Karen Black
Known for: Acting
Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portraying eccentric and offbeat characters, and established herself as a figure of New Hollywood. Her career spanned over 50 years and includes nearly 200 credits in both independent and mainstream films. Black received numerous accolades throughout her career, including two Golden Globe Awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A native of suburban Chicago, Black studied theater at Northwestern University before dropping out and relocating to New York City. She performed on Broadway in 1965 before making her major film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's You're a Big Boy Now (1966). Black relocated to California and was cast as an acid-tripping prostitute in Dennis Hopper's road film Easy Rider (1969). That led to a lead in the drama Five Easy Pieces (1970), in which she played a hopeless beautician, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Black made her first major commercial picture with the disaster film Airport 1975 (1974), and her subsequent appearance as Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby (1974) won her a second Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Black starred as a glamorous country singer in Robert Altman's ensemble musical drama Nashville (1975), also writing and performing two songs for the soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack. Her portrayal of an aspiring actress in John Schlesinger's drama The Day of the Locust (also 1975) earned her a third Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actress. She subsequently took on four roles in Dan Curtis' anthology horror film Trilogy of Terror (1975), followed by Curtis's supernatural horror feature, Burnt Offerings (1976). The same year, she starred as a con artist in Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot. In 1982, Black starred as a trans woman in the Robert Altman-directed Broadway debut of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, a role she also reprised in Altman's subsequent film adaptation. She next starred in the comedy Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983), followed by Tobe Hooper's remake of Invaders from Mars (1986). For much of the late 1980s and 1990s, Black starred in a variety of arthouse, independent, and horror films, as well as writing her own screenplays. She had a leading role as a villainous mother in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (2003), which cemented her status as a cult horror icon. She continued to star in low-profile films throughout the early 2000s, as well as working as a playwright before her death from ampullary cancer in 2013.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Vera Morgan
2001
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Dr. Sylvia Dunn
1984
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Miami Vice
Helen Jackson
1984
Series
Mannix
1967
Series
American Playhouse
Self
1982
Series
Adam-12
Susan Decker
1968
Series
Party of Five
Doreen Jablonsky
1994
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest / Various Characters
1967
Series
The Big Valley
Carla
1965
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self
1975
Series
The F.B.I.
Lorraine Chapman
1965
Series
Profiler
Evie Long
1996
Series
Run for Your Life
Jennifer Palmer
1965
Series
The Invaders
Claudia Stone
1967
Series
The Name of the Game
Monica Garrison
1968
Series
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Jennifer
2007
Series
The Hitchhiker
Kay Mason
1983
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Guest Interviewee
1982
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Sea Witch
1982
Series
The Hunger
Miss Gati / Landlady
1997
Series
Police Story
Office Evelyn Carter
1973
Series
Judd, for the Defense
1967
Series
Ghost Story
Barbara Sanders
1972
Film
Easy Rider
Karen
1969
Film
The Player
Karen Black
1992
Series
Rude Awakening
Crystal Garcia
1998
Series
Russians in the City of Angels
Patricia Sommers
2003
Series
The Second Hundred Years
Marcia
1967
Film
House of 1000 Corpses
Mother Firefly
2003
Series
Tales of the City
Self
1993
Film
Capricorn One
Judy Drinkwater
1977
Film
The Great Gatsby
Myrtle Wilson
1974
Film
Airport 1975
Nancy Pryor
1974
Series
E/R
1984
Film
Five Easy Pieces
Rayette Dipesto
1970
Film
Nashville
Connie White
1975
Film
The Outfit
Bett Harrow
1973
Film
Family Plot
Fran
1976
Film
Invaders from Mars
Linda Magnusson
1986
Series
Worlds Beyond
Lee Jeffreys
1986
Series
Moon Over Miami
1993
Film
Night Angel
Rita
1990
Film
Eternal Evil
Janus
1985
Series
Power
Rose Vanda-Buchanan
1980
Film
Wild in Blue
Justine
2014
Film
Killer Fish
Kate
1979
Film
Burnt Offerings
Marian Rolf
1976
Film
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering
June Rhodes
1996
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Series
Mr. Horn
Ernestina Crawford
1979
Film
The Day of the Locust
Faye Greener
1975
Film
Crazy for Love
Grace's Mom
2005
Film
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Linda Magnusson (archive footage) (uncredited)
2014
Film
Cut and Run
Karin
1985
Film
Teknolust
Dirty Dick
2002
Film
The Invisible Kid
Mom
1988
Film
Out of the Dark
Ruth Wilson
1988
Film
Savage Dawn
Rachel
1985
Film
Ooga Booga
Mrs. Allardyce
2013
Film
In Praise of Older Women
Maya
1978
Film
Dogtown
Rose Van Horn
1997
Film
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Joanne
1982
Film
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
Trilogy of Terror
Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
1975
Film
Homer and Eddie
Belle
1989
Bottomless Pit
Karen Black
2015
Film
Cisco Pike
Sue
1972
Film
Zapped Again!
