Ellen Barkin

Birth Place: New York, NY, USA

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Ellen Barkin BIO

Ellen Barkin's break-out role was in the comedy-drama film Diner (1982), written and directed by Barry Levinson, for which she received favorable reviews. Barkin was cast in the drama film Tender Mercies (1983) after impressing its director Bruce Beresford during an audition in New York City, despite her inexperience and his lack of familiarity with her work. Robert Duvall, who played the lead role in Tender Mercies, said of Barkin, "She brings a real credibility to that part, plus she was young and attractive and had a certain sense of edge, a danger to her that was good for that part." She also appeared in the 1983 rock and roll drama film Eddie and the Cruisers.

Barkin later appeared in several successful films, including the thrillers The Big Easy (1987), opposite Dennis Quaid and Sea of Love (1989), opposite Al Pacino. Barkin also appeared in off-Broadway plays, including a role as one of the roommates in Extremities, about an intended rape victim played by Susan Sarandon who turns the tables on her attacker. About her performance in the play Eden Court, The New York Times critic Frank Rich summarized: "If it were really possible to give the kiss of life to a corpse, the actress Ellen Barkin would be the one to do it. In Eden Court, the moribund play that has brought her to the Promenade Theater, Miss Barkin is tantalizingly alive from her bouncing blond ponytail to the long legs that gyrate wildly and involuntarily every time an Elvis Presley record plays on stage".

Barkin has also done work in made-for-television films such as Before Women Had Wings (1997), for which she won an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie and The White River Kid (1999). She voiced the start of each Theme Time Radio Hour with host Bob Dylan on XM's Deep Tracks. In 2005, Barkin set up a film production company with her brother, George, along with her husband at the time and billionaire investor, Ronald Perelman.

Barkin appeared in her Broadway debut as Dr. Brookner in The Normal Heart, for which she won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Barkin has received acclaim for her performance in Another Happy Day. IndieWire cited her turn as one of the best female performances of the year. In 2015, she starred as Dani Kirschenbloom, in the Showtime comedy-drama series Happyish.

From 2016 through 2019, Barkin starred as Janine "Smurf" Cody, the crime family's matriarch, in the TNT drama series Animal Kingdom. The series is based on the 2010 Australian film where Smurf was played by Jacki Weaver.

Ellen Barkin Photos

Ellen Barkin STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2011
Dr. Emma Brookner

[Broadway]
Special Benefit Production, 2002
Simone

[Off-Broadway]
1985
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
1983
May [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
1982
Terry

[Off-Broadway]
1980
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
1979
Christine


Ellen Barkin Movies

[1982]Diner Beth

[1983]Eddie and the Cruisers Maggie Foley

[1983]Daniel Phyllis Isaacson

[1983]Enormous Changes at the Last Minute Virginia

[1983]Tender Mercies Sue Anne

[1984]The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Penny Priddy

[1984]Harry & Son Katie Wilowski

[1985]Terminal Choice Mary O Connor

[1986]The Big Easy Anne Osborne

[1986]Desert Bloom Aunt Starr

[1986]Down by Law Laurette

[1987]Siesta Claire

[1989]Sea of Love Helen

[1989]Johnny Handsome Sunny Boyd

[1991]Switch Amanda Brooks

[1992]Mac Oona Goldfarb

[1992]Man Trouble Joan Spruance

[1992]Into the West Kathleen

[1993]This Boy's Life Caroline

[1995]Bad Company Margaret Wells

[1995]Wild Bill Calamity Jane

[1996]The Fan Jewel Stern

[1996]Mad Dog Time Rita Everly

[1998]Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas North Star Waitress

[1999]Drop Dead Gorgeous Annette Atkins

[1999]The White River Kid Eva Nell La Fangroy

[2000]Crime + Punishment in Suburbia Maggie Skolnick

[2000]Mercy Det. Cathy Palmer

[2001]Someone Like You Diane Roberts

[2004]Palindromes Joyce Victor

[2004]She Hate Me Margo Chadwick

[2005]Trust the Man Norah

[2007]Ocean's Thirteen Abigail Sponder

[2009]Happy Tears Shelly

[2009]Brooklyn's Finest Agent Smith

[2010]Letters to Juliet producer

[2010]The Chameleon Kimberly Miller

[2010]Twelve Jessica's Mother

[2010]Operation: Endgame Empress

[2010]Shit Year Colleen West

[2011]Another Happy Day Lynn

[2013]Very Good Girls Norma

[2014]The Cobbler Elaine Greenawalt

[2016]Hands of Stone Stephanie Arcel

[2017]Active Adults Lucy

[2021]Breaking News in Yuba County Debbie

[2022]The Man from Toronto The Handler

[2023]The Out-Laws Lilly McDermott


Ellen Barkin TV Shows

Animal Kingdom Janine 'Smurf' Cody

The New Normal Jane Forrest

Ellen Barkin Awards and Nominations

Theatre World Awards - 2011 - Performance

Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart

Ellen Barkin Videos

Ellen Barkin News


Kevin Hart & Woody Harrelson Star in THE MAN FROM TORONTO Released on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital

Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson star in the explosive comedy with wall-to-wall action THE MAN FROM TORONTO, available now on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. THE MAN FROM TORONTO is an explosive comedy with wall-to-wall action.

