Karen Black

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

206

Gender

Female

Birthday

1939-07-01

Day of death

2013-08-08 (74 years old)

Place of Birth

Park Ridge, Illinois, USA

Karen Black

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

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent

    Law & Order: Criminal Intent

  • Mannix

    Mannix

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Miami Vice

    Miami Vice

  • Adam-12

    Adam-12

  • The Big Valley

    The Big Valley

  • Party of Five

    Party of Five

  • The Carol Burnett Show

    The Carol Burnett Show

  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    Faerie Tale Theatre

  • Faerie Tale Theatre

    Faerie Tale Theatre

  • The Invaders

    The Invaders

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • The F.B.I.

    The F.B.I.

  • Profiler

    Profiler

  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

    Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

  • Easy Rider

    Easy Rider

  • Homer and Eddie

    Homer and Eddie

  • Run for Your Life

    Run for Your Life

  • Altman on His Own Terms

    Altman on His Own Terms

  • The Hitchhiker

    The Hitchhiker

  • The Hunger

    The Hunger

  • Ghost Story

    Ghost Story

  • Gypsy 83

    Gypsy 83

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

    Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

  • Watercolors

    Watercolors

  • Caged Fear

    Caged Fear

  • Judd for the Defense

    Judd for the Defense

  • Killer Fish

    Killer Fish

  • Double Duty

    Double Duty

  • Club Fed

    Club Fed

  • Dogtown

    Dogtown

  • The Great Gatsby

    The Great Gatsby

  • Hard Contract

    Hard Contract

  • Nashville

    Nashville

  • Conceiving Ada

    Conceiving Ada

  • Overexposed

    Overexposed

  • Fallen Arches

    Fallen Arches

  • Fatal Encounter

    Fatal Encounter

  • The Trust

    The Trust

  • Angel Blue

    Angel Blue

  • House of 1000 Corpses

    House of 1000 Corpses

  • Stuck!

    Stuck!

  • Contamination

    Contamination

  • The Donor

    The Donor

  • Blood Money

    Blood Money

  • Nothing Special

    Nothing Special

  • Red Dirt

    Red Dirt

  • Cisco Pike

    Cisco Pike

  • Eternal Evil

    Eternal Evil

  • Rubin & Ed

    Rubin & Ed

  • The Pyx

    The Pyx

  • Dark Blood

    Dark Blood

  • Stir

    Stir

  • The Squeeze

    The Squeeze

  • Mirror Mirror

    Mirror Mirror

  • Charades

    Charades

  • Final Judgement

    Final Judgement

  • Repo Chick

    Repo Chick

  • Paradise Cove

    Paradise Cove

  • The Outfit

    The Outfit

  • Invisible Dad

    Invisible Dad

  • Hollywood Dreams

    Hollywood Dreams

  • Wamego: Ultimatum

    Wamego: Ultimatum

  • Dr. Rage

    Dr. Rage

  • A Gunfight

    A Gunfight

  • Crimetime

    Crimetime

  • Ooga Booga

    Ooga Booga

  • Bad Manners

    Bad Manners

  • Oliver Twisted

    Oliver Twisted

  • Chanel Solitaire

    Chanel Solitaire

  • Mascara

    Mascara

  • Malaika

    Malaika

  • OowieWanna

    OowieWanna

  • Starstruck

    Starstruck

  • Teknolust

    Teknolust

  • Soulkeeper

    Soulkeeper

  • Savage Dawn

    Savage Dawn

  • Firecracker

    Firecracker

  • Whitepaddy

    Whitepaddy

  • Judgement

    Judgement

  • Night Angel

    Night Angel

  • The Last Horror Film

    The Last Horror Film

  • Separate Ways

    Separate Ways

  • Tales of the City

    Tales of the City

  • Airports

    Airports

  • Born to Win

    Born to Win

  • Five Easy Pieces

    Five Easy Pieces

  • Paris

    Paris

  • America Brown

    America Brown

  • Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering

    Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering

  • It's Alive III: Island of the Alive

    It's Alive III: Island of the Alive

  • E/R

    E/R

  • Moon Over Miami

    Moon Over Miami

  • The Second Hundred Years

    The Second Hundred Years

  • The Player

    The Player

  • Invaders from Mars

    Invaders from Mars

  • Zapped Again!

    Zapped Again!

