomeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Maggie
1999The Last Picture Show: A Look BackLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2000Requiem for a DreamLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sara Goldfarb
2000The YardsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Val Handler
2000MermaidLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Trish
2001The Making of Requiem for a DreamLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2001Within These WallsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Joan Thomas
2001Memories, Dreams & AddictionsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2002Red DragonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
2002Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Vivi
2003Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved HollywoodLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2003A Decade Under the InfluenceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2003Brush with FateLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Rika
2004The Five People You Meet In HeavenLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Ruby
2004The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street BrothelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Tommie
2004Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2005Mrs. HarrisLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Former Tarnower Steady
2005Our FathersLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mary Ryan
2006The FountainLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Lillian Guzetti
2006The Wicker ManLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sister Summersisle
2006The Elephant KingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Diana Hunt
2006Stardust: The Bette Davis StoryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2006Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better TomorrowLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
200630 DaysLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Maura
2007The Stone AngelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Hagar
2007Mitch Albom's For One More DayLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Pauline "Posey" Benetto
2008W.Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Barbara Bush
2008The Loss of a Teardrop DiamondLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Miss Addie
2009According to GretaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Katherine
2009Lovely, StillLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mary
2009The Velveteen RabbitLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Swan (voice)
2009PoliWoodLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2010Main StreetLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Georgiana Carr
2010America Lost and Found: The BBS StoryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2010Reflections of a Philosopher KingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2010BBStory: An American Film RenaissanceLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2011Another Happy DayLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Doris Baker
2011The Mighty MacsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mother St. John
2012Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to YouLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nanette
2013Love, MarilynLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2013Wish You WellLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Louisa Mae Cardinal
2014InterstellarLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Murph (older)
2014Draft DayLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Barb Weaver
2014Flowers in the AtticLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Grandmother
2014Petals on the WindLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Olivia Foxworth
2014The CallingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Emily Micallef
2014Two Men in TownLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mère Garnett
2014And the Oscar Goes To...Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self - Interviewee
2014River of FundamentLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Hathfertiti
2015The Age of AdalineLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Flemming
2015UnityLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Narrator (voice)
2015About ScoutLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Gram
2016Wiener-DogLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nana
2016CustodyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Beatrice Fisher
2017Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a LifetimeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2018The TaleLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nettie
2018All I WishLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Celia Berges
2018Friedkin UncutLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2018NostalgiaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Helen Greer
2019Lucy in the SkyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Nana Holbrook
2019The House of TomorrowLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Josephine Prendergast
2019American WomanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Miss Dolly
2019Steven Arnold: Heavenly BodiesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2020Pieces of a WomanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Elizabeth Weiss
2020Delphine and CaroleLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self (archive footage)
2021Queen BeesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Helen Wilson
2021Paul Newman, Behind Blue EyesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Herself
2021Watch on the RhineLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Fanny
2022Three MonthsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Valerie
2023The Exorcist: BelieverLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Chris MacNeil
2024Mother, CouchLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mother
2024E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. TrumpLog in to add it to the libraryActor as E. Jean Carroll
2024Fear and Love: The Story of The ExorcistLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2025Breakdown: 1975Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2025Duse, the GreatestLog in to add it to the libraryActor
2025This Ordinary ThingLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self (voice)
2026Flesh ImpactLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Marilyn Monroe
2026Place to BeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Brooke

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.