Video: Watch THE OUT-LAWS Trailer Starring Adam Devine, Ellen Barkin, Pierce Brosnan & More

The cast includes Adam Devine, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker, Poorna Jagannathan, Julie Hagerty, Richard Kind, Lil Rel Howery, Blake Anderson, Lauren Lapkus, Laci Mosley, with Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan. Watch the video trailer for the new film now!

Peacock Renews POKER FACE For Season Two

POKER FACE has been renewed for a second season. POKER FACE is T-Street's two-time Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman’s first television series and is produced by MRC Television, along with multiple Emmy nominated executive producer and star Natasha Lyonne, under her production banner Animal Pictures.

Peacock Launches POKER FACE 1-866-NOBLSHT Hotline

Now until February 19, Peacock's BS Hotline is now available! Charlie Cale is so good at calling out BS, Peacock created a hotline meant to showcase her talents. Call 1-866-NOBLSHT. Users can call or text the hotline to hear the instantly recognizable voice of Natasha Lyonne providing advise as Charlie Cale.

VIDEO: Natasha Lyonne Stars In Rian Johnson's POKER FACE Series Trailer

The 10-episode mystery-of-the-week series marks the television debut for the brilliant Rian Johnson (Glass Onion, Knives Out, Star Wars) and is executive produced by and stars Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll, Orange Is The New Black). Watch the new video trailer for the upcoming series now!

Photos: On the Red Carpet for Opening Night of WALKING WITH GHOSTS

Gabriel Byrne officially opened in his acclaimed solo show, Walking with Ghosts, on Broadway. This adaptation from his best-selling memoir of the same name is directed by Lonny Price and is currently playing at the Music Box Theatre for 75 performances only. Check out photos from the red carpet here!

VIDEO: First Look at Peacock's POKER FACE from Rian Johnson Starring Natasha Lyonne

Poker Face is a 10-episode mystery-of-the-week series following Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve. Watch the video trailer now!

BroadwayWorld Celebrates Pride: Top 10 LGBTQ+ Plays!

June marks the official start of Pride Month! This year, BroadwayWorld is celebrating pride with a series focused on some of our favorite LGBTQ-themed musicals, plays, characters, and songs! This week, check out our top 10 favorite plays featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes!

VIDEO: On This Day, April 27- Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART Opens on Broadway

On this day in 2011, the star-studded Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's landmark play The Normal Heart opened on Broadway at the Golden Theater.

Theater Stories: ECLIPSED, SLAVE PLAY, HANGMEN and More About the John Golden Theatre

Today's Theater Stories features the John Golden Theatre! Learn about the shows to have graced the stage of the theatre including, The Normal Heart, A Doll's House, Part 2, Eclipsed, Slave Play, and many more!

The Creative Coalition Awards $220,000 in Grants to Filmmakers

Jenrette will share the story of a young Black girl who goes on a journey to combat obesity and free herself from her family’s “big boned” label. Kessler will explore obesity in comedy and speak to some of today’s biggest comedians about the weight of being overweight.

BWW TV: Watch Larry Kramer Talk About His Masterpiece, THE NORMAL HEART, on Opening Night

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported yesterday, legendary playwright, author, and activist, Larry Kramer passed away this morning. With his passing, Kramer leaves behind a legacy of important, eye-opening, controversial art, including his masterpiece, The Normal Heart.

Wynn Handman, Producer and Acting Teacher, Has Passed Away at 97

Wynn Handman, the famed New York acting teacher and Artistic Director of The American Place Theatre, died at home April 11, 2020 of Covid-19 related pneumonia. He was 97.

INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO's James Lipton Has Died at 93

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that James Lipton, executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, has died at age 93.

Photo Flash: Remembering Buck Henry

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this month, Buck Henry passed away at the age of 89. Henry was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate (1967) and for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty.

VIDEO: TNT Shares Clip From ANIMAL KINGDOM

Watch new episodes of Animal Kingdom Tuesdays 9/8c, only on TNT.

TNT Renews ANIMAL KINGDOM for Season Five

TNT, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, has renewed its powerhouse drama Animal Kingdom for a fifth season. The popular series continues to grow its fanbase, reaching nearly 18 million viewers this season so far across all platforms, defying industry trends where the typical returning series is down double digits. Season four of Animal Kingdom premiered on par with the season three average and the series is one of this year's top 10 cable dramas (P18-49, L+7).    

VIDEO: TNT Shares a Sneak Peek From ANIMAL KINGDOM

Watch new episodes of Animal Kingdom Tuesdays 98c, only on TNT. Watch Animal Kingdom OnDemand and on the TNT App!

2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Festival Announces Line-Up

Celebrating its 37th anniversary, Outfest - the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen - today announced the complete programming lineup for the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by HBO. The nation's leading LGBTQ festival will be held July 18-28, 2019.

Deirdre O'Connell, Ashley Park, Among Latest Casting for Williamstown Theatre Fest

Williamstown Theatre Festival announces additional casting and full creative teams for productions

Ellen Barkin FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ellen Barkin has appeared on Broadway in 2 shows.

Ellen Barkin has not appeared in the West End.

Ellen Barkin has been nominated for a Performance (Theatre World Awards) for her role in The Normal Heart and for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Normal Heart.

Ellen Barkin has won the Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for her role in The Normal Heart and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for the same production.

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