Karen Black
Acting • Born 1939-07-01 – Died 2013-08-08
Biography
Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portraying eccentric and offbeat characters, and established herself as a figure of New Hollywood. Her career spanned over 50 years and includes nearly 200 credits in both independent and mainstream films. Black received numerous accolades throughout her career, including two Golden Globe Awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A native of suburban Chicago, Black studied theater at Northwestern University before dropping out and relocating to New York City. She performed on Broadway in 1965 before making her major film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's You're a Big Boy Now (1966). Black relocated to California and was cast as an acid-tripping prostitute in Dennis Hopper's road film Easy Rider (1969). That led to a lead in the drama Five Easy Pieces (1970), in which she played a hopeless beautician, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Black made her first major commercial picture with the disaster film Airport 1975 (1974), and her subsequent appearance as Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby (1974) won her a second Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Black starred as a glamorous country singer in Robert Altman's ensemble musical drama Nashville (1975), also writing and performing two songs for the soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack. Her portrayal of an aspiring actress in John Schlesinger's drama The Day of the Locust (also 1975) earned her a third Golden Globe nomination, this time for Best Actress. She subsequently took on four roles in Dan Curtis' anthology horror film Trilogy of Terror (1975), followed by Curtis's supernatural horror feature, Burnt Offerings (1976). The same year, she starred as a con artist in Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot. In 1982, Black starred as a trans woman in the Robert Altman-directed Broadway debut of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, a role she also reprised in Altman's subsequent film adaptation. She next starred in the comedy Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983), followed by Tobe Hooper's remake of Invaders from Mars (1986). For much of the late 1980s and 1990s, Black starred in a variety of arthouse, independent, and horror films, as well as writing her own screenplays. She had a leading role as a villainous mother in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (2003), which cemented her status as a cult horror icon. She continued to star in low-profile films throughout the early 2000s, as well as working as a playwright before her death from ampullary cancer in 2013.
Filmography
208 credits
Nashville
Movie • 1975
Connie White
Men
Movie • 1997
Alex
Malaika
Movie • 1998
Jessica Martin
House of 1000 Corpses
Movie • 2003
Mother Firefly
The Player
Movie • 1992
Karen Black
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Movie • 1998
Whip Lady
Little Laura and Big John
Movie • 1973
Laura
The Great Gatsby
Movie • 1974
Myrtle Wilson
The Day of the Locust
Movie • 1975
Faye Greener
Born to Win
Movie • 1971
Parm
Out of the Dark
Movie • 1988
Ruth Wilson
Dinosaur Valley Girls
Movie • 1995
Ro-Kell
Family Plot
Movie • 1976
Fran
The Invisible Kid
Movie • 1988
Mom
Cut and Run
Movie • 1985
Karin
Invaders from Mars
Movie • 1986
Linda Magnusson
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering
Movie • 1996
June Rhodes
Gypsy 83
Movie • 2001
Bambi LeBleau
Five Easy Pieces
Movie • 1970
Rayette Dipesto
The Outfit
Movie • 1973
Bett Harrow
Airport 1975
Movie • 1974
Nancy Pryor
One Long Night
Movie • 2007
Barbara
Burnt Offerings
Movie • 1976
Marian Rolf
Evil Spirits
Movie • 1991
Ella Purdy
Plan 10 from Outer Space
Movie • 1995
Nehor
Killer Fish
Movie • 1979
Kate
Rubin & Ed
Movie • 1992
Rula
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies
Movie • 1992
Auntie Lee
Haunting Fear
Movie • 1990
Dr. Julia Harcourt
Night Angel
Movie • 1990
Rita
You're a Big Boy Now
Movie • 1966
Amy Partlett
Children of the Night
Movie • 1991
Karen Thompson
Invisible Dad
Movie • 1998
Courtney Whitmer
Soulkeeper
Movie • 2001
Martha la Magnifica
Trilogy of Terror
Movie • 1975
Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
New York Crossing
Movie • 1996
Mrs. Tender
Firecracker
Movie • 2005
Sandra / Eleanor
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Movie • 2003
Self
Homer and Eddie
Movie • 1989
Belle
Hard Contract
Movie • 1969
Ellen
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Movie • 1982
Joanne
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive
Movie • 1987
Ellen Jarvis
Stuck!
