About

Known credits:
173
Birthday:
1939-07-01
Place of birth:
Park Ridge, Illinois, USA
Website:
N/A

Karen Black

Overview

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.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Karen Black, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Known for

Acting
2018 Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts Actor 59
Average
2015 Bottomless Pit Actor Karen Black N/A
N/A
2015 Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Actor Self (archive footage) 69
Fair
2014 Wild in Blue Actor Justine 58
Average
2013 She Loves Me Not Actor Karla 58
Average
2013 Ooga Booga Actor Mrs. Allardyce 58
Average
2012 Dark Blood Actor Motel Woman 59
Average
2012 Maria My Love Actor Maria 59
Average
2012 OowieWanna Actor The Donna 59
Average
2012 Mommy's Little Monster Actor Mrs. Melnick 59
Average
2012 Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone Actor Tarot N/A
N/A
2011 Letters from the Big Man Actor Sean's Colleague 59
Average
2011 Some Guy Who Kills People Actor Ruth Boyd 59
Average
2010 BBStory: An American Film Renaissance Actor Self N/A
N/A
2010 Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place' Actor Self N/A
N/A
2010 Nothing Special Actor May 59
Average
2009 Double Duty Actor Annabelle 59
Average
2009 Stuck! Actor 58
Average
2009 Repo Chick Actor Aunt De La Chasse 58
Average
2009 Irene in Time Actor Sheila Shivvers 58
Average
2009 Wamego: Ultimatum Actor Self N/A
N/A
2009 No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos Actor Self 59
Average
2008 A Single Woman Actor Storyteller 59
Average
2008 Watercolors Actor Mrs. Martin 58
Average
2008 Contamination Actor Mavis 58
Average
2007 Hollywood Dreams Actor Luna 58
Average
2007 One Long Night Actor Barbara 59
Average
2007 Ghost Writer Actor Renee 58
Average
2006 Read You Like a Book Actor Kate 59
Average
2006 Wanderlust Actor Herself 58
Average
2006 Whitepaddy Actor Mrs. Leider N/A
N/A
2005 America Brown Actor Marianne Brown 59
Average
2005 Firecracker Actor Sandra / Eleanor 59
Average
2005 Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula Actor Agrippina 59
Average
2005 Dr. Rage Actor Molly 58
Average
2004 WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 Paris Actor Chantelle 58
Average
2003 Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman Actor Mrs. Buttleman 58
Average
2003 House of 1000 Corpses Actor Mother Firefly 61
Fair
2003 Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Actor Self 60
Fair
2002 Curse of the Forty-Niner Actor Aunt Nelly 58
Average
2002 Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1 Actor ("Los Vampirios Moronious" short) N/A
N/A
2002 Teknolust Actor Dirty Dick 58
Average
2002 A Light in the Darkness Actor Mrs. Melnick 59
Average
2001 Gypsy 83 Actor Bambi LeBleau 59
Average
2001 The Donor Actor Mrs. Springle 58
Average
2001 Plotting 'Family Plot' Actor Self 59
Average
2001 Soulkeeper Actor Martha la Magnifica 58
Average
2000 The Independent Actor Karen Black 59
Average
2000 Red Dirt Actor Aunt Summer 59
Average
2000 Fallen Arches Actor Lucy Romano N/A
N/A
2000 Oliver Twisted Actor Mrs. Mary Happ N/A
N/A
1999 Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage Actor Self 59
Average
1999 The Underground Comedy Movie Actor Mother 58
Average
1999 Mascara Actor Aunt Eloise 58
Average
1999 Conceiving Ada Actor Lady Byron / Mother Coer 58
Average
1999 Paradise Cove Actor Ma N/A
N/A
1998 Charades Actor Jude 58
Average
1998 Bury the Evidence Actor The Mother N/A
N/A
1998 Angel Blue Actor Social Worker 59
Average
1998 I Woke Up Early the Day I Died Actor Whip Lady 58
Average
1998 Invisible Dad Actor Courtney Whitmer 58
Average
1998 Malaika Actor Jessica Martin N/A
N/A
1998 Light Speed Actor High Priestess 59
Average
1998 Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs Actor Self N/A
N/A
1997 Men Actor Alex 58
Average
1997 The Hunger. El lado salvaje del deseo Actor N/A
N/A
1997 Who Is Henry Jaglom? Actor Self 59
Average
1997 Stir Actor Dr. Gabrielle Kessler 59
Average
1996 New York Crossing Actor Mrs. Tender N/A
N/A
1996 Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering Actor June Rhodes 55
Average
1996 Dogtown Actor Rose Van Horn 58
Average
1996 Crimetime Actor Millicent 58
Average
1996 Cries of Silence Actor Rose Walsh N/A
N/A
1995 The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley Actor Evelyn N/A
N/A
1995 Plan 10 from Outer Space Actor Nehor 59
Average
1995 Starstruck Actor Bertha 59
Average
1995 Dinosaur Valley Girls Actor Ro-Kell 58
Average
1994 The Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra Actor N/A
N/A
1994 Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue! Actor N/A
N/A
1994 Too Bad About Jack Actor N/A
N/A
1993 Bound and Gagged: A Love Story Actor Carla 59
Average
