Ellen Burstyn Date of Birth
7 December 1932, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Birth Name
Edna Rae Gillooly
Height
5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
Ellen Burstyn Mini Biography
Born in Detroit, Ellen Burstyn worked a number of jobs before she became an actress. At 14, she was a short-order cook at a lunch counter. After graduating from Detroit’s Cass Technical High School, she went to Texas to model and then to New York as a showgirl on “The Jackie Gleason Show” (1952). From there, it was to Montreal as a nightclub dancer and then Broadway with her debut in “Fair Game (1957)”. By 1963, she appeared on the TV series “The Doctors” (1963), but she gained notice for her role in Goodbye Charlie (1964). Ellen then took time off to study acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio.

Her big break came when she was cast as the female lead in The Last Picture Show (1971). For this role, she received nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award. Next, she co-starred with Jack Nicholson in The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), giving a chilling performance. Then came The Exorcist (1973). Ellen was again nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Award. In 1974, she starred in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), playing a waitress, which is a job that she well knows. For this performance, she won the Oscar as Best Actress as well as the British award for the same category. For the Golden Globe, she was nominated but lost to Marsha Mason. The same year, Ellen made history by winning a Tony Award for the Broadway play “Same Time, Next Year”. She won praise and award nominations for the movie version of Same Time, Next Year (1978) and Resurrection (1980). “Resurrection” was a another great film in which she played a woman with the power to heal. Even with all these successful movies and all the awards, Ellen found that she could barely get a job in the 80s. A succession of TV movies resulting in two Emmy nominations kept Ellen going as did the series “The Ellen Burstyn Show” (1986). The TV movies continued through the 90s. Also in the 90s, Ellen was cast in the supporting role in such movies as The Cemetery Club (1993), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) and The Spitfire Grill (1996). In addition to her acting, Burstyn was the first woman president of Actor’s Equity, the actors’ union, from 1982 to 1985.
Ellen Burstyn Spouse
Neil Burstyn (1964 - April 1972) (divorced) 1 child
Paul Roberts (14 September 1958 - 1962) (divorced)
William Alexander (1950 - September 1957) (divorced)
Ellen Burstyn Trade Mark
Her smile

Ellen Burstyn Trivia
Received a permanent spinal injury while filming The Exorcist (1973). In the sequence where she is thrown away from her possessed daughter, a harness jerked her hard away from the bed. She fell on her coccyx and screamed in pain, which was filmed for the movie.

She wrote to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences to protest Liv Ullmann’s elimination from Oscar contention in 1974 for her performance in Scener ur ett äktenskap (1973) (aka “Scenes from a Marriage”). AMPAS used a rule under which TV presentations must have appeared in movie theaters in the same year, to prevent Ullmann from being nominated. The result is that Burstyn won the Oscar for her performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974).

Burstyn was not able to attend the 1975 Academy Awards Ceremony, thus couldn’t accept her Best Actress Oscar for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). Martin Scorsese, the film’s director, accepted her Oscar on her behalf.

Has one grandchild.

Chosen by People Magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” [May 2001]

Born at 4:00 AM EST.

Wore 20- and 40-pound fat suits and prosthetic necks to play Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream (2000).

Said in the book “On Women Turning 50″ that she did not attend the 1975 Academy Awards, where she won the Best Actress award for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), because she was certain she would win and could not handle the pressure and attention. After attending several later Oscar ceremonies at which she lost, she regretted not being there to accept her award.

Along with Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel, was named co-president of The Actor’s Studio in 2000.

Doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee and practices Yoga.

Was first female president of The Actor’s Equity (1982-1985).

Served as co-artistic director for The Actor’s Studio.

Turned down the lead role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) because she had an ill husband to take care of.

Says she is often mistaken for fellow actress Louise Fletcher. People tell her she was great in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) (for which Fletcher won an Oscar). Fletcher reports being told frequently that she did a wonderful job in one of Burstyn’s roles.

Received the National Board of Review’s Career Achievement Award in December 2000 at Tavern on the Green.

Has one adopted son, Jefferson, and a granddaughter, Emily.

Practices the mystical Islamic religion Sufism.

Is an ordained minister.

Hosted “Saturday Night Live” (1975) in 1980.

