Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn (born Edna Rae Gillooly; December 7, 1932) is an American actress. Known for her portrayal of complicated women in dramas, Burstyn was the recipient of various accolades, and was among the few performers to have won an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony (Triple Crown of Acting). Born in Detroit, Michigan, Burstyn left school and worked as a dancer and model. She made her stage debut on Broadway in 1957 and soon started to make appearances in television shows. Stardom followed several years later with her acclaimed role in The Last Picture Show (1971), which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her next appearance in The Exorcist (1973), earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film has remained popular and several publications have regarded it as one of the greatest horror films of all time. She followed this with Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She appeared in numerous television films and gained further recognition from her performances in Same Time, Next Year (1978), which won her a Golden Globe Award, and Resurrection (1980), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), and Requiem For a Dream (2000). For playing a lonely drug-addicted woman in the last one of these, she was again nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In the 2010s, she made appearances in television series including the political dramas, ...

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Interstellar (2014)

AdventurousFuturisticComplexBrilliant

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Matthew McConaughey  •  Anne Hathaway  •  Jessica Chastain  •  Michael Caine

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Matthew McConaughey  •  Anne Hathaway  •  Jessica Chastain  •  Michael Caine

W. (2008)

The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush—his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith—and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Josh Brolin  •  Elizabeth Banks  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Ioan Gruffudd

The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush—his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith—and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Josh Brolin  •  Elizabeth Banks  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Ioan Gruffudd

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

After her husband dies, Alice and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make a new life for herself as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martin Scorsese
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Alfred Lutter  •  Harvey Keitel

After her husband dies, Alice and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make a new life for herself as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martin Scorsese
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Alfred Lutter  •  Harvey Keitel

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

A mother and daughter dispute is resolved by the "Yaya sisterhood" - long time friends of the mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Callie Khouri
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Fionnula Flanagan  •  James Garner

A mother and daughter dispute is resolved by the "Yaya sisterhood" - long time friends of the mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Callie Khouri
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Fionnula Flanagan  •  James Garner

Harry and Tonto (1974)

Harry is a retired teacher in his 70s living in the Upper West Side of New York City where his late wife and he raised his children--where he's lived all his life. When the building he lives in is torn down to make way for a parking garage, Harry and his beloved ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Mazursky
CAST:  Art Carney  •  Herbert Berghof  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Geraldine Fitzgerald

Harry is a retired teacher in his 70s living in the Upper West Side of New York City where his late wife and he raised his children--where he's lived all his life. When the building he lives in is torn down to make way for a parking garage, Harry and his beloved ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Mazursky
CAST:  Art Carney  •  Herbert Berghof  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Geraldine Fitzgerald

How to Make an American Quilt (1995)

Soon-to-be-wed graduate student Finn Dodd develops cold feet when she suspects her fiancé is cheating on her. In order to clear her head, Finn visits her grandmother, Hy, and great aunt, Glady Joe Cleary, in Grasse, Calif. There, Finn learns that Hy and Glady Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Anne Bancroft  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kate Nelligan

Soon-to-be-wed graduate student Finn Dodd develops cold feet when she suspects her fiancé is cheating on her. In order to clear her head, Finn visits her grandmother, Hy, and great aunt, Glady Joe Cleary, in Grasse, Calif. There, Finn learns that Hy and Glady Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Anne Bancroft  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kate Nelligan

Providence (1977)

On the eve of his 78th birthday, the ailing, alcoholic writer Clive Langham spends a painful and sleepless night mentally composing and recomposing scenes for a novel in which characters based on his own family are shaped by his fantasies and memories, alongside ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alain Resnais
CAST:  Dirk Bogarde  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  John Gielgud  •  David Warner

On the eve of his 78th birthday, the ailing, alcoholic writer Clive Langham spends a painful and sleepless night mentally composing and recomposing scenes for a novel in which characters based on his own family are shaped by his fantasies and memories, alongside ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alain Resnais
CAST:  Dirk Bogarde  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  John Gielgud  •  David Warner

Red Dragon (2002)

ViolentSuspensefulDisturbingDark

Former FBI Agent Will Graham, who was once almost killed by the savage Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter, now has no choice but to face him again, as it seems Lecter is the only one who can help Graham track down a new serial killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brett Ratner
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Edward Norton  •  Ralph Fiennes  •  Harvey Keitel

Former FBI Agent Will Graham, who was once almost killed by the savage Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter, now has no choice but to face him again, as it seems Lecter is the only one who can help Graham track down a new serial killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brett Ratner
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Edward Norton  •  Ralph Fiennes  •  Harvey Keitel

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

DepressingHeartbreakingDisturbingEmotional

The hopes and dreams of four ambitious people are shattered when their drug addictions begin spiraling out of control. A look into addiction and how it overcomes the mind and body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jared Leto  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Marlon Wayans