1993 Legend of The Roller Blade Seven Actor Tarot 59
Average
1993 The Trust Actor Maria Vandermeer N/A
N/A
1993 Return of the Roller Blade Seven Actor Tarot 58
Average
1992 Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Actor Auntie Lee 58
Average
1992 The Double 0 Kid Actor Mrs. Elliot 58
Average
1992 Judgement Actor Tiffany Powers 58
Average
1992 Final Judgement Actor Mrs. Sorrel 58
Average
1992 Tuesday Never Comes Actor Michelle 59
Average
1992 Rubin & Ed Actor Rula 59
Average
1992 The Player Actor Karen Black 66
Fair
1992 Dead Girls Don't Tango Actor Insp. Wilson N/A
N/A
1991 Quiet Fire Actor Kim Martino 59
Average
1991 Children of the Night Actor Karen Thompson 58
Average
1991 The Roller Blade Seven Actor Tarot 58
Average
1991 Caged Fear Actor Blanche 58
Average
1991 The Killers Edge Actor Barrett 59
Average
1991 Ralph S. Mouse Actor Miss Kuchenbacker 59
Average
1990 Mirror Mirror Actor Susan Gordon 58
Average
1990 Club Fed Actor Sally Rich 58
Average
1990 Haunting Fear Actor Dr. Julia Harcourt 58
Average
1990 Night Angel Actor Rita 58
Average
1990 The Children Actor Sybil Lullmer 58
Average
1990 Zapped Again! Actor Homeroom Teacher 57
Average
1990 Twisted Justice Actor Mrs. Granger 58
Average
1990 Evil Spirits Actor Ella Purdy 58
Average
1990 Overexposed Actor Mrs. Trowbridge 58
Average
1990 Fatal Encounter Actor Joan Caldwell N/A
N/A
1989 Homer and Eddie Actor Belle 58
Average
1988 Out of the Dark Actor Ruth Wilson 58
Average
1988 Dixie Lanes Actor Zelma Putnam 58
Average
1988 The Invisible Kid Actor Mom 58
Average
1988 On the tracks of a filmmaker Actor Karen Black N/A
N/A
1988 The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway Actor Martha Gelhorn N/A
N/A
1987 Hostage Actor Laura Lawrence N/A
N/A
1987 It's Alive III: Island of the Alive Actor Ellen Jarvis 58
Average
1987 The Little Mermaid Actor Sea Witch 59
Average
1986 Invaders from Mars Actor Linda Magnusson 57
Average
1986 Savage Dawn Actor Rachel 58
Average
1986 Flight of the Spruce Goose Actor Gloria N/A
N/A
1985 Cut and Run Actor Karin 58
Average
1985 Martin's Day Actor Karen 58
Average
1985 Eternal Evil Actor Janus 58
Average
1984 Bad Manners Actor Gladys Fitzpatrick 59
Average
1983 Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? Actor Zee 58
Average
1982 Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Actor Joanne 59
Average
1982 The Last Horror Film Actor Karen Black (uncredited) 58
Average
1982 Miss Right Actor Amy 58
Average
1981 The Grass Is Singing Actor Mary Turner 58
Average
1981 Separate Ways Actor Valentine Colby 58
Average
1981 Chanel Solitaire Actor Emilienne d'Alençon 58
Average
1980 Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop Actor Investigator Evelyn Carter 58
Average
1980 Where the Ladies Go Actor Helen N/A
N/A
1980 Power Actor Rose Vanda-Buchanan N/A
N/A
1979 Killer Fish Actor Kate 57
Average
1979 The Last Word Actor Paula Herbert 58
Average
1979 Mr. Horn Actor Ernestina Crawford 58
Average
1978 The Squeeze Actor Clarisse Saunders 58
Average
1978 In Praise of Older Women Actor Maya 58
Average
1978 Because He's My Friend Actor Anne N/A
N/A
1977 Capricorn One Actor Judy Drinkwater 62
Fair
1977 The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver Actor Miriam Oliver / Sandy 59
Average
1976 Burnt Offerings Actor Marian Rolf 60
Fair
1976 Family Plot Actor Fran 62
Fair
1976 Crime and Passion Actor Susan Winters 58
Average
1975 Nashville Actor Connie White 64
Fair
1975 The Day of the Locust Actor Faye Greener 59
Average
1975 Trilogy of Terror Actor Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia 59
Average
1974 Airport 1975 Actor Nancy Pryor 58
Average
1974 Law and Disorder Actor Gloria 58
Average
1974 The Great Gatsby Actor Myrtle Wilson 60
Fair
1974 Rhinoceros Actor Daisy 59
Average
1973 The Outfit Actor Bett Harrow 60
Fair
1973 The Pyx Actor Elizabeth Lucy 58
Average
1973 Little Laura and Big John Actor Laura 58
Average
1972 Portnoy's Complaint Actor Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey 58
Average
1972 Cisco Pike Actor Sue 58
Average
1971 Born to Win Actor Parm 58
Average
1971 A Gunfight Actor Jenny Simms 59
Average
1971 Drive, He Said Actor Olive 59
Average
1970 Five Easy Pieces Actor Rayette Dipesto 65
Fair
1969 Easy Rider Actor Karen 68
Fair
1969 Hard Contract Actor Ellen 58
Average
1966 You're a Big Boy Now Actor Amy Partlett 59
Average
1960 The Prime Time Actor Betty 59
Average

Writing
2000 The Invention of Dr. Morel Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1998 Charades Writing Writer 58
Average
1997 Men Writing Screenplay 58
Average

Production
1998 Charades Production Producer 58
Average

Sound
1995 Plan 10 from Outer Space Sound Songs 59
Average
1975 Nashville Sound Music 64
Fair

Editing
2005 Firecracker Editing Editorial Consultant 59
Average