Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

207

Gender

Female

Birthday

1932-12-07 (93 years old)

Place of Birth

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Also Known As

Ellen McRae

엘렌 버스틴

Эллен Бёрстин

Edna Rae Gilhooley

الن برستین

Ellen Burstyn

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

The Fountain

2006

The Fountain

as

Dr. Lillian Guzetti

Requiem for a Dream

2000

Requiem for a Dream

as

Sara Goldfarb

2008

W.

as

Barbara Bush

Playing by Heart

1998

Playing by Heart

as

Mildred

When a Man Loves a Woman

1994

When a Man Loves a Woman

as

Emily

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

2004

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

as

Ruby

How to Make an American Quilt

1995

How to Make an American Quilt

as

Hy Dodd

Walking Across Egypt

1999

Walking Across Egypt

as

Mattie Rigsbee

The Last Picture Show

1971

The Last Picture Show

as

Lois Farrow

Dying Young

1991

Dying Young

as

Mrs. O'Neil

The Wicker Man

2006

The Wicker Man

as

Sister Summersisle

Alex in Wonderland

1970

Alex in Wonderland

as

Beth Morrison

The Elephant King

2006

The Elephant King

as

Diana Hunt

The Exorcist

1973

The Exorcist

as

Chris MacNeil

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

2002

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

as

Vivi Abbott Walker

According to Greta

2009

According to Greta

as

Katherine

Mitch Albom's For One More Day

2007

Mitch Albom's For One More Day

as

Pauline "Posey" Benetto

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

2008

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

as

Miss Addie

I Love Liberty

1982

I Love Liberty

as

Self

The Velveteen Rabbit

2009

The Velveteen Rabbit

as

Swan (voice)

Harry and Tonto

1974

Harry and Tonto

as

Shirley Mallard

The Stone Angel

2007

The Stone Angel

as

Hagar

Our Fathers

2005

Our Fathers

as

Mary Ryan

Same Time, Next Year

1978

Same Time, Next Year

as

Doris

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

1987

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam

as

Mrs. Stocks (voice)

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute

1974

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute

as

Self (archive footage)

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

1974

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

as

Alice Hyatt

The Spitfire Grill

1996

The Spitfire Grill

as

Hannah Ferguson

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

2003

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

as

Self

The Baby-Sitters Club

1995

The Baby-Sitters Club

as

Mrs. Haberman

A Dream of Passion

1978

A Dream of Passion

as

Brenda Collins

The Mighty Macs

2011

The Mighty Macs

as

Mother St. John

The Yards

2000

The Yards

as

Val Handler

Grand Isle

1991

Grand Isle

as

Mademoiselle Reisz

Timepiece

1996

Timepiece

as

Maud Gannon

Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas

1991

Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas

as

Self

Lovely, Still

2012

Lovely, Still

as

Mary

The King of Marvin Gardens

1972

The King of Marvin Gardens

as

Sally

Goodbye Charlie

1964

Goodbye Charlie

as

Franny Salzman

Providence

1977

Providence

as

Sonia Langham

The Patron Saint of Liars

1998

The Patron Saint of Liars

as

June Clatterbuck

Three Months

2022

Three Months

as

Valerie

Brush with Fate

2003

Brush with Fate

as

Rika

Pit Stop

1969

Pit Stop

as

Ellen McCleod

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

2012

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

as

Nanette

The Cemetery Club

1993

The Cemetery Club

as

Esther Moskowitz

Tropic of Cancer

1970

Tropic of Cancer

as

Mona (uncredited)

Resurrection

1980

Resurrection

as

Edna

For Those Who Think Young

1964

For Those Who Think Young

as

Dr. Pauline Swenson

Love, Marilyn

2013

Love, Marilyn

as

Self

Twice in a Lifetime

1985

Twice in a Lifetime

as

Kate MacKenzie

The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist

1998

The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist

as

Self - Chris MacNeil

Marilyn in Manhattan

1998

Marilyn in Manhattan

as

Self

Mermaid

2000

Mermaid

as

Trish

Within These Walls

2001

Within These Walls

as

Joan Thomas

Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow

2006

Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow

as

Self

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

2024

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

as

Self

Interstellar

2014

Interstellar

as

Murph (older)

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

2004

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

as

Tommie

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist

2023

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist

as

Self (archive footage)

Draft Day

2014

Draft Day

as

Barb Weaver

The Ambassador

1985

The Ambassador

as

Alex Hacker

Thursday's Game

1974

Thursday's Game

as

Lynne Evers

Flowers in the Attic

2014

Flowers in the Attic

as

Grandmother

Night Ride Home

1999

Night Ride Home

as

Maggie

River of Fundament

2014

River of Fundament

as

Hathfertiti

And the Oscar Goes To...

