Ellen Burstyn
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.
Known for
Acting196
movieThis Ordinary Thing
2025
Self (voice)
movieE. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump
2024
E. Jean Carroll
movieMother, Couch
2024
Mother
movieThe Exorcist: Believer
2023
Chris MacNeil
tvThe First Lady
2022
Sara Delano Roosevelt
movieThree Months
2022
Valerie
movieQueen Bees
2021
Helen Wilson
tvLaw & Order: Organized Crime
2021
Bernadette 'Bernie' Stabler
moviePieces of a Woman
2020
Elizabeth Weiss
movieDelphine and Carole
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieLucy in the Sky
2019
Nana Holbrook
movieAmerican Woman
2019
Miss Dolly
movieThe House of Tomorrow
2019
Josephine Prendergast
movieNostalgia
2018
Helen Greer
movieAll I Wish
2018
Celia Berges
movieThe Tale
2018
Nettie
movieCustody
2016
Beatrice Fisher
movieUnity
2015
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Age of Adaline
2015
Flemming
movieInterstellar
2014
Murph (older)
movieThe Calling
2014
Emily Micallef
moviePetals on the Wind
2014
Olivia Foxworth
movieTwo Men in Town
2014
Mère Garnett
movieDraft Day
2014
Barb Weaver
movieRiver of Fundament
2014
Hathfertiti
movieAnd the Oscar Goes To...
2014
Self - Interviewee
movieFlowers in the Attic
2014
Grandmother
movieWish You Well
2013
Louisa Mae Cardinal
tvMom
2013
Shirley
tvHouse of Cards
2013
Elizabeth Hale
tvComa
2012
Mrs. Emerson
tvPolitical Animals
2012
Margaret Barrish
movieAnother Happy Day
2011
Doris Baker
movieThe Mighty Macs
2011
Mother St. John
movieMain Street
2010
Georgiana Carr
movieAccording to Greta
2009
Katherine
movieThe Velveteen Rabbit
2009
Swan (voice)
movieW.
2008
Barbara Bush
movieThe Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
2008
Miss Addie
movieMitch Albom's For One More Day
2007
Pauline "Posey" Benetto
movieThe Fountain
2006
Dr. Lillian Guzetti
movie30 Days
2006
Maura
movieThe Wicker Man
2006
Sister Summersisle
movieThe Elephant King
2006
Diana Hunt
tvBig Love
2006
Nancy Davis Dutton
movieMrs. Harris
2006
Former Tarnower Steady
tvThe Book of Daniel
2006
Bishop Beatrice Congreve
movieOur Fathers
2005
Mary Ryan
movieRed Dragon
2002
Grandma Dolarhyde (voice) (uncredited)
movieWithin These Walls
2001
Joan Thomas
movieRequiem for a Dream
2000
Sara Goldfarb
tvThat's Life
2000
Dolly DeLucca
movieMermaid
2000
Trish
movieThe Yards
2000
Val Handler
movieWalking Across Egypt
1999
Mattie Rigsbee
tvLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Bernie Stabler
movieNight Ride Home
1999
Maggie
moviePlaying by Heart
1998
Mildred
tvA Will of their Own
1998
Veronica Steward
movieYou Can Thank Me Later
1998
Shirley Cooperberg
movieThe Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist
1998
Self - Chris MacNeil
movieThe Patron Saint of Liars
1998
June Clatterbuck
movieFlash
1997
Laura Strong
tvThe View
1997
Self
movieA Deadly Vision
1997
Yvette Watson
movieTimepiece
1996
Maud Gannon
movieThe Spitfire Grill
1996
Hannah Ferguson
tvThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
Self - Guest
movieThe Baby-Sitters Club
1995
Mrs. Haberman
movieRoommates
1995
Judith
movieTrick of the Eye
1994
Frances Griffin
movieGetting Gotti
1994
Jo Giacalone
movieGetting Out
1994
Arlie's Mother
Roots of Roe
1993
Narrator (voice)
movieShattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story
1993
Joan Delvecchio
movieThe Cemetery Club
1993
Esther Moskowitz
movieEarth and the American Dream
1992
Reader (voice)
movieWhen It Was a Game 2
1992
Passage Narrator (voice)
movieGrand Isle
1991
Mademoiselle Reisz
movieDying Young
1991
Mrs. O'Neil
movieMrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991
Lillian "Lil" Lambert
movieWhen You Remember Me
1990
Nurse Cooder
movieThe Color of Evening
1990
Kate O'Rielly
tvAmerican Experience
1988
Narrator (voice)
movieHanna's War
1988
Katalin
movieDear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
1987
Mrs. Stocks (voice)
moviePack of Lies
1987
Barbara Jackson
movieSomething in Common
1986
Lynn Hollander
tvThe Ellen Burstyn Show
1986
Ellen Brewer
movieAct of Vengeance
1986
Margaret Yablonski
movieInto Thin Air
1985
Joan Walker
movieTwice in a Lifetime
1985
Kate MacKenzie
movieSurviving
1985
Tina Brogan
movieThe Ambassador
1985
Alex Hacker
movieSilence of the North
1981
Olive Frederickson
moviePeople vs. Jean Harris
1981
Jean Harris
movieA Dream of Passion
1978
Brenda Collins
movieProvidence
1977
Sonia Langham
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self - Host
movieAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
1974
Alice Hyatt
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieHarry and Tonto
1974
Shirley Mallard
movieThursday's Game
1974
Lynne Evers
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
1974
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Exorcist
1973
Chris MacNeil
movieThe Last Picture Show
1971
Lois Farrow
movieAlex in Wonderland
1970
Beth Morrison
movieTropic of Cancer
1970
Mona (uncredited)
moviePit Stop
1969
Ellen McCleod
tvThe Time Tunnel
1966
Eve Holland
tvThe Big Valley
1965
Sister Sarah Jacob
movieGoodbye Charlie
1964
Franny Salzman
movieFor Those Who Think Young
1964
Dr. Pauline Swenson
tvKraft Suspense Theatre
1963
Barbara Sherwood / Lucille Benton
tvGoing My Way
1962
Louise
tvThe Virginian
1962
Kate Burden
movieRicochet
1961
Rose Maxon
tvBen Casey
1961
Dr. Leslie Fraser / Connie
tvBus Stop
1961
Phyllis Dunning
tvDr. Kildare
1961
Anne Garner
tvThe Defenders
1961
Hilda Wesley
tvKraft Mystery Theatre
1961
Greta Dryden
tvSurfside 6
1960
Wandra Drake
tvCheckmate
1960
Margo as Ellen McRae
tvThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959
Donna Whittaker
tv77 Sunset Strip
1958
Betty Benson / Sandra Keene
tvPerry Mason
1957
Mona Winthrope White
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Host / Self - Winner / Self - Presenter / Self - Host/Presenter / Self - Audience Member
tvCheyenne
1955
Emmy Mae
tvGunsmoke
1955
Polly / Amy Waters
tvLetter to Loretta
1953
Ann Walters
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Elizabeth / Barbara Jackson / Maggie / Rika
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Presenter / Self - Nominee
Flesh Impact
Marilyn Mornoe
Production2
movieThe House of Tomorrow
2019
Executive Producer
movieWithin These Walls
2001
Executive Producer
Directing1
Bathing Flo
Director