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Ellen Burstyn Biography

Birth Name:Edna Rae Gillooly

Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Became co-president of The Actor's Studio in 2000 alongside Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel
Inducted to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1997
Received the CineMerti Award for lifetime achievement at the 2016 Munich Film Festival
Sat as a member of the jury for the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977
Won the Sarah Siddons Award in 1990
In 1982, she became the first female president of The Actor's Equity
Inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2013
Received the Mary Pickford Award from the International Press Academy in 2015
Received honorary doctorate degrees from the School of Visual Art and Dowling College
After dropping out of high school, she took a modeling job that led her to various appearances on "The Jackie Gleason Show․"
Joined the Actors Studio in 1967, where she was trained by Lee Strasberg
Quote: "Acting feels like a congenital condition to me - it's in my genes․"
Quote: "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․"
Had to wear fat suits in order to play her role in "Requiem for a Dream․"
Is featured on the album "Kurt Weill Revisited, Vol․ 2" by Ben Bagley for the song "The Ballad of the Nazi Soldier's Wife" in 1981
Was offered the lead role in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," but had to turn it down to take care of her sick husband

Awards

1971NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1972Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
1972Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture: nominated
1972NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1974Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1975Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1975NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1976BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
1978LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1979Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1979Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1981Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1981Saturn Award-Best Actress: nominated
1981Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
1982Genie-Best Performance by a Foreign Actress: nominated
1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
2000ACCA-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
2000BSFC Award-Best Actress: winner
2000KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
2000Sierra Award-Best Actress: winner
2000NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2000Best Actress-: winner
2000TFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Female: nominated
2001Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
2001Saturn Award-Best Actress: nominated
2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2001CFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
2001Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
2001DFWFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special: nominated
2001Chainsaw Award-Best Actress: winner
2001Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: winner
2001FFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2001NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2001OFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
2001OFCS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2001OFCS Award-Best Actress: winner
2001PFCS Award-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
2001Golden Aries-Best Foreign Actress: nominated
2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
2001SEFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
2001VFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2002Audience Award-Best Foreign Actress (Melhor Atriz Estrangeira): winner
2002Critics Award-Best Foreign Actress (Melhor Atriz Estrangeira): winner
2003Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2007Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2008VFCC Award-Best Actress in a Canadian Film: nominated
2009Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
2009Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2009OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2009Prism Award-Performance in a Drama Episode: nominated
2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012ACCA TV-Best Supporting Actress (TV Movie or Mini-Series): nominated
2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2013Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: nominated
2013OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2014Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2016BTVA Anime Dub Movie/Special Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Feature Film/Special: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Guest Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2016Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: winner
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress of the Decade: nominated
2020GWNYFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021EDA Special Mention Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
2021Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2021DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021DFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021LEJA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021ALFS Award-Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2021NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2021NDFS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021OAFFC Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
2021OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2021Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2021SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2022CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: winner