2014

And the Oscar Goes To...

as

Self - Interviewee

Hello Actors Studio

1988

Hello Actors Studio

as

Self

Pack of Lies

1987

Pack of Lies

as

Barbara Jackson

People vs. Jean Harris

1981

People vs. Jean Harris

as

Jean Harris

My Brother's Keeper

1995

My Brother's Keeper

as

Helen

The Calling

2014

The Calling

as

Emily Micallef

Deceiver

1997

Deceiver

as

Mook

30 Days

2006

30 Days

as

Maura

Two Men in Town

2014

Two Men in Town

as

Mère Garnett

Silence of the North

1981

Silence of the North

as

Olive Frederickson

Roommates

1995

Roommates

as

Judith

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

1989

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

as

Self

The Age of Adaline

2015

The Age of Adaline

as

Flemming

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

1991

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

as

Lillian "Lil" Lambert

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

2006

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

as

Self

Be Pretty and Shut Up!

1981

Be Pretty and Shut Up!

as

Self

Mother, Couch

2024

Mother, Couch

as

Mother

Main Street

2010

Main Street

as

Georgiana Carr

Ricochet

1961

Ricochet

as

Rose Maxon

Fuddy Meers

Fuddy Meers

as

Gertie

Act of Vengeance

1986

Act of Vengeance

as

Margaret Yablonski

Martin Scorsese, l'Italo-Américain

2023

Martin Scorsese, l'Italo-Américain

as

Self

About Scout

2015

About Scout

as

Gram

Surviving

1985

Surviving

as

Tina Brogan

Wish You Well

2013

Wish You Well

as

Louisa Mae Cardinal

Follow The River

1995

Follow The River

as

Gretel

Unity

2015

Unity

as

Narrator (voice)

Wiener-Dog

2016

Wiener-Dog

as

Nana

Flash

1997

Flash

as

Laura Strong

Night of 100 Stars II

1985

Night of 100 Stars II

as

Self

The Tale

2018

The Tale

as

Nettie

When You Remember Me

1990

When You Remember Me

as

Nurse Cooder

Hanna's War

1988

Hanna's War

as

Katalin

Custody

2016

Custody

as

Beatrice Fisher

Getting Gotti

1994

Getting Gotti

as

Jo Giacalone

The Last Picture Show: A Look Back

1999

The Last Picture Show: A Look Back

as

Self

The House of Tomorrow

2019

The House of Tomorrow

as

Josephine Prendergast

Bathing Flo

Bathing Flo

as

Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story

1993

Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story

as

Joan Delvecchio

Nostalgia

2018

Nostalgia

as

Helen Greer

Trick of the Eye

1994

Trick of the Eye

as

Frances Griffin

You Can Thank Me Later

1998

You Can Thank Me Later

as

Shirley Cooperberg

All I Wish

2018

All I Wish

as

Celia Berges

Memories, Dreams & Addictions

2001

Memories, Dreams & Addictions

as

Self

Reflections of a Philosopher King

2010

Reflections of a Philosopher King

as

Self

Into Thin Air

1985

Into Thin Air

as

Joan Walker

Mrs. Harris

2006

Mrs. Harris

as

Former Tarnower Steady

Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime

2017

Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime

as

Self

Lucy in the Sky

2019

Lucy in the Sky

as

Nana Holbrook

A Deadly Vision

1997

A Deadly Vision

as

Yvette Watson

Friedkin Uncut

2018

Friedkin Uncut

as

Self

Queen Bees

2021

Queen Bees

as

Helen Wilson

American Woman

2019

American Woman

as

Miss Dolly

PoliWood

2009

PoliWood

as

Self

The Color of Evening

1990

The Color of Evening

as

Kate O'Rielly

Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies

2019

Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies

as

Self

Red Dragon

2002

Red Dragon

as

Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)

The Christmas Tree

1958

The Christmas Tree

as

Elizabeth

BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

2010

BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

as

Self

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story

2010

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story

as

Self

Getting Out

1994

Getting Out

as

Arlie's Mother

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story

1992

Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story

as

Wilma

Pieces of a Woman

2020

Pieces of a Woman

as

Elizabeth Weiss

Earth and the American Dream

1992

Earth and the American Dream

as

Reader (voice)

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances

2004

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore: Second Chances

as

Self

Easy Out?

