Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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Ellen Greene was performing as a nightclub singer in several New York City clubs and treading the boards in New York City theater before her friend and mentor, filmmaker Paul Mazursky cast her in her first motion picture, Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), she was awarded the part of Sarah, opposite Lenny Baker. Four years after she originated the role of Audrey, the lovably ditzy, golden-hearted, sweetest masochist in musical-comedy history in Howard Ashman's 1982 Off-Broadway play, The Little Shop of Horrors, the actress reprised the role in Frank Oz's film adaptation, Little Shop of Horrors (1986) (in which she starred opposite Rick Moranis and Steve Martin). Up to the present time, this is the actress's most talked-about and celebrated role.
A few years later, Greene starred in the American drama film Talk Radio (1988), she played the part of Ellen, opposite Eric Bogosian and Alec Baldwin. Aside from the actress's work in these two motion pictures, and ABC's fantasy mystery comedy-drama television series, Pushing Daisies (2007), in which she and Swoosie Kurtz play Lily and Vivian Charles, the agoraphobic sisters. Greene has also provided her talent to Law & Order (1990), The X-Files (1993), Heroes (2006), and The Young and the Restless (1973).
In July 2015, Greene brought back Audrey for a two-night revival of Little Shop of Horrors at New York City Center. She starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal (who replaced Moranis). The revival received rave reviews, and according to The New York Times, when Greene made her entrance on stage, she received the kind of entrance applause you might imagine greeting the resurrection of Maria Callas at the Metropolitan Opera for a beyond-the-grave performance of "Norma."
[1976]Next Stop, Greenwich Village Sarah Roth
[1982]I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can Karen Mulligan
[1986]Little Shop of Horrors Audrey
[1988]Me and Him Annette Uttanzi
[1988]Talk Radio Ellen
[1990]Pump Up the Volume Jan Emerson
[1991]Rock-A-Doodle Goldie
[1991]Stepping Out Maxine
[1992]Fathers & Sons Judy
[1994]Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Louise
[1994]Léon: The Professional Mathilda's Mother
[1994]Wagons East Belle
[1995]Killer: A Journal of Murder Elizabeth Wyatt
[1996]One Fine Day Elaine Lieberman
[1996]An Occasional Hell Della
[1997]States of Control Carol
[1998]Jaded Louise Smith
[2001]Alex in Wonder Clarice
[2003]The Cooler Doris
[2003]Love Object Typing Supervisor
[2016]Muddy Corman Dawn Denford
[2017]Love's Last Resort Ms. Leigh
[2019]The Untold Story Lydia
Heroes Virginia Grey
Out of Jimmy's Head Dolly Gopher
Pushing Daisies Vivian Charles
Ellen Greene, Little Shop of Horrors
Ellen Greene, Little Shop Of Horrors
Ellen Green , Threepenny Opera
Ellen Greene has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.
Ellen Greene has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Ellen Greene's first West End show was Betwixt! which opened in 2011
Ellen Greene has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for her performance in "Little Shop of Horrors". She was also nominated for Actress of the Year in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for the same role. Additionally, Greene received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for her work in "Threepenny Opera".