The hopes and dreams of four ambitious people are shattered when their drug addictions begin spiraling out of control. A look into addiction and how it overcomes the mind and body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jared Leto  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Marlon Wayans

The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)

Seven junior-high-school girls organize a daycare camp for children while at the same time experiencing classic adolescent growing pains.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Melanie Mayron
CAST:  Schuyler Fisk  •  Bre Blair  •  Rachael Leigh Cook  •  Larisa Oleynik

Seven junior-high-school girls organize a daycare camp for children while at the same time experiencing classic adolescent growing pains.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Melanie Mayron
CAST:  Schuyler Fisk  •  Bre Blair  •  Rachael Leigh Cook  •  Larisa Oleynik

The Exorcist (1973)

Action-packedScaryDark

When a charming 12-year-old girl takes on the characteristics and voices of others, doctors say there is nothing they can do. As people begin to die, the girl's mother realizes her daughter has been possessed by the devil--and that her daughter's only possible hope ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jason Miller  •  Max von Sydow  •  Lee J. Cobb

When a charming 12-year-old girl takes on the characteristics and voices of others, doctors say there is nothing they can do. As people begin to die, the girl's mother realizes her daughter has been possessed by the devil--and that her daughter's only possible hope ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jason Miller  •  Max von Sydow  •  Lee J. Cobb

The Fountain (2006)

BeautifulBrilliantThought provokingMind blowing

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Mark Margolis

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Mark Margolis

The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)

Jason Staebler lives on the Boardwalk and fronts for the local mob in Atlantic City. He is a dreamer who asks his brother David, a radio personality from Philadelphia, to help him build a paradise on a Pacific Island, which might be just another of his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bob Rafelson
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Bruce Dern  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Scatman Crothers

Jason Staebler lives on the Boardwalk and fronts for the local mob in Atlantic City. He is a dreamer who asks his brother David, a radio personality from Philadelphia, to help him build a paradise on a Pacific Island, which might be just another of his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bob Rafelson
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Bruce Dern  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Scatman Crothers

The Last Picture Show (1971)

High school seniors and best friends, Sonny and Duane, live in a dying Texas town. The handsome Duane is dating a local beauty, while Sonny is having an affair with the coach's wife. As graduation nears and both boys contemplate their futures, Duane eyes the army ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Timothy Bottoms  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Cybill Shepherd  •  Ben Johnson

High school seniors and best friends, Sonny and Duane, live in a dying Texas town. The handsome Duane is dating a local beauty, while Sonny is having an affair with the coach's wife. As graduation nears and both boys contemplate their futures, Duane eyes the army ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Timothy Bottoms  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Cybill Shepherd  •  Ben Johnson

The Wicker Man (2006)

BoringDarkEnjoyableSimple

A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kate Beahan  •  Frances Conroy

A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Kate Beahan  •  Frances Conroy

When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)

DramaticDepressing

An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luis Mandoki
CAST:  Andy García  •  Meg Ryan  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Tina Majorino

An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luis Mandoki
CAST:  Andy García  •  Meg Ryan  •  Ellen Burstyn  •  Tina Majorino

Resurrection (1980)

The story of a woman who survives the car accident which kills her husband, but discovers that she has the power to heal other people. She becomes an unwitting celebrity, the hope of those in desperate need of healing, and a lightning rod for religious beliefs and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Petrie
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Sam Shepard  •  Richard Farnsworth  •  Roberts Blossom

The story of a woman who survives the car accident which kills her husband, but discovers that she has the power to heal other people. She becomes an unwitting celebrity, the hope of those in desperate need of healing, and a lightning rod for religious beliefs and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Petrie
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Sam Shepard  •  Richard Farnsworth  •  Roberts Blossom

The Yards (2000)

SuspensefulViolentEmotionalThought provoking

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Gray
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Charlize Theron  •  James Caan

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Gray
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Charlize Theron  •  James Caan

Playing by Heart (1998)

A sexy, romantic comedy about modern couples coming together in funny and unexpected ways. Paul and Hannah discover that even after 40 years of marriage, they can still learn some very surprising things about each other. Meredith is a serious theatre director who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Willard Carroll
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  April Grace  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Gena Rowlands

A sexy, romantic comedy about modern couples coming together in funny and unexpected ways. Paul and Hannah discover that even after 40 years of marriage, they can still learn some very surprising things about each other. Meredith is a serious theatre director who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Willard Carroll
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  April Grace  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Gena Rowlands

Brush with Fate (2003)

A mystery hidden for generations. Now the truth will finally be revealed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brent Shields
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Glenn Close  •  Thomas Gibson  •  Phyllida Law

A mystery hidden for generations. Now the truth will finally be revealed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brent Shields
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Glenn Close  •  Thomas Gibson  •  Phyllida Law
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