Homeroom Teacher
1990
Film
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
Self
2010
Film
Quiet Fire
Kim Martino
1991
Film
Some Guy Who Kills People
Ruth Boyd
2011
Film
The Independent
Karen Black
2000
Film
A Gunfight
Jenny Simms
1971
Series
Science Fiction Film Awards
Self
Film
Born to Win
Parm
1971
Film
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Whip Lady
1998
Film
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive
Ellen Jarvis
1987
Film
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Self
2003
Film
Paris
Chantelle
2003
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
Self
2004
Film
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway
Martha Gelhorn
1988
Film
Red Dirt
Aunt Summer
2000
Film
Men
Alex
1997
Film
Soulkeeper
Martha la Magnifica
2001
Film
Haunting Fear
Dr. Julia Harcourt
1990
Film
Altman on His Own Terms
Self
2000
Film
Judgement
Tiffany Powers
1992
Film
Whitepaddy
Mrs. Leider
2006
Film
Mirror Mirror
Susan Gordon
1990
Film
Mascara
Aunt Eloise
1999
Film
Rhinoceros
Daisy
1974
Film
One Long Night
Barbara
2007
Film
Hostage
Laura Lawrence
1987
Film
Evil Spirits
Ella Purdy
1991
Film
Bad Manners
Gladys Fitzpatrick
1984
Film
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies
Auntie Lee
1992
Film
The Underground Comedy Movie
Mother
1999
Film
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs
Self
1998
Film
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Self
2009
Film
Wamego: Ultimatum
Self
2009
Film
The Last Horror Film
Karen Black (uncredited)
1982
Film
Crimetime
Millicent
1996
Film
Children of the Night
Karen Thompson
1991
Film
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula
Agrippina
2005
Film
Chanel Solitaire
Emilienne d'Alençon
1981
Film
The Children
Sybil Lullmer
1990
Film
The Pyx
Elizabeth Lucy
1973
Film
The Double 0 Kid
Mrs. Elliot
1992
Film
Mr. Horn
Ernestina Crawford
1979
Film
Final Judgement
Mrs. Sorrel
1992
Film
Airports
2025
Film
Angel Blue
Social Worker
1998
Film
Dark Blood
Motel Woman
2012
Film
Twisted Justice
Mrs. Granger
1990
Film
You're a Big Boy Now
Amy Partlett
1966
Film
Law and Disorder
Gloria
1974
Film
Martin's Day
Karen
1985
Film
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman
Mrs. Buttleman
2003
Film
Repo Chick
Aunt De La Chasse
2009
Film
Gypsy 83
Bambi LeBleau
2001
Film
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Self
1997
Film
Drive, He Said
Olive
1971
Film
Curse of the Forty-Niner
Aunt Nelly
2002
Film
Miss Right
Amy
1982
Film
The Last Word
Paula Herbert
1979
Film
Plan 10 from Outer Space
Nehor
1995
Film
Caged Fear
Blanche
1991
Film
Conceiving Ada
Lady Byron / Mother Coer
1999
Film
Fallen Arches
Lucy Romano
2000
Film
Separate Ways
Valentine Colby
1981
Film
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver
Miriam Oliver / Sandy
1977
Film
Club Fed
Sally Rich
1990
Film
She Loves Me Not
Karla
2013
Film
Hard Contract
Ellen
1969
Film
The Squeeze
Clarisse Saunders
1978
Film
Flight of the Spruce Goose
Gloria
1986
Film
Invisible Dad
Courtney Whitmer
1998
Light Speed
High Priestess
1998
Film
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Zee
1983
Film
Blood Money
Barrett
1991
Film
Crime and Passion
Susan Winters
1976
Film
Ralph S. Mouse
Miss Kuchenbacker
1991
