Karen Black
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- July 1, 1939
- Died
- August 8, 2013 (aged 74)
- Birthplace
- Park Ridge, Illinois, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
George Sluizer - Filming beyond Bounderies
Movie · as Self
Vacationland
Movie · as Louise
Science Fiction Film Awards
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Airports
Movie
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts
Movie · as (archive footage)
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bottomless Pit
Movie · as Karen Black
Wild in Blue
Movie · as Justine
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Movie · as Linda Magnusson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk
Movie · as Self – Joanne (archive footage)
Ooga Booga
Movie · as Mrs. Allardyce
She Loves Me Not
Movie · as Karla
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Maria My Love
Movie · as Maria
Mommy's Little Monster
Movie · as Mrs. Melnick
Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone
Movie · as Tarot
OowieWanna
Movie · as The Donna
Dark Blood
Movie · as Motel Woman
Some Guy Who Kills People
Movie · as Ruth Boyd
Letters from the Big Man
Movie · as Sean's Colleague
Nothing Special
Movie · as May
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance
Movie · as Self
Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'
Movie · as Self
Stuck!
Movie · as The Neighbor Lady
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Movie · as Self
Irene in Time
Movie · as Sheila Shivvers
Wamego: Ultimatum
Movie · as Self
Repo Chick
Movie · as Aunt De La Chasse
Double Duty
Movie · as Annabelle
Meet the Eye
Movie
First Time Long Time
Movie · as Dr. Shneidel
Contamination
Movie · as Mavis
A Single Woman
Movie · as Storyteller
Watercolors
Movie · as Mrs. Martin
The Blue Tooth Virgin
Movie · as Zena
One Long Night
Movie · as Barbara
Suffering Man's Charity
Movie · as Renee
Hollywood Dreams
Movie · as Luna
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
TV · as Jennifer · 1 ep
Wanderlust
Movie · as Herself
Read You Like a Book
Movie · as Kate
Whitepaddy
Movie · as Mrs. Leider
Firecracker
Movie · as Sandra / Eleanor
America Brown
Movie · as Marianne Brown
Dr. Rage
Movie · as Molly
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula
Movie · as Agrippina
Crazy for Love
Movie · as Grace's Mom
WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere
Movie · as Self
Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild
Movie · as Self
Birth of Industry
Movie · as Sara
House of 1000 Corpses
Movie · as Mother Firefly
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Movie · as Self
Paris
Movie · as Chantelle
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman
Movie · as Mrs. Buttleman
Russians in the City of Angels
TV · as Patricia Sommers · 1 ep
Curse of the Forty-Niner
Movie · as Aunt Nelly
Teknolust
Movie · as Dirty Dick
Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1
Movie · as ("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
A Light in the Darkness
Movie · as Mrs. Melnick
Gypsy 83
Movie · as Bambi LeBleau
Soulkeeper
Movie · as Martha la Magnifica
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Movie · as Self
The Donor
Movie · as Mrs. Springle
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV · as Vera Morgan · 1 ep
Red Dirt
Movie · as Aunt Summer
Fallen Arches
Movie · as Lucy Romano
The Independent
Movie · as Karen Black
Oliver Twisted
Movie · as Mrs. Mary Happ
Altman on His Own Terms
Movie · as Self
Conceiving Ada
Movie · as Lady Byron / Mother Coer
The Underground Comedy Movie
Movie · as Mother
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage
Movie · as Self
Paradise Cove
Movie · as Ma
Karen Black: Actress at Work
Movie · as Self
Mascara
Movie · as Aunt Eloise
Malaika
Movie · as Jessica Martin
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
Movie · as Whip Lady
Invisible Dad
Movie · as Courtney Whitmer
Bury the Evidence
Movie · as The Mother
Light Speed
Movie · as High Priestess
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs
Movie · as Self
Charades
Movie · as Jude
Angel Blue
Movie · as Social Worker
Rude Awakening
TV · as Crystal Garcia · 2 eps
Men
Movie · as Alex
Dogtown
Movie · as Rose Van Horn
Stir
Movie · as Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Movie · as Self
Modern Rhapsody
Movie
The Hunger
TV · as Miss Gati / Landlady · 1 ep
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering
Movie · as June Rhodes
New York Crossing
Movie · as Mrs. Tender
Crimetime
Movie · as Millicent
Cries of Silence
Movie · as Rose Walsh
Every Minute Is Goodbye
Movie
E! True Hollywood Story
TV · 1 ep
Profiler
TV · as Evie Long · 1 ep
Dinosaur Valley Girls
Movie · as Ro-Kell
Plan 10 from Outer Space
Movie · as Nehor
Starstruck
Movie · as Bertha
The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley
Movie · as Evelyn
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra
Movie
Too Bad About Jack
Movie
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!
