Ellen Burstyn is a beloved actor who has accomplished much in her life. At 92 years of age, she can look back on the barriers she broke and how she has left us a legacy of entertainment that will live on for many years.
When Ellen was getting her start, she was a show girl and model. Eventually, she would make her way into television and films, and in the 1970s, she became a household name.
Despite the fact that everything seemed so nice on the surface, she was suffering in the background. Her husband, Neil Burstyn tormented her for many years due to schizophrenia and eventually, would turn violent. Her story is one that reminds us of how not everything is as it seems on the surface.
In the 1950s, Ellen worked as a nightclub dancer and model before she got started on Broadway. In the 1960s, she got started in television and film, and by 1971, her work in films, such as Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and The Exorcist gave her the reputation of being an extremely talented actor.
Eventually, she would win an Academy Award but in 1975 she couldn’t attend to receive the honor in person. Eventually, she would be one of only 17 women who achieved the Triple Crown, winning a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy.
Looking back on her career, she said: “It occurred to me, I could have a career based on my looks. But if I did, it would be a very short career, and I’d better not rely on that.”
Ellen had been married two different times but in 1960, she tried again with Neil Burstyn. He was a charming and eccentric individual, but he began to show signs of mental illness and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis.
He left her just before she became famous in the 1970s and during that time, she was one of the biggest names in Hollywood. She would win one Academy Award and be nominated for five.
Even though they were separated, Neil did not want to leave completely. She said: “He wanted to come back. By then I had discovered how pleasant life was without a crazy husband, and I didn’t want him to come back. So he stalked me for 10 years.”
At one point, he broke into her house and assaulted her. She reported it to the police but they felt that he was her husband so his actions were justified. His issue would continue to get worse and eventually, he would even stalk her at work.
The relationship and connection they had ended completely in 1978 when Neil took his own life. They had been apart for a long time but she felt a mix of emotions at that time. She said: “It seemed like somehow my success had caused his insanity.”
She would go on to avoid relationships for the next two decades, spending her time focusing on getting healthier mentally. She said that it was a transformative time in her life and she was able to build inner strength.
She also went on somewhat of a spiritual journey, sleeping on the streets with a Buddhist monk in New York City, begging for money, and eating at soup kitchens for three days. She said that it opened her eyes to see humanity in a different way.
Eventually, she became grounded and began looking for companionship again.
These days, she is able to connect with viewers, even at the age of 92. She continues to break barriers, and recent interviews have shown how she is grateful for the success that she continues to have in life.