Film
Tuesday Never Comes
Michelle
1992
Karen Black: Actress at Work
Self
1999
Film
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story
Carla
1993
Film
Hollywood Dreams
Luna
2007
Film
Rubin & Ed
Rula
1992
Film
Stir
Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
1997
Film
Contamination
Mavis
2008
Film
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Self
2001
Film
The Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
1991
Film
Watercolors
Mrs. Martin
2008
Film
The Little Mermaid
Sea Witch
1987
Film
A Single Woman
Storyteller
2008
Film
Paradise Cove
Ma
1999
Film
Suffering Man's Charity
Renee
2007
Film
The Prime Time
Betty
1960
Film
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage
Self
1999
George Sluizer - Filming beyond Bounderies
Self
Film
Where the Ladies Go
Helen
1980
Film
Double Duty
Annabelle
2009
Film
Portnoy's Complaint
Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
1972
Film
Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop
Investigator Evelyn Carter
1980
Film
Dead Girls Don't Tango
Insp. Wilson
1992
Film
Dinosaur Valley Girls
Ro-Kell
1995
Film
On the tracks of a filmmaker
Karen Black
1988
Film
Irene in Time
Sheila Shivvers
2009
Film
Dr. Rage
Molly
2005
Film
Dixie Lanes
Zelma Putnam
1988
Film
Little Laura and Big John
Laura
1973
Film
Charades
Jude
1998
Mommy's Little Monster
Mrs. Melnick
2012
Film
Stuck!
The Neighbor Lady
2009
Film
The Grass Is Singing
Mary Turner
1981
Film
Nothing Special
May
2010
Film
Overexposed
Mrs. Trowbridge
1990
Film
The Donor
Mrs. Springle
2001
Film
Birth of Industry
Sara
2004
Film
New York Crossing
Mrs. Tender
1996
Film
Read You Like a Book
Kate
2006
Maria My Love
Maria
2012
Film
Firecracker
Sandra / Eleanor
2005
Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
Self – Joanne (archive footage)
2014
Film
First Time Long Time
Dr. Shneidel
2009
Film
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!
1994
Film
America Brown
Marianne Brown
2005
Film
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
1993
Film
Fatal Encounter
Joan Caldwell
1990
Too Bad About Jack
1994
Film
The Trust
Maria Vandermeer
1993
Film
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts
(archive footage)
2018
Film
Oliver Twisted
Mrs. Mary Happ
2000
Film
The Blue Tooth Virgin
Zena
2008
Film
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
1993
Film
Bury the Evidence
The Mother
1998
Film
Cries of Silence
Rose Walsh
1996
Film
Letters from the Big Man
Sean's Colleague
2011
Film
Wanderlust
Herself
2006
Film
A Light in the Darkness
Mrs. Melnick
2002
Film
Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1
("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
2002
Every Minute Is Goodbye
1996
Meet the Eye
2009
Film
Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'
Self
2010
Film
Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone
Tarot
2012
Film
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley
Evelyn
1995
Film
Starstruck
Bertha
1995
Film
Malaika
Jessica Martin
1998
Film
OowieWanna
The Donna
2012
Film
WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere
Self
2004
Film
Because He's My Friend
Anne
1978
Film
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra
1994
Vacationland
Louise