Karen Black
Karen Blanche Black (nรฉe Ziegler; July 1, 1939 โ 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. โ
Known For
Credits
- 2018 ยทDeadly Dolls: Deepest Cutsas
- 2015 ยทBottomless Pitas Karen Black
- 2015 ยทGoing Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Beliefas Self (archive footage)
- 2014 ยทWild in Blueas Justine
- 2013 ยทShe Loves Me Notas Karla
- 2013 ยทOoga Boogaas Mrs. Allardyce
- 2012 ยทDark Bloodas Motel Woman
- 2012 ยทMaria My Loveas Maria
- 2012 ยทOowieWannaas The Donna
- 2012 ยทHawk Warrior of the Wheelzoneas Tarot
- 2012 ยทMommy's Little Monsteras Mrs. Melnick
- 2011 ยทLetters from the Big Manas Sean's Colleague
- 2011 ยทSome Guy Who Kills Peopleas Ruth Boyd
- 2010 ยทBBStory: An American Film Renaissanceas Self
- 2010 ยทHenry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'as Self
- 2010 ยทNothing Specialas May
- 2009 ยทDouble Dutyas Annabelle
- 2009 ยทStuck!as The Neighbor Lady
- 2009 ยทRepo Chickas Aunt De La Chasse
- 2009 ยทIrene in Timeas Sheila Shivvers
- 2009 ยทWamego: Ultimatumas Self
- 2009 ยทNo Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmosas Self
- 2008 ยทA Single Womanas Storyteller
- 2008 ยทWatercolorsas Mrs. Martin
- 2008 ยทContaminationas Mavis
- 2007 ยทHollywood Dreamsas Luna
- 2007 ยทOne Long Nightas Barbara
- 2007 ยทGhost Writeras Renee
- 2007 ยทTim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!as Jennifer
- 2006 ยทRead You Like a Bookas Kate
- 2006 ยทWanderlustas Herself
- 2006 ยทWhitepaddyas Mrs. Leider
- 2005 ยทAmerica Brownas Marianne Brown
- 2005 ยทFirecrackeras Sandra / Eleanor
- 2005 ยทTrailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligulaas Agrippina
- 2005 ยทDr. Rageas Molly
- 2004 ยทWAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhereas Self
- 2003 ยทParisas Chantelle
- 2003 ยทHarold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntmanas Mrs. Buttleman
- 2003 ยทHouse of 1000 Corpsesas Mother Firefly
- 2003 ยทEasy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywoodas Self
- 2002 ยทCurse of the Forty-Nineras Aunt Nelly
- 2002 ยทBest of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1as ("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
- 2002 ยทTeknolustas Dirty Dick
- 2002 ยทA Light in the Darknessas Mrs. Melnick
- 2001 ยทGypsy 83as Bambi LeBleau
- 2001 ยทLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Vera Morgan
- 2001 ยทThe Donoras Mrs. Springle
- 2001 ยทPlotting 'Family Plot'as Self
- 2001 ยทSoulkeeperas Martha la Magnifica
- 2000 ยทThe Independentas Karen Black
- 2000 ยทRed Dirtas Aunt Summer
- 2000 ยทFallen Archesas Lucy Romano
- 2000 ยทOliver Twistedas Mrs. Mary Happ
- 1999 ยทEasy Rider: Shaking the Cageas Self
- 1999 ยทThe Underground Comedy Movieas Mother
- 1999 ยทMascaraas Aunt Eloise
- 1999 ยทConceiving Adaas Lady Byron / Mother Coer
- 1999 ยทParadise Coveas Ma
- 1998 ยทCharadesas Jude
- 1998 ยทBury the Evidenceas The Mother
- 1998 ยทAngel Blueas Social Worker
- 1998 ยทI Woke Up Early the Day I Diedas Whip Lady
- 1998 ยทInvisible Dadas Courtney Whitmer
- 1998 ยทLight Speedas High Priestess
- 1998 ยทMythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgsas Self
- 1998 ยทMalaikaas Jessica Martin
- 1997 ยทMenas Alex
- 1997 ยทThe Hungeras Miss Gati / Landlady
- 1997 ยทWho Is Henry Jaglom?as Self
- 1997 ยทStiras Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
- 1996 ยทNew York Crossingas Mrs. Tender
- 1996 ยทChildren of the Corn IV: The Gatheringas June Rhodes
- 1996 ยทDogtownas Rose Van Horn
- 1996 ยทE! True Hollywood Storyas
- 1996 ยทCrimetimeas Millicent
- 1996 ยทCries of Silenceas Rose Walsh
- 1995 ยทThe Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirleyas Evelyn
- 1995 ยทPlan 10 from Outer Spaceas Nehor
- 1995 ยทDinosaur Valley Girlsas Ro-Kell
- 1995 ยทStarstruckas Bertha
- 1994 ยทThe Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black: Teather Penumbraas
- 1994 ยทFertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!as
- 1994 ยทToo Bad About Jackas
- 1993 ยทBound and Gagged: A Love Storyas Carla
- 1993 ยทTales of the Cityas Self
- 1993 ยทMoon Over Miamias
- 1993 ยทLegend of The Roller Blade Sevenas Tarot
- 1993 ยทThe Trustas Maria Vandermeer
