Ellen Burstyn
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Bernie Stabler
1999
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Perry Mason
Mona Winthrope White
1957
Film
Interstellar
Murph (older)
2014
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Host
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Winner
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Host/Presenter
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Audience Member
1956
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Mom
Shirley
2013
Series
House of Cards
Elizabeth Hale
2013
Series
The Virginian
Kate Burden
1962
Series
Dr. Kildare
Anne Garner
1961
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Eva Laurelton
1963
Series
Cheyenne
Emmy Mae
1955
Series
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
1988
Series
Big Love
Nancy Davis Dutton
2006
Series
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler
2021
Series
Gunsmoke
Polly
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Amy Waters
1955
Series
The Big Valley
Sister Sarah Jacob
1965
Film
The Exorcist
Chris MacNeil
1973
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
The Defenders
Hilda Wesley
1961
Series
Ben Casey
Dr. Leslie Fraser
1961
Series
Ben Casey
Connie
1961
Series
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975
Series
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
1963
Series
Surfside 6
Wandra Drake
1960
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Betty Benson
1958
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Sandra Keene
1958
Series
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Donna Whittaker
1959
Series
The Time Tunnel
Eve Holland
1966
Series
Checkmate
Margo as Ellen McRae
1960
Film
The Age of Adaline
Flemming
2015
Series
The Detectives
Nora
1959
Film
The Fountain
Dr. Lillian Guzetti
2006
Film
Requiem for a Dream
Sara Goldfarb
2000
Film
The Exorcist: Believer
Chris MacNeil
2023
Series
HARDtalk
1997
Series
The First Lady
Sara Delano Roosevelt
2022
Film
The Wicker Man
Sister Summersisle
2006
Film
The Yards
Val Handler
2000
Film
Draft Day
Barb Weaver
2014
Vacation Playhouse
Ellen
1963
Series
Bus Stop
Phyllis Dunning
1961
Series
Going My Way
Louise
1962
Film
Dying Young
Mrs. O'Neil
1991
The Greatest Show on Earth
Susan Mason
1963
Series
That's Life
Dolly DeLucca
2000
Film
The Last Picture Show
Lois Farrow
1971
Series
Political Animals
Margaret Barrish
2012
Film
Flowers in the Attic
Grandmother
2014
Film
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Alice Hyatt
1974
Film
When a Man Loves a Woman
Emily
1994
Film
The Tale
Nettie
2018
Series
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest
1996
Series
Kraft Mystery Theatre
Greta Dryden
1961
Film
Pieces of a Woman
Elizabeth Weiss
2020
Series
Coma
Mrs. Emerson
2012
Series
The Book of Daniel
Bishop Beatrice Congreve
2006
Film
Red Dragon
Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
2002
Film
Mother, Couch
Mother
2024
Film
How to Make an American Quilt
Hy Dodd
1995
Film
Playing by Heart
Mildred
1998
Film
Breakdown: 1975
Self
2025
Series
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster
Joan
1962
Film
The Calling
Emily Micallef
2014
Film
W.
Barbara Bush
2008
Film
Petals on the Wind
Olivia Foxworth
2014
Series
Letter to Loretta
Ann Walters
1953
Film
All I Wish
Celia Berges
2018
Film
Wiener-Dog
Nana
2016
Film
Custody
Beatrice Fisher
2016
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
Self (archive footage)
1974
Film
Same Time, Next Year
Doris
1978
Film
Lucy in the Sky
Nana Holbrook
2019
Series
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
Self
2022
Film
The Baby-Sitters Club
Mrs. Haberman
1995
Series
A Will of their Own
Veronica Steward
1998
Film
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
Self
2010
Film
The Velveteen Rabbit
Swan (voice)
2009
Film
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
Miss Addie
2008
Film
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Vivi
2002
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Elizabeth
1951
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Barbara Jackson
1951
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Maggie
1951
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Rika
1951
Film
According to Greta
Katherine
2009
Film
Queen Bees
Helen Wilson
2021
Film
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
Film
Lovely, Still
Mary
2009
Film
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
Ruby
2004
Film
The House of Tomorrow
Josephine Prendergast
2019
Film
Earth and the American Dream
Reader (voice)
1992
Film
A Decade Under the Influence
Self
2003
Film
Main Street
Georgiana Carr
2010
Film
30 Days
Maura
2006
Film
