The iconic actress just turned 92 – for years, she lived with a schizophrenic husband who raped her… Now look at her today!
Her professional journey has been largely scandal-free, but it conceals some harrowing experiences: a marriage to a man with schizophrenia, an illegal abortion, and menacing threats to her life.
Curious about how Ellen managed to navigate these challenges? Read on to discover her story.
Evolution from Introvert to Star
Ellen Burstyn’s life story is as remarkable as her professional achievements. Over a span of more than forty years, she has captivated audiences across theater, film, and television. Yet, her journey has also been marked by a painful childhood, including a harsh mother, an absent father, abuse, and a traumatic abortion at 18 that resulted in her inability to conceive.
Despite her accolades and success, Ellen Burstyn managed to stay relatively out of the limelight for much of her early career. She often came off as shy and reserved, blushing during interviews much like a nervous schoolgirl, with her gaze darting around the room and her hands betraying her anxiety.
However, her transformation from a timid introvert into a confident extrovert is truly inspiring. Eventually, she found her shyness incompatible with her aspirations in her career.
Ellen Burstyn’s Early Life
Born Edna Rae Gillooly on December 7, 1932, in Detroit, Ellen was the daughter of Correine Marie (née Hamel) and John Austin Gillooly. Her early years were far from perfect; following her parents’ divorce, Ellen and her siblings, Jack and Steven, lived with their mother and her new partner.
Ellen once shared with the Miami Herald, "I wasn’t a happy kid. Hell to me would be being a child again. I always felt like a stranger, like I was born into this time and this place by accident."
Determined to escape this environment, she vowed to leave home as soon as she turned 18, marking the start of a journey filled with hardships and extraordinary accomplishments.
Survival through Ambition and Sexuality
During high school, Ellen Burstyn embodied ambition—serving as cheerleading captain, participating in student council, and presiding over the drama club. However, her academic struggles led her to drop out during her senior year.
Post-dropout, she began her career as a dancer under the name Kerri Flynn and then transitioned to modeling until she was 23.
In her younger days, she acknowledged using her sexuality to survive financially. On The Oprah Winfrey Show, she remarked, "When I was 18 or 19, I wasn’t earning very much money, so I ate when I had a date. But that was all the food I got. So I felt the least I could was say ‘thank you.’"
Ellen’s biological father was largely absent from her life, with her only encounter occurring during her time at boarding school.
At 19, she tried to reconnect, hoping to forge a father-daughter relationship. However, upon arriving at his home, she was met with disappointment; he viewed her not as a daughter but as an attractive woman.
A Chameleon of Names
Ellen Burstyn revealed that she has changed her name approximately 25 times throughout her career. Initially using Edna Rae in her modeling days in Dallas and New York, she became Erica Denn for a screen test in the mid-1950s.
From 1955 to 1956, she appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show under the name Erica Dean. Transitioning to acting, she adopted the name Ellen McRae, making her Broadway debut in 1957. While in New York, she had some minor television roles, but none were significant enough to elevate her career.
For her early film roles, she went by Edna McRae until 1969 when she starred in Tropic of Cancer, finally taking on the name Ellen Burstyn. This film became a turning point in her career.
Her performance in Tropic of Cancer opposite Rip Torn caught the attention of director Paul Mazursky, who subsequently cast her as Donald Sutherland’s wife in Alex in Wonderland. This role marked the beginning of a new phase in Ellen’s career.
Injury While Filming The Exorcist
Ellen Burstyn was celebrated for her role as a small-town mother in The Last Picture Show, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. This film, which received eight Oscar nominations, solidified her status as an emerging star.
Eager to tackle more complex roles, she aimed for the part of Chris MacNeil in the horror film The Exorcist (1973). Though the studio initially hesitated to cast her, she was eventually given the iconic role as no other actors were available. Her performance in the film turned out to be legendary, making it a pivotal moment in her career.
Ellen commented, "It was a huge event in my life."
A particularly harrowing moment occurred approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes into the film. During a scene where her character is forcefully thrown from the bed, a harness pulled her so violently that she fractured her coccyx. The pain was unbearable, and astonishingly, this real reaction made it into the final cut.
Challenges Behind the Scenes of The Exorcist
Yet the physical ordeal was just one aspect of the difficult shoot. With a budget of $12 million, the filming occurred at various locations across New York City, with conditions being tough for everyone involved.
The cast endured grueling schedules, working six days a week for twelve hours a day over nine months, pushing their limits constantly. Director William Friedkin, known for his unconventional techniques, even utilized a prop gun to evoke genuine responses from the cast, creating an authentically raw atmosphere.
Ellen remarked, "It was very scary. I wasn’t prepared for the kind of reaction it got. It was like being on a rollercoaster, with people screaming and holding their breath, then exhaling simultaneously. It astounded me," she told UPI.
After her intense experience on The Exorcist, Ellen Burstyn took on a smaller role in the comedy-drama Harry and Tonto (1974). However, it was her next significant project that truly highlighted her versatility and established her as a premier actress.
Binge Drinking with Alan Alda
In Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Ellen played Alice, a widow striving to raise her son while seeking a new beginning as a singer. This role resonated deeply with Ellen, echoing her personal journey of reinvention and self-discovery. The film marked a significant turning point, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Following this success, she starred in Same Time, Next Year, a performance that earned her a Tony Award. During this production, she formed a strong bond with her co-star, Alan Alda, and their relationship had a memorable start.
Before filming the movie, Alda and Ellen had a wild night out filled with binge drinking.
Focusing on Her Craft
In the later years of her career, Ellen Burstyn has remained prominent through various roles in television. She received accolades for her portrayal of a strong matriarch in Big Love (2006–2011) and captivated audiences in her compelling role on The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–present).
