Ellen Burstyn was born on December 7, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an Academy Award-winning American actress.

Ellen Burstyn's illustrious career encompasses film, stage, and television. In 1975, she became only the third woman in history to win both the Tony Award and the Academy Award in the same year, for her work in Bernard Slade's Same Time, Next Year on Broadway and in Martin Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," for which she also received a Golden Globe nomination and a British Academy Award for Best Actress. Ellen has been nominated for an Academy Award five other times, for the films: "The Last Picture Show" (1972), "The Exorcist" (1974), "Same Time, Next Year" (1979), "Resurrection" (1981), and "Requiem for a Dream" (2001).

Ellen will be seen on the big screen in Darren Aronofsky's new film "The Fountain" co-starring with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Warner Bros. will release the film on November 22nd. This past fall, she appeared in Neil LaBute's remake of "The Wicker Man" with Nicholas Cage, which will be out on DVD this December. Ellen's memoirs, Lessons in Becoming Myself, is now available in bookstores nationwide and online by Riverhead Press. An abridged audio version of the book, voiced by Ellen, is also available.

Ellen Burstyn has worked with some of film’s most visionary directors, from Martin Scorsese to Darren Aronofsky – and has appeared in such films as "Alex in Wonderland" (1970), "The King of Marvin Gardens" (1972), "Harry and Tonto" (1974), "Providence" (1976), "Dream of Passion" (1978), "Silence of the North" (1980), "Twice in a Lifetime" (1986), "Dying Young" (1990), "The Cemetery Club" (1993), "Roommates" (1995), "How To Make An American Quilt" (1995), "The Babysitter's Club" (1995), "The Spitfire Grill" (1996), "Playing By Heart" (1998), "The Yards" (1998), "Walking Across Egypt" (1999), and "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (2002).

On television, Ellen received an Emmy nomination for her title role in "The People vs. Jean Harris" (1981). She received a second nomination for her starring role in "Pack of Lies," a 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame television production. In 2001, Ellen co-starred on the CBS series "That's Life," followed by Mitch Albom's television film version of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," (2004) and in NBC's series "The Book of Daniel" (2006).

Ellen Burstyn was the first woman to be elected President of Actor's Equity Association (1982-85), and served as the Artistic Director of the Actors Studio for six years, where she studied with the late Lee Strasberg. She continues to be active there as co-president with Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel. In 2000, Ellen received the Career Achievement Award from the Boston Film Festival. She was given the Career Achievement Award from the prestigious National Board of Review in early 2001, and was most recently honored with the Career Achievement in Acting Award from the 2006 Hamptons Film Festival.

Born Edna Rae Gillooly in Detroit, Michigan, Ellen spent her early years as a model and actress, appearing regularly on the "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Doctors," "Ben Casey" and "Iron Horse."

Filmography

• The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)
• Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day (2007)
• Our Lady of Victory (2007)
• The Stone Angel (2007)
• 30 Days (2006)
• The Fountain (2006)
• The Wicker Man (2006)
• "The Book of Daniel" (8 episodes, 2006)
• The Elephant King (2006)
• Mrs. Harris (2005)
• Our Fathers (2005)
• "That's Life" (30 episodes, 2000-2005)
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2004)
• The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel (2004)
• Brush with Fate (2003)
• Red Dragon (2002)
• Distance (2002)
• Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
• Within These Walls (2001)
• Dodson's Journey (2001)
• Mermaid (2000)
• Requiem for a Dream (2000)
• The Yards (2000)
• Walking Across Egypt (1999)
• Night Ride Home (1999)
• Playing by Heart (1998)
• "A Will of Their Own" (1998)
• The Patron Saint of Liars (1998)
• You Can Thank Me Later (1998)
• Flash (1997)
• Deceiver (1997)
• A Deadly Vision (1997)
• Timepiece (1996)
• Our Son, the Matchmaker (1996)
• The Spitfire Grill (1996)
• Cross the Line (1996)
• How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
• The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
• Follow the River (1995)
• My Brother's Keeper (1995)
• Roommates (1995)
• Trick of the Eye (1994)
• Getting Gotti (1994)
• When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
• Getting Out (1994)
• The Color of Evening (1994)
• Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story (1993)
• The Cemetery Club (1993)
• Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992)
• Grand Isle (1991)
• Dying Young (1991)
• Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (1991)
• When You Remember Me (1990)
• Hanna's War (1988)
• Look Away (1987)
• Pack of Lies (1987)
• "The Ellen Burstyn Show" (1986)
• Act of Vengeance (1986)
• Something in Common (1986)
• Into Thin Air (1985)
• Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
• Surviving (1985)
• The Ambassador (1984)
• Silence of the North (1981)
• The People vs. Jean Harris (1981)
• Resurrection (1980)
• Same Time, Next Year (1978)
• Kravgi gynaikon (1978)
• Providence (1977)
• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
• Harry and Tonto (1974)
• Thursday's Game (1974)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
• "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" (1 episode, 1972)
• "Gunsmoke" (3 episodes, 1962-1971)
• The Last Picture Show (1971)
• Alex in Wonderland (1970)
• Tropic of Cancer (1970)
• Pit Stop (1969)
• "The Virginian" (1 episode, 1969)
• "The Iron Horse" (1966)
• "The Big Valley" (1 episode, 1967)
• "The Time Tunnel" (1 episode, 1966)
• "For the People" (1 episode, 1965)
• "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1 episode, 1965)
• "The Doctors" (1963)
• Goodbye Charlie (1964)
• For Those Who Think Young (1964)
• "77 Sunset Strip" (2 episodes, 1961-1964)
• "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1 episode, 1964)
• "Kraft Suspense Theatre" (1 episode, 1964)
• The Big Brain (1963)
• "Wagon Train" (1 episode, 1963)
• "Going My Way" (1 episode, 1963)
• "The Defenders" (1 episode, 1963)
• "Laramie" (1 episode, 1963)
• "The Real McCoys" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Perry Mason" (1 episode, 1962)
• "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1 episode, 1962)
• "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Ben Casey" (2 episodes, 1962)
• "Kraft Mystery Theater" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Checkmate" (1 episode, 1962)
• "The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Bus Stop" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Cheyenne" (1 episode, 1961)
• "The Dick Powell Show" (1 episode, 1961)
• "Surfside 6" (1 episode, 1961)
• "Letter to Loretta" (1 episode, 1961)
• "Michael Shayne" (1 episode, 1961)
• "Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1 episode, 1958)

Awards

• Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead "Requiem for a Dream" 2001
• Boston Society of Film Critics Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Chicago Film Critics Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Golden Satellite Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Las Vegas Film Critics Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• National Board of Review Career Achievement Award 2000
• New York Film Critics Online Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Southeastern Film Critics Association Award Best Actress "Requiem for a Dream" 2000
• Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "Same Time, Next Year" 1978
• BAFTA Award Best Actress "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" 1975
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play "Same Time, Next Year" 1975
• Outer Critics Circle Award Ensemble Playing "Same Time, Next Year" 1975
• Tony Actress in a Play "Same Time, Next Year" 1975
• Oscar Best Actress "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" 1974
• National Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress "The Last Picture Show" 1971
• New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress "The Last Picture Show" 1971