Is a Vegetarian.

Played her Academy Award nominated character from Same Time, Next Year (1978) on Broadway first and won a Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for the role in 1975.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981

Co-head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival 1988

Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977

Is Irish American.

The character of Jean Harris seems to be a favorite for Ellen Burstyn. Burstyn was Emmy-nominated for the lead role as Jean Harris in the 1981 TV-movie, The People vs. Jean Harris (1981) (TV) and, in 2006, she was nominated as a supporting character (as an ex-lover of Jean Harris’s lover) in the cable-movie based on the Harris case in Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV). Burstyn is perhaps the first actress to be nominated in a performance that is less than 1-minute long. She is vying for the Emmy with fellow co-star and Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman.

Her Emmy-nominated performance in Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV) lasts approximately 15 seconds

Made a special Academy Awards appearance in 1998, at the The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV), and participated in the Oscar Winners Tribute sequence along with other Academy Award winners.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2007 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film The Wicker Man (2006), however, she failed to receive a nomination.

Worked as an acrobat and as a model for paperback covers.

Godmother of her The Spitfire Grill (1996) co-star, Marcia Gay Harden,’s children.

Ellen Burstyn Personal Quotes
“Acting feels like a congenial condition to me - it’s in my genes.”

“I’ve wanted an Oscar since I was seven years old. It is the basis of all my secret fantasies.” — quoted by Robert Osborne in “Academy Awards 1974 Oscar Annual”.

“It’s unfortunate but our society is such that, for women in Hollywood, you get to a certain age and just fall off a cliff. But in my case, I refuse to die. I will hang on, by a little finger if necessary.”

“I thought it was fabulous. My next ambition is to get nominated for seven seconds, and, ultimately, I want to be nominated for a picture in which I don’t even appear.” Interview with Associated Press Radio, 2004, regarding her Emmy nomination for her performance in Mrs. Harris, in which she appeared for 14 seconds.

Ellen Burstyn Salary
Thursday’s Game (1974) (TV) $10,000
Where Are They Now
(2006) Release of her book, “Lessons in Becoming Myself”.
Ellen Burstyn Movie
Our Lady of Victory (2008) (post-production)
Greta (2008) (post-production) …. Katherine
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008) (completed)

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s For One More Day (2007) (TV)
The Stone Angel (2007)
“Big Love” …. Nancy Davis Dutton (1 episode, 2007)
30 Days (2006/I)
The Fountain (2006)
The Wicker Man (2006)
“The Book of Daniel” …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve (8 episodes, 2006)
    - Assignation (2006) TV episode …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve
    - Revelations (2006) TV episode …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve
    - Acceptance (2006) TV episode …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve
    - Forgiveness (2006) TV episode …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve
    - Temptation (2006) TV episode …. Bishop Beatrice Congreve
      (3 more)
The Elephant King (2006) …. Diana Hunt
Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV) …. Former Tarnower Steady
Our Fathers (2005) (TV) …. Mary Ryan
“That’s Life” …. Dolly DeLucca (30 episodes, 2000-2005)
    - Baum’s Thesis (2005) TV episode …. Dolly DeLucca
    - Momento (2002) TV episode …. Dolly DeLucca
    - What’s Family Got to Do with It? (2002) TV episode …. Dolly DeLucca
    - All About Lydia (2002) TV episode …. Dolly DeLucca
    - Behind Closed Doors (2002) TV episode …. Dolly DeLucca
      (25 more)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004) (TV) …. Ruby
The Madam’s Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel (2004) (TV) …. Tommie
Brush with Fate (2003) (TV) …. Rika
Red Dragon (2002) (voice) (uncredited) …. Grandma Dolarhyde
… aka Roter Drache (Germany)
Distance (2002) …. Voice Over
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) …. Viviane Joan ‘Vivi’ Abbott Walker
Within These Walls (2001) (TV) …. Joan Thomas
Dodson’s Journey (2001) (TV) …. Mother
Mermaid (2000) (TV) …. Trish Gill
Requiem for a Dream (2000) …. Sara Goldfarb
The Yards (2000) …. Val Handler