Reflecting on her exceptional journey, Burstyn shared that she consciously chose to concentrate on perfecting her skills rather than depending on her looks. "I realized I could build a career based on my appearance," she stated. "But if I did, it would be very brief, so I better not rely on that."
Her remarkable versatility as an actress is evident in her work across various genres, from the intense Requiem for a Dream to the touching drama Resurrection. Many people still express surprise that she didn’t win an Oscar for her brilliant performance in Requiem for a Dream.
However, Ellen can find solace in a unique honor; she is one of only 17 women in history to have earned the prestigious Triple Crown of Acting—a combination of an Emmy, a Tony, and an Oscar.
The Traumatic Abortion That Haunts Her
Ellen Burstyn’s path through love and marriage has been fraught with abuse and heartache. Her first marriage to Bill Alexander at just 18 years old was followed by a traumatic illegal abortion when she was five months pregnant—a decision that has haunted her ever since.
Reflecting on the experience, she stated, "You know, that was a really extremely painful experience." When asked if she felt she had no choice, she confessed, "At the time, I was just young and naïve; I really didn’t want to have a baby then."
She added, "It was the wrong thing to do, and I didn’t fully comprehend that until much later. It was incredibly painful, probably the worst moment of my life."
The aftermath of the abortion was devastating. "The illegal procedure left me damaged, and I could never conceive again. That was a part of the trauma," she revealed.
Ellen’s Dangerous Marriage
Ellen Burstyn and Bill’s marriage ended in 1957, and in 1958 she wed Paul Roberts. Together, they adopted a son, Jefferson, in 1961, yet this relationship also concluded in divorce the same year.
In 1964, Ellen entered into her third marriage with actor Neil Nephew.
This union, however, would prove to be the most tumultuous. Ellen described Neil as "charming, funny, bright, talented, and eccentric," but his schizophrenia turned their life together into a nightmare.
His violent behavior and eventual exit from her life left Ellen with deep emotional scars.
Despite Neil’s attempts to reconcile, their marriage concluded in 1972. In her autobiography, Lessons in Becoming Myself, Ellen exposed the horrifying details of their relationship.
"He wanted to come back," she recounted. "But by then, I had discovered how wonderful life was without a mentally unstable husband, and I didn’t want him back."
Years of Stalking
Ellen stated that Neil, who later took on her last name, stalked her for years following their separation. She also revealed that he had raped her during their marriage.
At that time, spousal rape was not recognized as a crime, so no charges were pursued.
Recounting her experiences with Neil, Ellen described a terrifying moment when she sought police assistance:
"When I called the police, they told me they don’t get involved in domestic issues. I said, ‘He’s threatened to kill me.’ They replied, ‘We don’t respond to that.’ I asked, ‘What do you do then?’ and they said, ‘We apprehend criminals when a crime has been committed.’ I responded, ‘So I should call you when he actually kills me?’ They said, ‘That’s right.’"
Reflections on Her Mother
Neil took his own life in 1978, jumping from the window of his ninth-floor apartment as his mental health deteriorated. Ellen reflected on this, stating, "It seemed like my success had somehow contributed to his madness," although she recognized it was not her fault.
Ellen’s painful experiences with men led her to reexamine her relationship with her own mother, with whom she had a strained connection.
Eventually, Ellen came to understand that her mother had also been trapped in an unfulfilling marriage and had misdirected her frustrations toward her daughter. While this insight doesn’t justify her mother’s actions, Ellen no longer harbors resentment, even though her mother passed away long ago.
"We didn’t really get along, but now I miss her," Ellen expressed, acknowledging her mother’s need for help. "I wish I could call her. I hope she can somehow hear me."
Following Neil’s death, Ellen chose to remain single, resisting the temptation to enter another relationship. She embraced her inner strength, learning that she could find fulfillment and love within herself. Over time, solitude became a companion, granting her the peace and independence she craved.
Current Life in New York
Outside her professional pursuits, Ellen has devoted significant time to education, therapy, and meditation. Now at 92, she reportedly resides in New York City.
"Time for a little action," she explained.
Ellen currently lives in an apartment with a view of Central Park, which she enjoys exploring daily.
"It’s my garden," she said.
Despite her age, Ellen remains active in the acting world. At 91, she told her Law & Order co-star Christopher Meloni, "I’m busier than I can ever remember being at any point in my career."
"And I don’t understand it at all. I mean, what’s all this talk about ageism in Hollywood? How did I escape it?"
Reflecting on Her Best Years
Amid her busy schedule, Ellen still finds moments to reflect on her career. So, which period does she consider the pinnacle of her professional life?
"Definitely the ’70s. That was when studios were run by filmmakers, not corporations. Scripts were submitted because someone was genuinely interested in telling that story, not just because it had been labeled a success by data analysis," Ellen shared with Interview Magazine in 2023.
Secrets to Her Longevity
So, are there any secrets behind Ellen’s impressive longevity and her continued ability to captivate on screen?
There’s no magical answer or dramatic secret she’s willing to reveal.
However, one factor could be her lifelong commitment to vegetarianism and another might be her habit of waking up each day with gratitude and a positive perspective on life. It certainly sounds like solid advice!
At 92 years old, Ellen Burstyn continues to thrive, demonstrating that age is merely a number when it comes to living life to its fullest. With her enduring beauty, sharp intellect, and passion for her craft, she remains an inspiration.
Through her ongoing career, uplifting attitude, and daily walks through Central Park, Ellen exemplifies how one can age with grace and continue to shine. Here’s to many more years of brilliance from this iconic actress!
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