Movie • 2009
The Neighbor Lady
Bury the Evidence
Movie • 1998
The Mother
Some Guy Who Kills People
Movie • 2011
Ruth Boyd
A Gunfight
Movie • 1971
Jenny Simms
Suffering Man's Charity
Movie • 2007
Renee
Mirror Mirror
Movie • 1990
Susan Gordon
Wanderlust
Movie • 2006
Herself
Separate Ways
Movie • 1981
Valentine Colby
Cisco Pike
Movie • 1971
Sue
The Pyx
Movie • 1973
Elizabeth Lucy
Drive, He Said
Movie • 1971
Olive
Savage Dawn
Movie • 1985
Rachel
Conceiving Ada
Movie • 1999
Lady Byron / Mother Coer
Red Dirt
Movie • 2000
Aunt Summer
Eternal Evil
Movie • 1985
Janus
The Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1991
Tarot
Maria My Love
Movie • 2012
Maria
Mommy's Little Monster
Movie • 2012
Mrs. Melnick
America Brown
Movie • 2005
Marianne Brown
Mascara
Movie • 1999
Aunt Eloise
Crimetime
Movie • 1996
Millicent
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Movie • 2009
Self
Irene in Time
Movie • 2009
Sheila Shivvers
Dogtown
Movie • 1997
Rose Van Horn
Portnoy's Complaint
Movie • 1972
Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story
Movie • 1993
Carla
The Grass Is Singing
Movie • 1981
Mary Turner
In Praise of Older Women
Movie • 1978
Maya
Crime and Passion
Movie • 1976
Susan Winters
Law and Disorder
Movie • 1974
Gloria
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Movie • 1983
Zee
Easy Rider
Movie • 1969
Karen
Light Speed
Movie • 1998
High Priestess
Martin's Day
Movie • 1985
Karen
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs
Movie • 1998
Self
Ooga Booga
Movie • 2013
Mrs. Allardyce
Charades
Movie • 1998
Jude
Overexposed
Movie • 1990
Mrs. Trowbridge
Blood Money
Movie • 1991
Barrett
Quiet Fire
Movie • 1991
Kim Martino
Club Fed
Movie • 1990
Sally Rich
The Squeeze
Movie • 1978
Clarisse Saunders
Nothing Special
Movie • 2010
May
She Loves Me Not
Movie • 2013
Karla
Judgement
Movie • 1992
Tiffany Powers
Hostage
Movie • 1987
Laura Lawrence
Rhinoceros
Movie • 1974
Daisy
The Prime Time
Movie • 1960
Betty
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra
Movie • 1994
Dr. Rage
Movie • 2005
Molly
Caged Fear
Movie • 1991
Blanche
Miss Right
Movie • 1982
Amy
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1993
Tarot
The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver
Movie • 1977
Miriam Oliver / Sandy
Where the Ladies Go
Movie • 1980
Helen
Bad Manners
Movie • 1984
Gladys Fitzpatrick
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula
Movie • 2005
Agrippina
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway
Movie • 1988
Martha Gelhorn
Hollywood Dreams
Movie • 2007
Luna
Zapped Again!
