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Karen Black

Acting Born Jul 1, 1939 Died Aug 8, 2013 Park Ridge, Illinois, USA 224 credits
224
Total Credits
1960–2025
66 Years Career Span
64
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Karen Blanche Black was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. Born Karen Blanche Ziegler on July 1, 1939, in Park Ridge, Illinois, her career spanned over fifty years with nearly two hundred credits in both independent and mainstream films. She studied theater at Northwestern University before leaving her studies. She rose to prominence during the 1970s, frequently portraying eccentric and offbeat characters, and established herself as a figure of New Hollywood. Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her film work included appearances in Easy Rider in 1969 and House of 1000 Corpses in 2003. Karen Black passed away on August 8, 2013, at the age of seventy-four.

Sources & verification Karen Black — The Movie Database (TMDB) Karen Black Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten… Karen Black | ČSFD.cz Karen Black (1939) - FDb.cz Karen Black: Nejlepší filmy a seriály | Kinobox.cz How Archytele verifies pages
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Career

Career overview

Karen Blanche Black was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter born on July 1, 1939, in Park Ridge, Illinois. Her career spanned over 50 years, during which she established herself as a figure of New Hollywood. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films throughout the 1970s, frequently portraying eccentric and offbeat characters. Over the course of her career, she accumulated nearly 200 credits in both independent and mainstream films, with sources noting known credits reaching 215.

Her filmography includes appearances in several notable motion pictures. Among her credited works are Easy Rider, released in 1969, and House of 1000 Corpses, released in 2003. She also appeared in films alongside other notable actors such as George Segal and Robert De Niro. Throughout her extensive career, she received numerous accolades, which included two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Karen Black passed away on August 8, 2013, at the age of 74 in Santa Monica, California. Her contributions to cinema encompass a large body of work across both television and film, cementing her legacy as a versatile performer within the American film industry.

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Known for

Direktion City

as Ruth Boyd

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

as Jennifer
Film

House of 1000 Corpses

as Mother Firefly

Russians in the City of Angels

as Patricia Sommers

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

as Vera Morgan

Los Espookys

as Aunt Summer

Rude Awakening

as Crystal Garcia

Torchy the Battery Boy

as Whip Lady

The Hunger

as Miss Gati / Landlady

Profiler

as Evie Long

Party of Five

as Doreen Jablonsky

Tales of the City

as Self

Frequent co-stars

Julian Curry 8 shared titles
James Franciscus 2 shared titles
Elliott Gould 2 shared titles
Patch Mackenzie 2 shared titles
Péter Rudolf 2 shared titles
Imre Csuja 2 shared titles
Gábor Reviczky 2 shared titles
Győző Szabó 2 shared titles
Barbara Harris 2 shared titles
Sam Waterston 2 shared titles

Career timeline

Airports
Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of BeliefBottomless Pit
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon FilmsReturn to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed GraczykWild in Blue
Ooga BoogaShe Loves Me NotGore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Mommy's Little MonsterMaria My LoveDark BloodOowieWannaHawk Warrior of the Wheelzone
Some Guy Who Kills PeopleLetters from the Big Man
Nothing SpecialBBStory: An American Film RenaissanceHenry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place'
Wamego: UltimatumFirst Time Long TimeDouble DutyRepo ChickNo Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
The Blue Tooth VirginA Single WomanWatercolorsContamination
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!One Long NightSuffering Man's CharityHollywood Dreams
WhitepaddyRead You Like a BookWanderlust
Crazy for LoveAmerica BrownDr. RageFirecrackerFirecracker · Editorial Consultant
Birth of IndustryJack Nicholson: The Joker Is WildWAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere
House of 1000 CorpsesRussians in the City of AngelsParisHarold Buttleman: Daredevil StuntmanEasy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
TeknolustCurse of the Forty-NinerBest of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1A Light in the Darkness
Law & Order: Criminal IntentPlotting 'Family Plot'SoulkeeperThe DonorGypsy 83
The IndependentFallen ArchesRed DirtThe Invention of Dr. Morel · ScreenplayAltman on His Own Terms
MascaraEasy Rider: Shaking the CageParadise CoveConceiving AdaKaren Black: Actress at Work
Rude AwakeningLight SpeedCharadesCharades · WriterCharades · Producer
The HungerWho Is Henry Jaglom?DogtownMenMen · Writer
ProfilerChildren of the Corn IV: The GatheringE! True Hollywood StoryCrimetimeNew York Crossing
Dinosaur Valley GirlsStarstruckThe Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse ShirleyPlan 10 from Outer SpacePlan 10 from Outer Space · Songs
Party of FiveToo Bad About JackFertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue!The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra
Tales of the CityBound and Gagged: A Love StoryMoon Over MiamiReturn of the Roller Blade SevenLegend of The Roller Blade Seven
The PlayerJudgementThe Double 0 KidDead Girls Don't TangoFinal Judgement
The Roller Blade SevenQuiet FireChildren of the NightEvil SpiritsRalph S. Mouse
Mirror MirrorNight AngelTwisted JusticeZapped Again!The Children
Homer and Eddie
Out of the DarkThe Invisible KidThe Legendary Life of Ernest HemingwayDixie LanesOn the tracks of a filmmaker

