CineScope
Karen Black picture

Karen Black

Acting
Known For

74 Years Old

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. ​

Born

Park Ridge, Illinois, USA on 1st July 1939

Died

8th August 2013

All Credits

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Image
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
The Carol Burnett Show Image
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest / Various Characters
The Mike Douglas Show Image
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
The Hunger Image
The Hunger
Miss Gati / Landlady
Mannix Image
Mannix
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Image
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Vera Morgan
The F.B.I. Image
The F.B.I.
Lorraine Chapman
Murder, She Wrote Image
Murder, She Wrote
Dr. Sylvia Dunn
Run for Your Life Image
Run for Your Life
Jennifer Palmer
Miami Vice Image
Miami Vice
The Name of the Game Image
The Name of the Game
Monica Garrison
Saturday Night Live Image
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
The Invaders Image
The Invaders
Claudia Stone
The Big Valley Image
The Big Valley
Carla
Judd for the Defense Image
Judd for the Defense
E/R Image
E/R
Adam-12 Image
Adam-12
Susan Decker
Police Story Image
Police Story
Faerie Tale Theatre Image
Faerie Tale Theatre
Sea Witch
Faerie Tale Theatre Image
Faerie Tale Theatre
Guest Interviewee
Tales of the City Image
Tales of the City
Self
Moon Over Miami Image
Moon Over Miami
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Image
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Jennifer
The Hitchhiker Image
The Hitchhiker
Kay Mason
Ghost Story Image
Ghost Story
Barbara Sanders
E! True Hollywood Story Image
E! True Hollywood Story
The Great Gatsby Image
The Great Gatsby
Myrtle Wilson
Easy Rider Image
Easy Rider
Karen
House of 1000 Corpses Image
House of 1000 Corpses
Mother Firefly
The Player Image
The Player
Karen Black
Capricorn One Image
Capricorn One
Judy Drinkwater
Airport 1975 Image
Airport 1975
Nancy Pryor
Invaders from Mars Image
Invaders from Mars
Linda Magnusson
Nashville Image
Nashville
Connie White
Family Plot Image
Family Plot
Fran
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Image
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Self (archive footage)
Five Easy Pieces Image
Five Easy Pieces
Rayette Dipesto
Final Judgement Image
Final Judgement
Mrs. Sorrel
The Day of the Locust Image
The Day of the Locust
Faye Greener
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Image
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Self
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering Image
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering
June Rhodes
Burnt Offerings Image
Burnt Offerings
Marian Rolf
The Outfit Image
The Outfit
Bett Harrow
Night Angel Image
Night Angel
Rita
Some Guy Who Kills People Image
Some Guy Who Kills People
Ruth Boyd
Soulkeeper Image
Soulkeeper
Martha la Magnifica
Killer Fish Image
Killer Fish
Kate
Red Dirt Image
Red Dirt
Aunt Summer
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Image
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Joanne
Stuck! Image
Stuck!
The Neighbor Lady
Mirror Mirror Image
Mirror Mirror
Susan Gordon
The Last Horror Film Image
The Last Horror Film
Karen Black (uncredited)
Crimetime Image
Crimetime
Millicent
Bad Manners Image
Bad Manners
Gladys Fitzpatrick
Out of the Dark Image
Out of the Dark
Ruth Wilson
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive Image
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive
Ellen Jarvis
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died Image
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Whip Lady
Trilogy of Terror Image
Trilogy of Terror
Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
Cut and Run Image
Cut and Run
Karin
A Gunfight Image
A Gunfight
Jenny Simms
In Praise of Older Women Image
In Praise of Older Women
Maya
The Invisible Kid Image
The Invisible Kid
Mom
Dinosaur Valley Girls Image
Dinosaur Valley Girls
Ro-Kell
Ralph S. Mouse Image
Ralph S. Mouse
Miss Kuchenbacker
Savage Dawn Image
Savage Dawn
Rachel
Double Duty Image
Double Duty
Annabelle
Wild in Blue Image
Wild in Blue
Justine
Altman on His Own Terms Image
Altman on His Own Terms
Self
Science Fiction Film Awards Image
Science Fiction Film Awards
Herself
Twisted Justice Image
Twisted Justice
Mrs. Granger
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies Image
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies
Auntie Lee
Curse of the Forty-Niner Image
Curse of the Forty-Niner
Aunt Nelly
Who Is Henry Jaglom? Image
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Self
Rhinoceros Image
Rhinoceros
Daisy
Cisco Pike Image
Cisco Pike
Sue
Men Image
Men
Alex
Judgement Image
Judgement
Tiffany Powers
Club Fed Image
Club Fed
Sally Rich
The Double 0 Kid Image
The Double 0 Kid
Mrs. Elliot
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia Image
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Self (archive footage)
The Independent Image
The Independent
Karen Black
Gypsy 83 Image
Gypsy 83
Bambi LeBleau
Children of the Night Image
Children of the Night
Karen Thompson
Ooga Booga Image
Ooga Booga
Mrs. Allardyce
Separate Ways Image
Separate Ways
Valentine Colby
My Suicidal Sweetheart Image
My Suicidal Sweetheart
Grace's Mom
Homer and Eddie Image
Homer and Eddie
Belle
Evil Spirits Image
Evil Spirits
Ella Purdy
The Squeeze Image
The Squeeze
Clarisse Saunders
Caged Fear Image
Caged Fear
Blanche
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs Image
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs
Self
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story Image
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story
Carla
Stir Image
Stir
Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway Image
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway
Martha Gelhorn
Law and Disorder Image
Law and Disorder
Gloria
Read You Like a Book Image
Read You Like a Book
Kate
Eternal Evil Image
Eternal Evil
Janus
Repo Chick Image
Repo Chick
Aunt De La Chasse
Invisible Dad Image
