At 92, Ellen Burstyn remains a Hollywood legend with a career spanning more than four decades. But behind her success lies a life marked by hardship, trauma, and resilience.
Born Edna Rae Gillooly in 1932 in Detroit, Burstyn endured a difficult childhood with a cold, abusive mother and an absent father. Determined to escape, she left home at 18. In her early years, she worked as a dancer and model, at times relying on her sexuality to survive financially.
She changed her name multiple times before finally becoming Ellen Burstyn in 1969, when her breakout role in Tropic of Cancer launched her film career. She earned major acclaim with The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist—where she suffered a serious back injury during filming—and won an Academy Award for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. She later achieved the rare Triple Crown of Acting: an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony.
Her personal life was far more turbulent. At 18, she underwent a traumatic illegal abortion that left her unable to have children—an experience she later described as one of the most painful of her life. Her third husband, Neil Burstyn, struggled with schizophrenia, became violent, and stalked her after their divorce. He later died by suicide in 1978.
Over time, Burstyn found peace through therapy, meditation, and independence. She eventually forgave her mother and chose to remain single after her husband’s death.
Now living in New York City near Central Park, Burstyn continues acting and says she is busier than ever. Reflecting on her career, she considers the 1970s the best era for filmmaking. A lifelong vegetarian with a positive outlook, she remains active and grateful—proving that resilience, talent, and inner strength have defined her remarkable life.