Full Filmography

224 titles
  • Airports (2025)
  • Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts (2018) as (archive footage)
  • Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) as Self (archive footage)
  • Bottomless Pit (2015) as Karen Black
  • Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Linda Magnusson (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Return to the 5 & Dime: An Interview with Ed Graczyk (2014) as Self – Joanne (archive footage)
  • Wild in Blue (2014) as Justine
  • Ooga Booga (2013) as Mrs. Allardyce
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  • She Loves Me Not (2013) as Karla
  • Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia (2013) as Self (archive footage)
  • Mommy's Little Monster (2012) as Mrs. Melnick
  • Maria My Love (2012) as Maria
  • Dark Blood (2012) as Motel Woman
  • OowieWanna (2012) as The Donna
  • Hawk Warrior of the Wheelzone (2012) as Tarot
  • Some Guy Who Kills People (2011) as Ruth Boyd
  • Letters from the Big Man (2011) as Sean's Colleague
  • Nothing Special (2010) as May
  • BBStory: An American Film Renaissance (2010) as Self
  • Henry Jaglom Finds 'A Safe Place' (2010) as Self
  • Wamego: Ultimatum (2009) as Self
  • First Time Long Time (2009) as Dr. Shneidel
  • Double Duty (2009) as Annabelle
  • Repo Chick (2009) as Aunt De La Chasse
  • No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2009) as Self
  • Stuck! (2009) as The Neighbor Lady
  • Irene in Time (2009) as Sheila Shivvers
  • Meet the Eye (2009)
  • The Blue Tooth Virgin (2008) as Zena
  • A Single Woman (2008) as Storyteller
  • Watercolors (2008) as Mrs. Martin
  • Contamination (2008) as Mavis
  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007) as Jennifer
  • One Long Night (2007) as Barbara
  • Suffering Man's Charity (2007) as Renee
  • Hollywood Dreams (2007) as Luna
  • Whitepaddy (2006) as Mrs. Leider
  • Read You Like a Book (2006) as Kate
  • Wanderlust (2006) as Herself
  • Crazy for Love (2005) as Grace's Mom
  • America Brown (2005) as Marianne Brown
  • Dr. Rage (2005) as Molly
  • Firecracker (2005) as Sandra / Eleanor
  • Firecracker (2005) Editorial Consultant
  • Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula (2005) as Agrippina
  • Birth of Industry (2004) as Sara
  • Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild (2004) as Self
  • WAMEGO: Making Movies Anywhere (2004) as Self
  • House of 1000 Corpses (2003) as Mother Firefly
  • Russians in the City of Angels (2003) as Patricia Sommers
  • Paris (2003) as Chantelle
  • Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman (2003) as Mrs. Buttleman
  • Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self
  • Teknolust (2002) as Dirty Dick
  • Curse of the Forty-Niner (2002) as Aunt Nelly
  • Best of Tromadance Film Festival: Volume 1 (2002) as ("Los Vampirios Moronious" short)
  • A Light in the Darkness (2002) as Mrs. Melnick
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Vera Morgan
  • Plotting 'Family Plot' (2001) as Self
  • Soulkeeper (2001) as Martha la Magnifica
  • The Donor (2001) as Mrs. Springle
  • Gypsy 83 (2001) as Bambi LeBleau
  • The Independent (2000) as Karen Black
  • Fallen Arches (2000) as Lucy Romano
  • Red Dirt (2000) as Aunt Summer
  • The Invention of Dr. Morel (2000) Screenplay
  • Altman on His Own Terms (2000) as Self
  • Oliver Twisted (2000) as Mrs. Mary Happ
  • Mascara (1999) as Aunt Eloise
  • Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (1999) as Self
  • Paradise Cove (1999) as Ma
  • Conceiving Ada (1999) as Lady Byron / Mother Coer
  • Karen Black: Actress at Work (1999) as Self
  • The Underground Comedy Movie (1999) as Mother
  • Rude Awakening (1998) as Crystal Garcia
  • Light Speed (1998) as High Priestess
  • Charades (1998) as Jude
  • Charades (1998) Writer
