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Ellen Barkin
ACTOR

Ellen Barkin

Known for Modern Family · King of the Hill · Animal Kingdom

Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16, 1954) is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was in the 1982 film Diner, and in the following years, she had starring roles in films such as Tender Mercies (1983), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), The Big Easy (1986), Johnny Handsome, and Sea of Love (both 1989).

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Apr 16, 1954
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16, 1954) is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was in the 1982 film Diner, and in the following years, she had starring roles in films such as Tender Mercies (1983), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), The Big Easy (1986), Johnny Handsome, and Sea of Love (both 1989).

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Known For

TVModern Family
Modern FamilyMitzi Roth · 2009
★ 7.9
TVKing of the Hill
King of the HillLenore (voice) · 1997
★ 7.4
TVAnimal Kingdom
Animal KingdomJanine "Smurf" Cody · 2016
★ 7.8
TVLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David LettermanSelf - Guest · 1993
★ 6.5
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest · 1993
★ 7.3
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest · 2009
★ 5.0
TVTony Awards
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner · 1956

Filmography

Movies

Up in SmokeWoman Playing Guitar (uncredited)
1978
Kent StateBonnie
1981
We're Fighting BackChris Capoletti
1981
DinerBeth Schreiber
1982
ParoleDonna
1982
DanielPhyllis Isaacson
1983
Eddie and the CruisersMaggie Foley
1983
Enormous Changes at the Last MinuteVirginia
1983
Tender MerciesSue Anne
1983
Harry & SonKatie Wilowski
1984
Terrible Joe MoranRonnie
1984
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th DimensionPenny Priddy
1984
Terminal ChoiceMary O'Connor
1985
Act of VengeanceAnnette Gilly
1986
Desert BloomAunt Starr
1986
Down by LawLaurette
1986
The Big EasyAnne Osborne
1986
The Princess Who Had Never LaughedPrincess Henrietta
1986
Made in HeavenLucille (uncredited)
1987
SiestaClaire
1987
Clinton and NadineNadine Powers
1988
Johnny HandsomeSunny Boyd
1989
Sea of LoveHelen Cruger
1989
SwitchAmanda Brooks
1991
Into the WestKathleen
1992
MacOona Goldfarb
1992
Man TroubleJoan Spruance
1992
This Boy's LifeCaroline
1993
Bad CompanyMargaret Wells
1995
Wild BillCalamity Jane
1995
Mad Dog TimeRita Everly
1996
The FanJewel Stern
1996
Before Women Had WingsGlory Marie Jackson
1997
Fear and Loathing in Las VegasWaitress at North Star Cafe
1998
Diner: On The Flip SideSelf
1999
Drop Dead GorgeousAnnette Atkins
1999
The White River KidEva Nell La Fangroy
1999
Crime + Punishment in SuburbiaMaggie Skolnick
2000
MercyDet. Catherine Palmer
2000
Someone Like You...Diane Roberts
2001
Buckaroo Banzai DeclassifiedSelf
2002
She Hate MeMargo Chadwick
2004
PalindromesJoyce Victor
2005
Trust the ManNorah
2005
Ocean's ThirteenAbigail Sponder
2007
Happy TearsShelly
2009
Brooklyn's FinestAgent Smith
2010
Letters to JulietProducer
2010
Operation: EndgameEmpress
2010
Shit YearColleen West
2010
Shit YearExecutive Producer
2010
The ChameleonKimberly Miller
2010
TwelveJessica's Mother
2010
Another Happy DayLynn
2011
Another Happy DayProducer
2011
His WaySelf
2011
Comedy Central Roast of RoseanneSelf
2012
Very Good GirlsNorma Berger
2013
The CobblerElaine Greenawalt
2014
Hands of StoneStephanie Arcel
2016
Active AdultsLucy
2017
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksSasha Walz
2017
Breaking News in Yuba CountyDebbie
2021
The Man from TorontoThe Handler
2022
The Out-LawsLilly McDermott
2023
WL
White Lies

Television

The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner · 1 eps
1956
F'
Film '72Self · 1 eps
1971
Faerie Tale TheatrePrincess Henrietta · 1 eps
1982
Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1993
Late Show with David LettermanSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1993
Inside the Actors StudioSelf · 1 eps
1994
E! True Hollywood Story1 eps
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1996
King of the HillLenore (voice) · 1 eps
1997
Comedy Central RoastsSelf · 1 eps
2003
Modern FamilyMitzi Roth · 1 eps
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest · 4 eps
2009
The New NormalJane Forrest · 22 eps
2012
HAPPYishDani Kirschenbloom · 10 eps
2015
Animal KingdomJanine "Smurf" Cody · 49 eps
2016
Poker FaceKathleen Townsend · 1 eps
2023

Photos

Ellen Barkin photo
Ellen Barkin photo
Ellen Barkin photo
Ellen Barkin photo
Ellen Barkin photo
Ellen Barkin photo
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