1948

Easy Out?

as

Mary

Another Happy Day

2011

Another Happy Day

as

Doris Baker

Something in Common

1986

Something in Common

as

Lynn Hollander

The Making of Requiem for a Dream

2001

The Making of Requiem for a Dream

as

Self

Watch on the Rhine

2021

Watch on the Rhine

as

Fanny

The Exorcist: Believer

2023

The Exorcist: Believer

as

Chris MacNeil

Night of 100 Stars

1982

Night of 100 Stars

as

Self

Delphine and Carole

2020

Delphine and Carole

as

Self (archive footage)

A Decade Under the Influence

2003

A Decade Under the Influence

as

Self

Duse, the Greatest

2025

Duse, the Greatest

as

E. Jean Carroll V. Donald J. Trump

2024

E. Jean Carroll V. Donald J. Trump

as

E. Jean Carroll

Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes

2021

Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes

as

Herself

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

1989

Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre

as

Herself

Petals on the Wind

2014

Petals on the Wind

as

Olivia Foxworth

When It Was a Game 2

1992

When It Was a Game 2

as

Passage Narrator (voice)

Place To Be

Place To Be

as

Brooke

Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore"

2004

Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore"

as

The Time Tunnel

The Time Tunnel

as

Eve Holland

Inside the Actors Studio

Inside the Actors Studio

as

Self

77 Sunset Strip

77 Sunset Strip

as

Betty Benson

Cheyenne

Cheyenne

as

Emmy Mae

Kraft Suspense Theatre

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as

Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton

The View

The View

as

Self

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as

Bernie Stabler

The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel

as

Bishop Beatrice Congreve

Surfside 6

Surfside 6

as

Wandra Drake

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

as

Polly

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

as

Mona Winthrope White

Big Love

Big Love

as

Nancy Davis Dutton

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Elizabeth

That's Life

That's Life

as

Dolly DeLucca

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth

as

Susan Mason

Going My Way

Going My Way

as

Louise

Bus Stop

Bus Stop

as

Phyllis Dunning

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

as

Dr. Leslie Fraser

The Detectives

The Detectives

as

Nora

The Ellen Burstyn Show

The Ellen Burstyn Show

as

Ellen Brewer

Vacation Playhouse

Vacation Playhouse

as

Ellen

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Kildare

as

Anne Garner

The Defenders

The Defenders

as

Hilda Wesley

The Oscars

The Oscars

as

Self

Letter to Loretta

Letter to Loretta

as

Ann Walters

Political Animals

Political Animals

as

Margaret Barrish

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

as

Donna Whittaker

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

as

Connie

77 Sunset Strip

77 Sunset Strip

as

Sandra Keene

Law & Order: Organized Crime

Law & Order: Organized Crime

as

Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler

Coma

Coma

as

Mrs. Emerson

Mom

Mom

as

Shirley

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Host/Presenter

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

as

Self - Host

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Winner

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

as

Amy Waters

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Presenter

Reframed: Marilyn Monroe

Reframed: Marilyn Monroe

as

Self

American Experience

American Experience

as

Narrator (voice)

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster

as

Joan

Checkmate

Checkmate

as

Margo as Ellen McRae

A Will of their Own

A Will of their Own

as

Veronica Steward

The First Lady

The First Lady

as

Sara Delano Roosevelt

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Barbara Jackson

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Maggie

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Rika

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

as

Self - Guest

The Big Valley

The Big Valley

as

Sister Sarah Jacob

House of Cards

House of Cards

as

Elizabeth Hale

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Host

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Presenter

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Nominee

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Audience Member

Dinah!

Dinah!

as

Self

Production

Within These Walls

2001

Within These Walls

as

The House of Tomorrow

2019

The House of Tomorrow

as

Crew

Directing

Bathing Flo

Bathing Flo

as