Movie • 1990
Homeroom Teacher
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage)
Wamego: Ultimatum
Movie • 2009
Self
Contamination
Movie • 2008
Mavis
Wild in Blue
Movie • 2014
Justine
Twisted Justice
Movie • 1990
Mrs. Granger
The Underground Comedy Movie
Movie • 1999
Mother
Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone
Movie • 2012
Tarot
Curse of the Forty-Niner
Movie • 2002
Aunt Nelly
Fallen Arches
Movie • 2000
Lucy Romano
Dixie Lanes
Movie • 1988
Zelma Putnam
Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop
Movie • 1980
Investigator Evelyn Carter
Letters from the Big Man
Movie • 2011
Sean's Colleague
Bottomless Pit
Movie • 2015
Karen Black
Angel Blue
Movie • 1998
Social Worker
OowieWanna
Movie • 2012
The Donna
On the tracks of a filmmaker
Movie • 1988
Karen Black
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
Movie • 2010
Self
Paris
Movie • 2003
Chantelle
Cries of Silence
Movie • 1996
Rose Walsh
Capricorn One
Movie • 1977
Judy Drinkwater
The Double 0 Kid
Movie • 1992
Mrs. Elliot
Chanel Solitaire
Movie • 1981
Emilienne d'Alençon
The Last Word
Movie • 1979
Paula Herbert
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Movie • 2001
Self
The Children
Movie • 1990
Sybil Lullmer
Mr. Horn
Movie • 1979
Ernestina Crawford
The Independent
Movie • 2000
Karen Black
Final Judgement
Movie • 1992
Mrs. Sorrel
Stir
Movie • 1997
Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
Starstruck
Movie • 1995
Bertha
Flight of the Spruce Goose
Movie • 1986
Gloria
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage
Movie • 1999
Self
Repo Chick
Movie • 2009
Aunt De La Chasse
Double Duty
Movie • 2009
Annabelle
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1993
Tarot
Teknolust
Movie • 2002
Dirty Dick
Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1
Movie • 2002
("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
Paradise Cove
Movie • 1999
Ma
The Little Mermaid
Movie • 1987
Sea Witch
Too Bad About Jack
Movie • 1994
Oliver Twisted
Movie • 2000
Mrs. Mary Happ
Tuesday Never Comes
Movie • 1992
Michelle
A Single Woman
Movie • 2008
Storyteller
A Light in the Darkness
Movie • 2002
Mrs. Melnick
Dead Girls Don't Tango
Movie • 1992
Insp. Wilson
Fatal Encounter
Movie • 1990
Joan Caldwell
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts
Movie • 2018
(archive footage)
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman
Movie • 2003
Mrs. Buttleman
Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'
Movie • 2010
Self
The Donor
Movie • 2001
Mrs. Springle
Read You Like a Book
Movie • 2006
Kate
Because He's My Friend
Movie • 1978
Anne
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley
Movie • 1995
Evelyn
The Trust
Movie • 1993
Maria Vandermeer
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!
Movie • 1994
Watercolors
Movie • 2008
Mrs. Martin
The Last Horror Film
Movie • 1982
Karen Black (uncredited)
WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere
Movie • 2004
Self
Ralph S. Mouse
Movie • 1991
Miss Kuchenbacker
Whitepaddy
Movie • 2006
Mrs. Leider
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Movie • 1997
Self
Dark Blood
Movie • 2012
Motel Woman
Altman on His Own Terms
Movie • 2000
Self
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
Movie • 2004
Self
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Crazy for Love
Movie • 2005
Grace's Mom
Every Minute Is Goodbye
Movie • 1996
Karen Black: Actress at Work
Movie • 1999
Self
Airports
Movie • 2025
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Movie • 2014
Linda Magnusson (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Blue Tooth Virgin
Movie • 2008
Zena
Meet the Eye
Movie • 2009
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Dr. Sylvia Dunn
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Lorraine Chapman
Miami Vice
TV • 1984
Helen Jackson
E! True Hollywood Story
TV • 1996
Mannix
TV • 1967
Adam-12
TV • 1968
Susan Decker
Moon Over Miami
TV • 1993
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Vera Morgan
Run for Your Life
TV • 1965
Jennifer Palmer
Police Story
TV • 1973
Office Evelyn Carter
E/R
TV • 1984
The Hitchhiker
TV • 1983
Kay Mason
The Big Valley
TV • 1965
Carla
The Hunger
TV • 1997
Miss Gati / Landlady
Judd for the Defense
TV • 1967
Ghost Story
TV • 1972
Barbara Sanders
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Guest Interviewee
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
TV • 2007
Jennifer
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Monica Garrison
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Sea Witch
The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1967
Self - Guest / Various Characters
The Invaders
TV • 1967
Claudia Stone
Tales of the City
TV • 1993
Self
Science Fiction Film Awards
TV
Herself
Russians in the City of Angels
TV • 2003
Patricia Sommers
The Second Hundred Years
TV • 1967
Marcia
Profiler
TV • 1996
Evie Long
Party of Five
TV • 1994
Doreen Jablonsky
People's Choice Awards
TV • 1975
Self
Worlds Beyond
TV • 1986
Lee Jeffreys
Power
TV • 1980
Rose Vanda-Buchanan