  • Charades (1998) Producer
  • I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998) as Whip Lady
  • Angel Blue (1998) as Social Worker
  • Invisible Dad (1998) as Courtney Whitmer
  • Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs (1998) as Self
  • Bury the Evidence (1998) as The Mother
  • Malaika (1998) as Jessica Martin
  • The Hunger (1997) as Miss Gati / Landlady
  • Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1997) as Self
  • Dogtown (1997) as Rose Van Horn
  • Men (1997) as Alex
  • Men (1997) Writer
  • Stir (1997) as Dr. Gabrielle Kessler
  • Profiler (1996) as Evie Long
  • Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996) as June Rhodes
  • E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
  • Crimetime (1996) as Millicent
  • New York Crossing (1996) as Mrs. Tender
  • Cries of Silence (1996) as Rose Walsh
  • Every Minute Is Goodbye (1996)
  • Dinosaur Valley Girls (1995) as Ro-Kell
  • Starstruck (1995) as Bertha
  • The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley (1995) as Evelyn
  • Plan 10 from Outer Space (1995) as Nehor
  • Plan 10 from Outer Space (1995) Songs
  • Party of Five (1994) as Doreen Jablonsky
  • Too Bad About Jack (1994)
  • Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue! (1994)
  • The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black: Teather Penumbra (1994)
  • Tales of the City (1993) as Self
  • Bound and Gagged: A Love Story (1993) as Carla
  • Moon Over Miami (1993)
  • Return of the Roller Blade Seven (1993) as Tarot
  • Legend of The Roller Blade Seven (1993) as Tarot
  • The Trust (1993) as Maria Vandermeer
  • The Player (1992) as Karen Black
  • Judgement (1992) as Tiffany Powers
  • The Double 0 Kid (1992) as Mrs. Elliot
  • Dead Girls Don't Tango (1992) as Insp. Wilson
  • Final Judgement (1992) as Mrs. Sorrel
  • Tuesday Never Comes (1992) as Michelle
  • Auntie Lee's Meat Pies (1992) as Auntie Lee
  • Rubin & Ed (1992) as Rula
  • The Roller Blade Seven (1991) as Tarot
  • Quiet Fire (1991) as Kim Martino
  • Children of the Night (1991) as Karen Thompson
  • Evil Spirits (1991) as Ella Purdy
  • Ralph S. Mouse (1991) as Miss Kuchenbacker
  • Caged Fear (1991) as Blanche
  • Blood Money (1991) as Barrett
  • Mirror Mirror (1990) as Susan Gordon
  • Night Angel (1990) as Rita
  • Twisted Justice (1990) as Mrs. Granger
  • Zapped Again! (1990) as Homeroom Teacher
  • The Children (1990) as Sybil Lullmer
  • Club Fed (1990) as Sally Rich
  • Fatal Encounter (1990) as Joan Caldwell
  • Overexposed (1990) as Mrs. Trowbridge
  • Haunting Fear (1990) as Dr. Julia Harcourt
  • Homer and Eddie (1989) as Belle
  • Out of the Dark (1988) as Ruth Wilson
  • The Invisible Kid (1988) as Mom
  • The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway (1988) as Martha Gelhorn
  • Dixie Lanes (1988) as Zelma Putnam
  • On the tracks of a filmmaker (1988) as Karen Black
  • Hostage (1987) as Laura Lawrence
  • It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) as Ellen Jarvis
  • The Little Mermaid (1987) as Sea Witch
  • Worlds Beyond (1986) as Lee Jeffreys
  • Invaders from Mars (1986) as Linda Magnusson
  • Flight of the Spruce Goose (1986) as Gloria
  • Eternal Evil (1985) as Janus
  • Martin's Day (1985) as Karen
  • Savage Dawn (1985) as Rachel
  • Cut and Run (1985) as Karin
  • Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Dr. Sylvia Dunn
  • Miami Vice (1984) as Helen Jackson
  • E/R (1984)
  • Bad Manners (1984) as Gladys Fitzpatrick
  • The Hitchhiker (1983) as Kay Mason
  • Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983) as Zee
  • American Playhouse (1982) as Self
  • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Guest Interviewee
  • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Sea Witch
  • The Last Horror Film (1982) as Karen Black (uncredited)
  • Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) as Joanne
  • Miss Right (1982) as Amy
  • Chanel Solitaire (1981) as Emilienne d'Alençon
  • Separate Ways (1981) as Valentine Colby
  • The Grass Is Singing (1981) as Mary Turner
  • Power (1980) as Rose Vanda-Buchanan
  • Where the Ladies Go (1980) as Helen
  • Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop (1980) as Investigator Evelyn Carter
  • Killer Fish (1979) as Kate
  • Mr. Horn (1979) as Ernestina Crawford
  • Mr. Horn (1979) as Ernestina Crawford
  • The Last Word (1979) as Paula Herbert
  • In Praise of Older Women (1978) as Maya
  • The Squeeze (1978) as Clarisse Saunders
  • Because He's My Friend (1978) as Anne
  • Capricorn One (1977) as Judy Drinkwater
  • The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver (1977) as Miriam Oliver / Sandy
  • Family Plot (1976) as Fran
  • Burnt Offerings (1976) as Marian Rolf
  • Crime and Passion (1976) as Susan Winters
  • Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
  • People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self
  • Nashville (1975) as Connie White
  • Nashville (1975) Original Music Composer
  • The Day of the Locust (1975) as Faye Greener
  • Trilogy of Terror (1975) as Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
  • The Great Gatsby (1974) as Myrtle Wilson
  • Airport 1975 (1974) as Nancy Pryor
  • Law and Disorder (1974) as Gloria
  • Rhinoceros (1974) as Daisy
  • Police Story (1973) as Office Evelyn Carter
  • The Outfit (1973) as Bett Harrow
  • The Pyx (1973) as Elizabeth Lucy
  • The Pyx (1973) Songs
  • Little Laura and Big John (1973) as Laura
  • Ghost Story (1972) as Barbara Sanders
  • Cisco Pike (1972) as Sue
  • Portnoy's Complaint (1972) as Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey
  • A Gunfight (1971) as Jenny Simms
  • Drive, He Said (1971) as Olive
  • Born to Win (1971) as Parm
  • Five Easy Pieces (1970) as Rayette Dipesto
  • Easy Rider (1969) as Karen
  • Hard Contract (1969) as Ellen
  • Adam-12 (1968) as Susan Decker
  • The Name of the Game (1968) as Monica Garrison
  • Mannix (1967)
  • The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
  • The Invaders (1967) as Claudia Stone
  • Judd, for the Defense (1967)
  • The Second Hundred Years (1967) as Marcia
  • You're a Big Boy Now (1966) as Amy Partlett
  • The Big Valley (1965) as Carla
  • The F.B.I. (1965) as Lorraine Chapman
  • Run for Your Life (1965) as Jennifer Palmer
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
  • The Prime Time (1960) as Betty
  • George Sluizer - Filming beyond Bounderies as Self
  • Science Fiction Film Awards as Herself
  • Vacationland as Louise

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Karen Black best known for?

Karen Black is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Direktion City (1976), Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007), House of 1000 Corpses (2003), Russians in the City of Angels (2003).

When and where was Karen Black born?

Karen Black was born on July 1, 1939 in Park Ridge, Illinois, USA. They passed away on August 8, 2013.

How many credits does Karen Black have?

Karen Black has accumulated over 224 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1960 to 2025.

What is Karen Black's background in cinema and television?

Karen Blanche Black was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. Born Karen Blanche Ziegler on July 1, 1939, in Park Ridge, Illinois, her career spanned over fifty years with nearly two hundred credits in both independent and mainstream films. She studied theater at Northwestern University before leav...

Karen Black by the numbers

224credits
187films
37TV series
1960–2025active years

Age in their best-rated roles

Full filmography (224) Born on July 1 In memoriam 2013

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