- 1993 ยทReturn of the Roller Blade Sevenas Tarot
- 1992 ยทAuntie Lee's Meat Piesas Auntie Lee
- 1992 ยทThe Double 0 Kidas Mrs. Elliot
- 1992 ยทJudgementas Tiffany Powers
- 1992 ยทFinal Judgementas Mrs. Sorrel
- 1992 ยทTuesday Never Comesas Michelle
- 1992 ยทRubin & Edas Rula
- 1992 ยทThe Playeras Karen Black
- 1992 ยทDead Girls Don't Tangoas Insp. Wilson
- 1991 ยทQuiet Fireas Kim Martino
- 1991 ยทChildren of the Nightas Karen Thompson
- 1991 ยทThe Roller Blade Sevenas Tarot
- 1991 ยทCaged Fearas Blanche
- 1991 ยทThe Killers Edgeas Barrett
- 1991 ยทRalph S. Mouseas Miss Kuchenbacker
- 1990 ยทMirror Mirroras Susan Gordon
- 1990 ยทClub Fedas Sally Rich
- 1990 ยทHaunting Fearas Dr. Julia Harcourt
- 1990 ยทNight Angelas Rita
- 1990 ยทThe Childrenas Sybil Lullmer
- 1990 ยทZapped Again!as Homeroom Teacher
- 1990 ยทTwisted Justiceas Mrs. Granger
- 1990 ยทEvil Spiritsas Ella Purdy
- 1990 ยทOverexposedas Mrs. Trowbridge
- 1990 ยทFatal Encounteras Joan Caldwell
- 1989 ยทHomer and Eddieas Belle
- 1988 ยทOut of the Darkas Ruth Wilson
- 1988 ยทDixie Lanesas Zelma Putnam
- 1988 ยทThe Invisible Kidas Mom
- 1988 ยทThe Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingwayas Martha Gelhorn
- 1988 ยทOn the tracks of a filmmakeras Karen Black
- 1987 ยทHostageas Laura Lawrence
- 1987 ยทIt's Alive III: Island of the Aliveas Ellen Jarvis
- 1987 ยทThe Little Mermaidas Sea Witch
- 1986 ยทInvaders from Marsas Linda Magnusson
- 1986 ยทSavage Dawnas Rachel
- 1986 ยทFlight of the Spruce Gooseas Gloria
- 1985 ยทCut and Runas Karin
- 1985 ยทMartin's Dayas Karen
- 1985 ยทEternal Evilas Janus
- 1984 ยทBad Mannersas Gladys Fitzpatrick
- 1984 ยทMurder, She Wroteas Dr. Sylvia Dunn
- 1984 ยทMiami Viceas
- 1984 ยทE/Ras
- 1983 ยทThe Hitchhikeras Kay Mason
- 1983 ยทCan She Bake a Cherry Pie?as Zee
- 1982 ยทCome Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Deanas Joanne
- 1982 ยทFaerie Tale Theatreas Guest Interviewee
- 1982 ยทFaerie Tale Theatreas Sea Witch
- 1982 ยทThe Last Horror Filmas Karen Black (uncredited)
- 1982 ยทMiss Rightas Amy
- 1981 ยทThe Grass Is Singingas Mary Turner
- 1981 ยทSeparate Waysas Valentine Colby
- 1981 ยทChanel Solitaireas Emilienne d'Alenรงon
- 1980 ยทPolice Story: Confessions of a Lady Copas Investigator Evelyn Carter
- 1980 ยทWhere the Ladies Goas Helen
- 1980 ยทPoweras Rose Vanda-Buchanan
- 1979 ยทKiller Fishas Kate
- 1979 ยทThe Last Wordas Paula Herbert
- 1979 ยทMr. Hornas Ernestina Crawford
- 1978 ยทThe Squeezeas Clarisse Saunders
- 1978 ยทIn Praise of Older Womenas Maya
- 1978 ยทBecause He's My Friendas Anne
- 1977 ยทCapricorn Oneas Judy Drinkwater
- 1977 ยทThe Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliveras Miriam Oliver / Sandy
- 1976 ยทBurnt Offeringsas Marian Rolf
- 1976 ยทFamily Plotas Fran
- 1976 ยทCrime and Passionas Susan Winters
- 1975 ยทSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host
- 1975 ยทNashvilleas Connie White
- 1975 ยทThe Day of the Locustas Faye Greener
- 1975 ยทTrilogy of Terroras Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
- 1974 ยทAirport 1975as Nancy Pryor
- 1974 ยทLaw and Disorderas Gloria
- 1974 ยทThe Great Gatsbyas Myrtle Wilson
- 1974 ยทRhinocerosas Daisy
- 1973 ยทThe Outfitas Bett Harrow
- 1973 ยทThe Pyxas Elizabeth Lucy
- 1973 ยทLittle Laura and Big Johnas Laura
- 1973 ยทPolice Storyas
- 1972 ยทGhost Storyas Barbara Sanders
- 1972 ยทPortnoy's Complaintas Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
- 1972 ยทCisco Pikeas Sue
- 1971 ยทBorn to Winas Parm
- 1971 ยทA Gunfightas Jenny Simms
- 1971 ยทDrive, He Saidas Olive
- 1970 ยทFive Easy Piecesas Rayette Dipesto
- 1969 ยทEasy Rideras Karen
- 1969 ยทHard Contractas Ellen
- 1968 ยทAdam-12as Susan Decker
- 1968 ยทThe Name of the Gameas Monica Garrison
- 1967 ยทMannixas
- 1967 ยทThe Carol Burnett Showas Self - Guest / Various Characters
- 1967 ยทJudd for the Defenseas
- 1967 ยทThe Invadersas Claudia Stone
- 1966 ยทYou're a Big Boy Nowas Amy Partlett
- 1965 ยทThe F.B.I.as Lorraine Chapman
- 1965 ยทThe Big Valleyas Carla
- 1965 ยทRun for Your Lifeas Jennifer Palmer
- 1962 ยทThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self
- 1960 ยทThe Prime Timeas Betty