Unity
Narrator (voice)
2015
Film
Walking Across Egypt
Mattie Rigsbee
1999
Film
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Flesh Impact
Marilyn Monroe
2026
Series
The Ellen Burstyn Show
Ellen Brewer
1986
Film
Another Happy Day
Doris Baker
2011
Film
Providence
Sonia Langham
1977
Film
The Spitfire Grill
Hannah Ferguson
1996
Film
Flash
Laura Strong
1997
Film
Mrs. Harris
Former Tarnower Steady
2005
Film
Deceiver
Mook
1997
Film
The Stone Angel
Hagar
2007
Film
Nostalgia
Helen Greer
2018
Film
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Self
2003
Film
Friedkin Uncut
Self
2018
Film
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back
Self
1999
Film
People vs. Jean Harris
Jean Harris
1981
Film
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self - Interviewee
2014
Film
Picture This
Self
1991
Film
Love, Marilyn
Self
2013
Film
The King of Marvin Gardens
Sally
1972
Film
Harry and Tonto
Shirley
1974
Film
Hanna's War
Katalin
1988
Film
Two Men in Town
Mère Garnett
2014
Film
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Self
2006
Film
For Those Who Think Young
Dr. Pauline Swenson
1964
Film
Act of Vengeance
Margaret Yablonski
1986
Film
The Patron Saint of Liars
June Clatterbuck
1998
Film
Wish You Well
Louisa Mae Cardinal
2013
Film
Three Months
Valerie
2022
Film
The Making of Requiem for a Dream
Self
2001
Film
Getting Gotti
Jo Giacalone
1994
Film
This Ordinary Thing
Self (voice)
2025
Film
Our Fathers
Mary Ryan
2005
Film
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
Lillian "Lil" Lambert
1991
Film
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Mrs. Stocks (voice)
1987
Film
Delphine and Carole
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Nanette
2012
Film
The Mighty Macs
Mother St. John
2011
Film
Thursday's Game
Lynne Evers
1974
Film
The Elephant King
Diana Hunt
2006
Film
Tropic of Cancer
Mona (uncredited)
1970
Film
Pit Stop
Ellen McCleod
1969
Film
About Scout
Gram
2015
Film
You Can Thank Me Later
Shirley Cooperberg
1998
Film
Twice in a Lifetime
Kate MacKenzie
1985
Film
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
Self
1981
Film
Resurrection
Edna
1980
Film
The Ambassador
Alex Hacker
1985
Film
PoliWood
Self
2009
Film
Hello Actors Studio
Self
1988
Film
Alex in Wonderland
Beth Morrison
1970
Film
Mitch Albom's For One More Day
Pauline "Posey" Benetto
2007
Film
Into Thin Air
Joan Walker
1985
Film
River of Fundament
Hathfertiti
2014
Film
Surviving
Tina Brogan
1985
Film
The Cemetery Club
Esther Moskowitz
1993
Film
Marilyn in Manhattan
Self
1998
Film
Goodbye Charlie
Franny Salzman
1964
My Brother's Keeper
Helen
1995
Film
Follow The River
Gretel
1995
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Self
1989
Film
Second Chances: The Making of "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
Self
2004
Film
American Woman
Miss Dolly
2019
Film
Within These Walls
Joan Thomas
2001
Film
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
Tommie
2004
Film
The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
Self - Chris MacNeil
1998
Film
When You Remember Me
Nurse Cooder
1990
Film
Something in Common
Lynn Hollander
1986
Film
When It Was a Game 2
Passage Narrator (voice)
1992
Film
Pack of Lies
Barbara Jackson
1987
Film
Roommates
Judith
1995
Film
Brush with Fate
Rika
2003
The Christmas Tree
Elizabeth
1958
Series
Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994
Film
A Deadly Vision
Yvette Watson
1997
Film
I Love Liberty
Self
1982
Film
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes
Herself
2021
Film
E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
E. Jean Carroll
2024
Film
Reflections of a Philosopher King
Self
2010
Film
Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
Self
2006
Film
Duse, the Greatest
2025
Film
The Color of Evening
Kate O'Rielly
1990
Bathing Flo
Film
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
Joan Delvecchio
1993
Film
Steven Arnold: Heavenly Bodies
Self
2019
Film
Grand Isle
Mademoiselle Reisz
1991
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
Self
2010
Film
Memories, Dreams & Addictions
Self
2001
Film
Night Ride Home
Maggie
1999
Film
Silence of the North
Olive Frederickson
1981
Film
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story
Wilma
1992
Film
Mermaid
Trish
2000
Film
Getting Out
Arlie's Mother
1994
Film
Watch on the Rhine
Fanny
2021
Film
Easy Out?
Mary
1948
Film
Trick of the Eye
Frances Griffin
1994
Film
Timepiece
Maud Gannon
1996
Film
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
Self
2017
Film
Place to Be
Brooke
Film
A Dream of Passion
Brenda Collins
1978
Film
Ricochet
Rose Maxon
1961
Film
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
Self
2024
Roots of Roe
Narrator (voice)
1993