  • Cut and Run

    Cut and Run

  • The Day of the Locust

    The Day of the Locust

  • Auntie Lee's Meat Pies

    Auntie Lee's Meat Pies

  • Miss Right

    Miss Right

  • Russians in the City of Angels

    Russians in the City of Angels

  • In Praise of Older Women

    In Praise of Older Women

  • Airport 1975

    Airport 1975

  • Curse of the Forty-Niner

    Curse of the Forty-Niner

  • The Grass Is Singing

    The Grass Is Singing

  • Wild in Blue

    Wild in Blue

  • Capricorn One

    Capricorn One

  • Law and Disorder

    Law and Disorder

  • Burnt Offerings

    Burnt Offerings

  • Legend of The Roller Blade Seven

    Legend of The Roller Blade Seven

  • Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula

    Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula

  • BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

    BBStory: An American Film Renaissance

  • Children of the Night

    Children of the Night

  • The Invisible Kid

    The Invisible Kid

  • Drive, He Said

    Drive, He Said

  • Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs

    Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs

  • The Underground Comedy Movie

    The Underground Comedy Movie

  • Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

    Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

  • Light Speed

    Light Speed

  • Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman

    Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman

  • The Children

    The Children

  • Suffering Man's Charity

    Suffering Man's Charity

  • Letters from the Big Man

    Letters from the Big Man

  • No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

    No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

  • The Double 0 Kid

    The Double 0 Kid

  • The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway

    The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway

  • Irene in Time

    Irene in Time

  • Trilogy of Terror

    Trilogy of Terror

  • Return of the Roller Blade Seven

    Return of the Roller Blade Seven

  • Evil Spirits

    Evil Spirits

  • The Little Mermaid

    The Little Mermaid

  • The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver

    The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver

  • Quiet Fire

    Quiet Fire

  • Men

    Men

  • Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

    Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

  • Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

    Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

  • Crime and Passion

    Crime and Passion

  • Some Guy Who Kills People

    Some Guy Who Kills People

  • Plan 10 from Outer Space

    Plan 10 from Outer Space

  • Bury the Evidence

    Bury the Evidence

  • My Suicidal Sweetheart

    My Suicidal Sweetheart

  • A Single Woman

    A Single Woman

  • Who Is Henry Jaglom?

    Who Is Henry Jaglom?

  • Portnoy's Complaint

    Portnoy's Complaint

  • Ralph S. Mouse

    Ralph S. Mouse

  • One Long Night

    One Long Night

  • Because He's My Friend

    Because He's My Friend

  • I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

    I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

  • Out of the Dark

    Out of the Dark

  • WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere

    WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere

  • On the tracks of a filmmaker

    On the tracks of a filmmaker

  • Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage

    Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage

  • The Last Word

    The Last Word

  • Power

    Power

  • Where the Ladies Go

    Where the Ladies Go

  • Martin's Day

    Martin's Day

  • The Blue Tooth Virgin

    The Blue Tooth Virgin

  • Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?

    Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?

  • Plotting 'Family Plot'

    Plotting 'Family Plot'

  • Flight of the Spruce Goose

    Flight of the Spruce Goose

  • Dixie Lanes

    Dixie Lanes

  • E! True Hollywood Story

    E! True Hollywood Story

  • Family Plot

    Family Plot

  • She Loves Me Not

    She Loves Me Not

  • Bound and Gagged: A Love Story

    Bound and Gagged: A Love Story

  • You're a Big Boy Now

    You're a Big Boy Now

  • The Prime Time

    The Prime Time

  • The Independent

    The Independent

  • Hostage

    Hostage

  • Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone

    Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone

  • Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts

    Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts

  • Twisted Justice

    Twisted Justice

  • The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra

    The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra

  • New York Crossing

    New York Crossing

  • Maria My Love

    Maria My Love

  • Dead Girls Don't Tango

    Dead Girls Don't Tango

  • Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!

    Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!

  • Wanderlust

    Wanderlust

  • Science Fiction Film Awards

    Science Fiction Film Awards

  • Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop

    Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop

  • Meet the Eye

    Meet the Eye

  • Dinosaur Valley Girls

    Dinosaur Valley Girls

  • Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

    Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

  • Rhinoceros

    Rhinoceros

  • Haunting Fear

    Haunting Fear

  • Mr. Horn

    Mr. Horn

  • The Roller Blade Seven

    The Roller Blade Seven

  • Karen Black: Actress at Work

    Karen Black: Actress at Work

  • Tuesday Never Comes

    Tuesday Never Comes

  • Little Laura and Big John

    Little Laura and Big John

  • Read You Like a Book

    Read You Like a Book

  • Every Minute Is Goodbye

    Every Minute Is Goodbye

  • Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild

    Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild

  • The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley

    The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley

  • Mommy's Little Monster

    Mommy's Little Monster

  • Cries of Silence

    Cries of Silence

  • Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'

    Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'

  • A Light in the Darkness

    A Light in the Darkness

  • Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1

    Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1

  • Bottomless Pit

    Bottomless Pit

  • Too Bad About Jack

    Too Bad About Jack