Walking Across Egypt (1999) …. Mattie Rigsbee
… aka Leading with Her Heart (USA: TV title)
Night Ride Home (1999) (TV) …. Maggie
Playing by Heart (1998) …. Mildred
“A Will of Their Own” (1998) (mini) TV mini-series …. Veronica Steward
The Patron Saint of Liars (1998) (TV) …. June Clatterbuck
You Can Thank Me Later (1998) …. Shirley Cooperberg
Flash (1997) (TV) …. Laura Strong
Deceiver (1997) …. Mook
… aka Liar (UK)
A Deadly Vision (1997) (TV) …. Yvette Watson
… aka Murder in Mind
Timepiece (1996) (TV) …. Maud Gannon
Our Son, the Matchmaker (1996) (TV) …. Iva Mae Longwell
The Spitfire Grill (1996) …. Hannah Ferguson
… aka Care of the Spitfire Grill
Cross the Line (1996) …. Mary Davis
How to Make an American Quilt (1995) …. Hy Dodd
The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) …. Emily Haberman
Follow the River (1995) (TV) …. Gretel
My Brother’s Keeper (1995) (TV) …. Helen
Roommates (1995) …. Judith
Trick of the Eye (1994) (TV) …. Frances Griffin
… aka Primal Secrets (UK)
Getting Gotti (1994) (TV) …. Jo Giacalone
When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) …. Emily
… aka To Have and to Hold
Getting Out (1994) (TV) …. Arlie’s Mother
The Color of Evening (1994) …. Kate O’Rielly
Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story (1993) (TV) …. Joan Delvecchio
… aka Shattered Trust
The Cemetery Club (1993) …. Esther Moskowitz
… aka Looking for a Live One
Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992) (TV) …. Wilma
Grand Isle (1991) …. Mademoiselle Reisz
Dying Young (1991) …. Mrs. O’Neil
… aka The Choice of Love (Europe: English title)
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (1991) (TV) …. Lillian ‘Lil’ Lambert
When You Remember Me (1990) (TV) …. Nurse Cooder
Hanna’s War (1988) …. Katalin
Look Away (1987) (TV) …. Mary Todd Lincoln
Pack of Lies (1987) (TV) …. Barbara Jackson
Something in Common (1986) (TV) …. Lynn Hollander
“The Ellen Burstyn Show” (1986) TV series …. Ellen Brewer (unknown episodes)
Act of Vengeance (1986) (TV) …. Margaret Yablonski
Into Thin Air (1985) (TV) …. Joan Walker
Twice in a Lifetime (1985) …. Kate MacKenzie
Surviving (1985) (TV) …. Tina Brogan
… aka Surviving: A Family in Crisis
… aka Tragedy (USA: video title)
The Ambassador (1984) …. Alex Hacker
… aka Peacemaker
Silence of the North (1981) …. Olive Frederickson
The People vs. Jean Harris (1981) (TV) …. Jean Harris
Resurrection (1980) …. Edna Mae McCauley
Same Time, Next Year (1978) …. Doris
Kravgi gynaikon (1978) …. Brenda Collins
… aka A Dream of Passion (International: English title)
Providence (1977) …. Sonia Langham
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) …. Alice Hyatt
Harry and Tonto (1974) …. Shirley Mallard
Thursday’s Game (1974) (TV) …. Lynne Evers
… aka The Berk (USA)
The Exorcist (1973) …. Chris MacNeil
… aka The Exorcist 2000 (Australia: cable TV title)
… aka The Exorcist: The Version You Haven’t Seen Yet (USA: recut version)
… aka The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen (USA: promotional title)
… aka William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist (USA: reissue title)
The King of Marvin Gardens (1972) …. Sally
“The Bold Ones: The Lawyers” …. Rachel Lambert (1 episode, 1972)
… aka The Lawyers
    - Lisa, I Hardly Knew You (1972) TV episode …. Rachel Lambert
“Gunsmoke” …. Amy Waters / … (3 episodes, 1962-1971)
… aka Gun Law (UK)
… aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
    - Waste: Part 2 (1971) TV episode …. Amy Waters
    - Waste: Part 1 (1971) TV episode …. Amy Waters
    - Wagon Girls (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Polly Mims
The Last Picture Show (1971) …. Lois Farrow
Alex in Wonderland (1970) …. Beth Morrison
Tropic of Cancer (1970) (as Ellen McRae) …. Mona Miller
Pit Stop (1969) (as Ellen McRae) …. Ellen McLeod
“The Virginian” …. Kate Burden (1 episode, 1969)
… aka The Men from Shiloh (USA: new title)