Invisible Dad
Courtney Whitmer
The Last Word Image
The Last Word
Paula Herbert
Dogtown Image
Dogtown
Rose Van Horn
Teknolust Image
Teknolust
Dirty Dick
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos Image
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Self
Hard Contract Image
Hard Contract
Ellen
Blood Money Image
Blood Money
Barrett
Drive, He Said Image
Drive, He Said
Olive
Angel Blue Image
Angel Blue
Social Worker
Power Image
Power
Rose Vanda-Buchanan
Hollywood Dreams Image
Hollywood Dreams
Luna
Plotting 'Family Plot' Image
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Self
Suffering Man's Charity Image
Suffering Man's Charity
Renee
Watercolors Image
Watercolors
Mrs. Martin
Paris Image
Paris
Chantelle
Letters from the Big Man Image
Letters from the Big Man
Sean's Colleague
The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver Image
The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver
Miriam Oliver / Sandy
Martin's Day Image
Martin's Day
Karen
Born to Win Image
Born to Win
Parm
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue! Image
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula Image
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula
Agrippina
Paradise Cove Image
Paradise Cove
Ma
Chanel Solitaire Image
Chanel Solitaire
Emilienne d'Alençon
She Loves Me Not Image
She Loves Me Not
Karla
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven Image
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
Zapped Again! Image
Zapped Again!
Homeroom Teacher
Contamination Image
Contamination
Mavis
Haunting Fear Image
Haunting Fear
Dr. Julia Harcourt
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman Image
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman
Mrs. Buttleman
Tuesday Never Comes Image
Tuesday Never Comes
Michelle
Dr. Rage Image
Dr. Rage
Molly
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance Image
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
Self
Dark Blood Image
Dark Blood
Motel Woman
One Long Night Image
One Long Night
Barbara
Mr. Horn Image
Mr. Horn
Ernestina Crawford
Rubin & Ed Image
Rubin & Ed
Rula
You're a Big Boy Now Image
You're a Big Boy Now
Amy Partlett
The Roller Blade Seven Image
The Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
The Children Image
The Children
Sybil Lullmer
Irene in Time Image
Irene in Time
Sheila Shivvers
Dixie Lanes Image
Dixie Lanes
Zelma Putnam
The Pyx Image
The Pyx
Elizabeth Lucy
Charades Image
Charades
Jude
The Little Mermaid Image
The Little Mermaid
Sea Witch
Wanderlust Image
Wanderlust
Herself
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? Image
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Zee
Hostage Image
Hostage
Laura Lawrence
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts Image
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts
(archive footage)
Firecracker Image
Firecracker
Sandra / Eleanor
Nothing Special Image
Nothing Special
May
Return of the Roller Blade Seven Image
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Tarot
The Donor Image
The Donor
Mrs. Springle
Starstruck Image
Starstruck
Bertha
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild Image
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
Self
The Underground Comedy Movie Image
The Underground Comedy Movie
Mother
Miss Right Image
Miss Right
Amy
Malaika Image
Malaika
Jessica Martin
A Light in the Darkness Image
A Light in the Darkness
Mrs. Melnick
The Grass Is Singing Image
The Grass Is Singing
Mary Turner
Portnoy's Complaint Image
Portnoy's Complaint
Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop Image
Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop
Investigator Evelyn Carter
A Single Woman Image
A Single Woman
Storyteller
Where the Ladies Go Image
Where the Ladies Go
Helen
New York Crossing Image
New York Crossing
Mrs. Tender
America Brown Image
America Brown
Marianne Brown
The Trust Image
The Trust
Maria Vandermeer
Cries of Silence Image
Cries of Silence
Rose Walsh
Little Laura and Big John Image
Little Laura and Big John
Laura
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley Image
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley
Evelyn
Whitepaddy Image
Whitepaddy
Mrs. Leider
Mascara Image
Mascara
Aunt Eloise
No Image
Maria My Love
Maria
Plan 10 from Outer Space Image
Plan 10 from Outer Space
Nehor
Crime and Passion Image
Crime and Passion
Susan Winters
Menage a Trois Image
Menage a Trois
Miss Gati
Conceiving Ada Image
Conceiving Ada
Lady Byron / Mother Coer
Dead Girls Don't Tango Image
Dead Girls Don't Tango
Insp. Wilson
Quiet Fire Image
Quiet Fire
Kim Martino
Overexposed Image
Overexposed
Mrs. Trowbridge
Flight of the Spruce Goose Image
Flight of the Spruce Goose
Gloria
Fallen Arches Image
Fallen Arches
Lucy Romano
Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone Image
Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone
Tarot
No Image
Too Bad About Jack
Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1 Image
Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1
("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage Image
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage
Self
On the tracks of a filmmaker Image
On the tracks of a filmmaker
Karen Black
The Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra Image
The Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra
Wamego: Ultimatum Image
Wamego: Ultimatum
Self
Because He's My Friend Image
Because He's My Friend
Anne
The Prime Time Image
The Prime Time
Betty
No Image
Bottomless Pit
Karen Black
WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere Image
WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere
Self
OowieWanna Image
OowieWanna
The Donna
Fatal Encounter Image
Fatal Encounter
Joan Caldwell
Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place' Image
Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'
Self
Oliver Twisted Image
Oliver Twisted
Mrs. Mary Happ
No Image
Mommy's Little Monster
Mrs. Melnick
No Image
Light Speed
High Priestess
Bury the Evidence Image
Bury the Evidence
The Mother