Movie
Party of Five
TV · as Doreen Jablonsky · 1 ep
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story
Movie · as Carla
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Movie · as Tarot
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Movie · as Tarot
The Trust
Movie · as Maria Vandermeer
Moon Over Miami
TV · 1 ep
Tales of the City
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Player
Movie · as Karen Black
Rubin & Ed
Movie · as Rula
Auntie Lee's Meat Pies
Movie · as Auntie Lee
Judgement
Movie · as Tiffany Powers
The Double 0 Kid
Movie · as Mrs. Elliot
Final Judgement
Movie · as Mrs. Sorrel
Tuesday Never Comes
Movie · as Michelle
Dead Girls Don't Tango
Movie · as Insp. Wilson
Evil Spirits
Movie · as Ella Purdy
Children of the Night
Movie · as Karen Thompson
The Roller Blade Seven
Movie · as Tarot
Blood Money
Movie · as Barrett
Quiet Fire
Movie · as Kim Martino
Caged Fear
Movie · as Blanche
Ralph S. Mouse
Movie · as Miss Kuchenbacker
Haunting Fear
Movie · as Dr. Julia Harcourt
Night Angel
Movie · as Rita
Mirror Mirror
Movie · as Susan Gordon
Overexposed
Movie · as Mrs. Trowbridge
Club Fed
Movie · as Sally Rich
Zapped Again!
Movie · as Homeroom Teacher
Twisted Justice
Movie · as Mrs. Granger
Fatal Encounter
Movie · as Joan Caldwell
The Children
Movie · as Sybil Lullmer
Homer and Eddie
Movie · as Belle
Out of the Dark
Movie · as Ruth Wilson
The Invisible Kid
Movie · as Mom
The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway
Movie · as Martha Gelhorn
Dixie Lanes
Movie · as Zelma Putnam
On the tracks of a filmmaker
Movie · as Karen Black
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive
Movie · as Ellen Jarvis
Hostage
Movie · as Laura Lawrence
The Little Mermaid
Movie · as Sea Witch
Invaders from Mars
Movie · as Linda Magnusson
Flight of the Spruce Goose
Movie · as Gloria
Worlds Beyond
TV · as Lee Jeffreys · 1 ep
Cut and Run
Movie · as Karin
Savage Dawn
Movie · as Rachel
Eternal Evil
Movie · as Janus
Martin's Day
Movie · as Karen
Bad Manners
Movie · as Gladys Fitzpatrick
Murder, She Wrote
TV · as Dr. Sylvia Dunn · 1 ep
Miami Vice
TV · as Helen Jackson · 1 ep
E/R
TV · 3 eps
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Movie · as Zee
The Hitchhiker
TV · as Kay Mason · 1 ep
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Movie · as Joanne
Miss Right
Movie · as Amy
The Last Horror Film
Movie · as Karen Black (uncredited)
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV · as Guest Interviewee, Sea Witch · 1 ep
American Playhouse
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Separate Ways
Movie · as Valentine Colby
The Grass Is Singing
Movie · as Mary Turner
Chanel Solitaire
Movie · as Emilienne d'Alençon
Where the Ladies Go
Movie · as Helen
Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop
Movie · as Investigator Evelyn Carter
Power
TV · as Rose Vanda-Buchanan · 2 eps
Killer Fish
Movie · as Kate
The Last Word
Movie · as Paula Herbert
Mr. Horn
TV · as Ernestina Crawford · 2 eps
In Praise of Older Women
Movie · as Maya
The Squeeze
Movie · as Clarisse Saunders
Because He's My Friend
Movie · as Anne
The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver
Movie · as Miriam Oliver / Sandy
Capricorn One
Movie · as Judy Drinkwater
Family Plot
Movie · as Fran
Burnt Offerings
Movie · as Marian Rolf
Crime and Passion
Movie · as Susan Winters
Nashville
Movie · as Connie White
The Day of the Locust
Movie · as Faye Greener
Trilogy of Terror
Movie · as Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Host · 2 eps
People's Choice Awards
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Great Gatsby
Movie · as Myrtle Wilson
Airport 1975
Movie · as Nancy Pryor
Law and Disorder
Movie · as Gloria
Rhinoceros
Movie · as Daisy
Little Laura and Big John
Movie · as Laura
The Outfit
Movie · as Bett Harrow
The Pyx
Movie · as Elizabeth Lucy
Police Story
TV · as Office Evelyn Carter · 1 ep
Cisco Pike
Movie · as Sue
Portnoy's Complaint
Movie · as Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
Ghost Story
TV · as Barbara Sanders · 1 ep
Born to Win
Movie · as Parm
A Gunfight
Movie · as Jenny Simms
Drive, He Said
Movie · as Olive
Five Easy Pieces
Movie · as Rayette Dipesto
Hard Contract
Movie · as Ellen
Easy Rider
Movie · as Karen
Adam-12
TV · as Susan Decker · 1 ep
The Name of the Game
TV · as Monica Garrison · 1 ep
Mannix
TV · 1 ep
Judd, for the Defense
TV · 1 ep
The Carol Burnett Show
TV · as Self - Guest / Various Characters · 1 ep
The Invaders
TV · as Claudia Stone · 1 ep
The Second Hundred Years
TV · as Marcia · 3 eps
You're a Big Boy Now
Movie · as Amy Partlett
The F.B.I.
TV · as Lorraine Chapman · 1 ep
Run for Your Life
TV · as Jennifer Palmer · 1 ep
The Big Valley
TV · as Carla · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Prime Time
Movie · as Betty