    - Last Grave at Socorro Creek (1969) TV episode (as Ellen MacRae) …. Kate Burden
“The Iron Horse” (1966) TV series …. Julie Parsons (unknown episodes, 1967-1968)
“The Big Valley” …. Sister Jacob aka Sarah (1 episode, 1967)
    - Days of Grace (1967) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Sister Jacob aka Sarah
“The Time Tunnel” …. Eve Holland (1 episode, 1966)
    - Crack of Doom (1966) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Eve Holland
“For the People” …. Maria (1 episode, 1965)
    - Seized, Confined and Detained (1965) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Maria
“Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre” (1 episode, 1965)
… aka The Chrysler Theater
… aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
    - Runaway (1965) TV episode (as Ellen McRae)
“The Doctors” (1963) TV series …. Dr. Kate Bartok (unknown episodes, 1964-1965)
Goodbye Charlie (1964) (as Ellen McRae) …. Franny Salzman
For Those Who Think Young (1964) (as Ellen McRae) …. Dr. Pauline Swenson
“77 Sunset Strip” …. Betty Benson / … (2 episodes, 1961-1964)
    - Dial ‘S’ for Spencer (1964) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Sandra Keene
    - The Navy Caper (1961) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Betty Benson
“The Greatest Show on Earth” …. Susan Mason (1 episode, 1964)
    - Big Man from Nairobi (1964) TV episode (as Ellen MacRae) …. Susan Mason
“Kraft Suspense Theatre” …. Barbara Sherwood / … (1 episode, 1964)
    - The Deep End (1964) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Barbara Sherwood/Lucille Benton
The Big Brain (1963) (TV) (as Ellen McRae) …. Ellen
“Wagon Train” …. Margaret (1 episode, 1963)
… aka Major Adams, Trail Master
    - The Jim Whitlow Story (1963) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Margaret
“Going My Way” …. Louise (1 episode, 1963)
    - Hear No Evil (1963) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Louise
“The Defenders” …. Hilda Wesley (1 episode, 1963)
    - The Heathen (1963) TV episode (as Ellen MacRae) …. Hilda Wesley
“Laramie” (1 episode, 1963)
    - No Place to Run (1963) TV episode (as Ellen McRae)
“The Real McCoys” …. Dorothy Carter, Girl Veterinarian (1 episode, 1962)
… aka The McCoys
    - The Girl Veterinarian (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Dorothy Carter, Girl Veterinarian
“Perry Mason” …. Mona Winthrope White (1 episode, 1962)
    - The Case of the Dodging Domino (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Mona Winthrope White
“The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” …. Donna (1 episode, 1962)
    - A Splinter Off the Old Block (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Donna
“I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster” …. Joan (1 episode, 1962)
    - Harry, the Father Image (1962) TV episode …. Joan
“Ben Casey” …. Connie / … (2 episodes, 1962)
    - In the Name of Love, a Small Corruption (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Connie
    - Preferably, the Less-Used Arm (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Dr. Fraser
“Kraft Mystery Theater” (1 episode, 1962)
    - Cry Ruin (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae)
“Checkmate” …. Margo (1 episode, 1962)
    - The Bold and the Tough (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Margo
“The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor” …. Nora Carver (1 episode, 1962)
… aka Robert Taylor’s Detectives (new title)
… aka The Detectives
… aka The Detectives, Starring Robert Taylor
    - The Walls Have Eyes (1962) TV episode (as Ellen McRae) …. Nora Carver
“Bus Stop” …. Phyllis Dunning (1 episode, 1962)
“Cheyenne” …. Emmy Mae (1 episode, 1961)
“The Dick Powell Show” …. Rose Maxon (1 episode, 1961)
“Surfside 6″ …. Wanda Drake (1 episode, 1961)
“Letter to Loretta” …. Ann Walters (1 episode, 1961)
“Michael Shayne” …. Carol (1 episode, 1961)
“Hallmark Hall of Fame” …. Elizabeth (1 episode, 1958)