Karen Black facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Black
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Karen Black in 1968
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| Born |
Karen Blanche Ziegler
July 1, 1939 Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | August 8, 2013 (aged 74) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, California, U.S. |
| Education | Northwestern University (dropped out) |
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| Years active | 1960–2013 |
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Works
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Filmography |
| Spouse(s) | Charles Black (m. 1960; divorced) Robert Burton
(m. 1973; div. 1974)L. M. Kit Carson
(m. 1975; div. 1983)Stephen Eckelberry
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 3, including Hunter Carson |
| Relatives | Gail Brown (sister) |
| Awards | Full list |
Karen Black (born Karen Blanche Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was a talented American actress. She was also a screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. Karen Black became famous for her roles in many movies during the 1970s.
She often played unique and interesting characters. Her career lasted over 50 years, and she appeared in nearly 200 films. Karen Black won two Golden Globe Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award. She is remembered as an important figure in the "New Hollywood" era.
Contents
Karen Black's Early Life and Career Beginnings
Growing Up in Illinois
Karen Blanche Ziegler was born on July 1, 1939. Her hometown was Park Ridge, Illinois. Her mother, Elsie Mary, wrote children's books. Her father, Norman Arthur Ziegler, was an engineer. Karen's grandfather was a classical musician. He played the violin for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Karen grew up with her sister, Gail, and a brother. Her sister, Gail Brown, also became an actress. Karen's family had German, Czech, and Norwegian roots. They lived in Park Ridge and often visited her uncle's farm in Wisconsin.
Dreaming of the Stage
From a young age, Karen wanted to be an actress. At 13, she started looking for summer theater jobs. She began by doing small tasks like cleaning. By 16, she was a prop-girl and sang in the chorus. At 17, she got her first paid acting job.
Karen graduated from Maine Township High School East in 1957. She then studied theater at Northwestern University. She left college after two years to pursue her acting dreams.
Moving to New York City
In 1960, Karen Black moved to New York City. She wanted to become a professional actress. She lived in a small apartment and worked various jobs. She was a secretary, a hotel front desk person, and worked at an insurance office.
She started performing with a theater group called the Rockefeller Players. Karen briefly joined the Actors Studio. She married Charles Black in 1960, but the marriage was short. She kept his last name, Black, for her acting career.
First Steps in Film and Theater
Karen Black's first movie role was in The Prime Time (1960). She later called it "the worst film ever made." After this, she focused on theater. In 1961, she was an understudy in a Broadway play.
Her official Broadway debut was in The Playroom in 1965. She received good reviews for her performance. She was even nominated for a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award.
Becoming a Film Star
Early Film Successes
In 1966, Karen Black returned to movies. She had a main role in You're a Big Boy Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. She played the love interest of a young student. The movie was well-received, and Karen moved to Los Angeles.
From 1967, she appeared in many TV shows. These included The F.B.I., The Big Valley, and Mannix. Her film career grew in 1969. She appeared in the famous counterculture film Easy Rider.
Breakthrough Roles
In 1970, Karen Black starred in Five Easy Pieces. She played Rayette, a waitress and girlfriend of Jack Nicholson's character. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award. She also won her first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. She won another award from the New York Film Critics Circle.
Karen Black had a supporting role in Born to Win (1971). She also appeared in the Western film A Gunfight with Kirk Douglas. In 1972, she played a fashion model in Portnoy's Complaint. She also had a lead role in the horror film The Pyx (1973).
Major Commercial Films
Her first big commercial movie was Airport 1975 (1974). She played Nancy Pryor, a flight attendant. She had to fly the plane after a midair crash. Later that year, she played Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby. This role earned her a second Golden Globe Award.
In 1975, she played several roles in the TV horror film Trilogy of Terror. This movie became very popular.
Karen Black received another Golden Globe nomination for The Day of the Locust (1975). She played an aspiring actress in 1930s Hollywood. That same year, she starred in Robert Altman's musical drama Nashville. She also wrote and performed two songs for the movie's soundtrack. These songs earned her a Grammy Award nomination.
On July 4, 1975, Karen married actor L. M. Kit Carson. They had a son, Hunter Carson, later that year.
In 1976, Karen Black appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's last film, Family Plot. She played a jewel thief. She also reunited with director Dan Curtis for the horror film Burnt Offerings. She played a wife living in a haunted house. The film was praised as an "outstanding terror movie."
She also starred in the comedy Crime and Passion (1976). In 1977, she played a dual role in the TV thriller The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver.
Later Career and Legacy
Diverse Roles and Independent Films
In 1982, Karen Black starred in a Broadway play called Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. She later reprised her role in the film version. She played a character named Joanne.
She then starred in the comedy Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? (1983). She also appeared in the science fiction horror film Invaders from Mars (1986) with her son, Hunter. In 1987, she married her fourth husband, Stephen Eckelberry. They adopted a daughter named Celine.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Karen Black appeared in many independent and horror films. She also wrote her own screenplays. She had a leading role in Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (2003). This movie helped make her a cult horror icon.
Playwriting and Final Years
In 2005, Karen Black won the Best Actress Award at a film festival in Portugal. This was for her work in the film Firecracker, where she played two roles.
In 2007, Karen Black began a new career as a playwright. Her play, Missouri Waltz, opened in Los Angeles. She also performed live narrations for the film Brand Upon the Brain!. She toured with the show across the United States.
Karen Black continued to act in films in the early 2000s. She appeared in John Landis's thriller Some Guy Who Kills People (2010). She also appeared in a music video for the band Death Grips in 2013.
Acting Style and Image
Karen Black is seen as an important figure of New Hollywood. She was known for her unique and independent style. She often appeared in many films each year. She preferred working on independent films. She felt they were more creative and less stressful.
Karen Black saw acting as similar to writing. She believed it was about using imagination to create a character's life. She considered herself a character actress. She was known for her distinctive eyes.
She gained a cult following for her roles in horror films. However, she clarified that she only acted in about 14 horror movies. She said her last name, Black, might have created an unconscious link to the horror genre.
Beliefs and Advocacy
Starting in the mid-1970s, Karen Black became a Scientologist. She practiced this belief for the rest of her life. She was also a strong supporter of gay rights. She believed that everyone's identity should be respected.
Karen Black also supported animal rights. She was against the fur industry. She even posed for an anti-fur advertisement for PETA.
Passing Away
After her last films in 2010, Karen Black was diagnosed with ampullary cancer. She stopped making public appearances. She had surgery to remove part of her pancreas and two more operations.
In 2012, she reconnected with her daughter, Diane Koehnemann Bay. Karen had given Diane up for adoption when she was 19. Karen welcomed Diane into her family.
Karen Black passed away on August 8, 2013, in Santa Monica, California. She was 74 years old. She is buried at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California.
Images for kids
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Karen Black in 1968
See also
In Spanish: Karen Black para niños
