Ellen Burstyn's Real Name: Edna Rae Gillooly

Quick answer: The actress is known professionally as Ellen Burstyn. Britannica and the Detroit Historical Society independently give the original name Edna Rae Gillooly and date her birth to December 7, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers support the documented original name Edna Rae Gillooly. Britannica dates the birth to December 7, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, and says that although she was raised in Detroit, she attended St. Mary's Academy in Windsor, Ontario, for several years in the late 1930s, later left home several credits short of graduating from Cass Technical High School, and moved to New York City in 1954. The Detroit Historical Society independently gives Edna Rae Gillooly, December 7, 1932, in Detroit, and names her parents as Correine Marie (née Hamel) and John Austin Gillooly. The same account says she attended Cass Technical High School, began modeling for J.L. Hudson, and sometimes worked under other names, including Ellen McRae. Britannica independently says she used the stage name Edna Rae on The Jackie Gleason Show (1956–57) and debuted on Broadway in 1957 in Fair Game under the name Ellen McRae, later taking the name Ellen Burstyn after marrying actor and writer Neil Burstyn.

Career highlights

Britannica says she was first credited as Ellen Burstyn in Alex in Wonderland (1970), received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress for The Last Picture Show (1971), and appeared in The Exorcist (1973). The same account says she won the Academy Award for best actress for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and a Tony Award for best actress for Same Time, Next Year in 1975, and later received an Oscar nomination for Resurrection (1980) and praise for Requiem for a Dream (2000). The Detroit Historical Society independently lists The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Same Time, Next Year, Resurrection, and Requiem for a Dream, and records an Academy Award for best actress for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The same Detroit account says she has been a co-president of The Actors Studio since 2000.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Ellen Burstyn or Edna Rae Gillooly are looking for the same actress. Britannica and the Detroit Historical Society support the original name used in the title. Earlier professional names, including Edna Rae and Ellen McRae, refer to the same person.