Karen Black: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 104
- as director
- 1
- on screen
- 1960–2024
- box office
- $33.1M
- award wins
- 2
- average score
- 73
- Born
- July 1, 1939
- Birthplace
- Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
- Full name
- Karen Blanche Ziegler
- Citizenship
- U.S.
- Occupations
- Actress, Screenwriter, Singer, Songwriter
- Years active
- 1960–2013
- Spouses
- Charles Black, Robert Burton, L. M. Kit Carson, Stephen Eckelberry
- Children
- 3
The Best Karen Black Movies
The films of Karen Black that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: House of 1000 Corpses (2003) leads with $16.8M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
-
Worldwide box office: $16.8M House of 1000 Corpses 2003 · Horror -
Worldwide box office: $10M Nashville 1975 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $4.88M Invaders from Mars 1986 · Sci-Fi -
Worldwide box office: $842K Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean 1982 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $578K Overexposed 1990 · Horror -
Worldwide box office: $6.31K Watercolors 2008 · Romance
Karen Black's Career in Numbers
Karen Black's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Karen Black works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Prime Time (1960) to Bottomless Pit (2015), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
Karen Black Movies by Decade
- 1960s 3
- 1970s 23
- 1980s 19
- 1990s 31
- 2000s 12
- 2010s 7
The 1990s were Karen Black's busiest decade, with 31 films.
Karen Black Movies by Genre
- Drama 23
- Comedy 21
- Horror 16
- Action 11
- Thriller 4
- Romance 3
- Crime 3
- Fantasy 2
- Family 2
- Sci-Fi 2
Drama is the genre Karen Black has worked in most, with 23 films, ahead of comedy (21).
Karen Black Career Milestones
- First film
- The Prime Time 1960
- Biggest box office hit
- House of 1000 Corpses $16.8M worldwide
- Newest film
- Bottomless Pit 2015
Karen Black Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Karen Black is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 1 as director and 94 as actor. Rated films average a score of 73. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Karen Black
1
Karen Black Movies as an Actor
94- 2015
Bottomless Pit as Karen Black - 2014
Wild in Blue as Justine · Horror - 2013
She Loves Me Not as Karla · Comedy - 2013
Ooga Booga as Mrs. Allardyce · Fantasy - 2011
Some Guy Who Kills People as Ruth Boyd · Horror Worldwide box office: $113 - 2010
Nothing Special as May · Comedy - 2009
Repo Chick as Aunt De La Chasse · Comedy - 2008 Watercolors as Mrs. Martin · Romance Worldwide box office: $6.31K
- 2007
Suffering Man’s Charity as Renee · Comedy - 2005
Firecracker as Sandra / Eleanor · Thriller - 2005
Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula as Agrippina · Comedy - 2005
My Suicidal Sweetheart as Grace's Mom · Drama - 2005
Dr. Rage as Molly · Horror - 2003
Harold Buttleman: Daredevil Stuntman as Mrs. Buttleman · Comedy - 2003 House of 1000 Corpses Horror Worldwide box office: $16.8M
- 2002
Curse of the Forty-Niner as Aunt Nelly · Horror - 2001
Soulkeeper as Martha la Magnifica · Action - 2000
Red Dirt as Aunt Summer · Drama - 1999
The Underground Comedy Movie as Mother · Comedy Worldwide box office: $856 - 1998
Invisible Dad as Courtney Whitmer · Family - 1997
Men as Alex · Drama - 1997
Conceiving Ada as Lady Byron / Mother Coer · Sci-Fi - 1997
Stir as Dr. Gabrielle Kessler · Drama - 1997
Dogtown as Rose Van Horn · Drama - 1996
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering as June Rhodes · Horror - 1996
Crimetime as Millicent · Crime - 1995
Plan 10 from Outer Space as Nehor · Comedy - 1995
Dinosaur Valley Girls as Ro-Kell · Comedy - 1994
Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine #2: The Kinky Issue! - 1993
Bound and Gagged: A Love Story as Carla - 1993
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven as Tarot · Action - 1993
Return of the Roller Blade Seven as Tarot · Action - 1992
Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies as Auntie Lee · Horror - 1992
The Double 0 Kid as Mrs. Elliot · Action - 1992
Final Judgement as Mrs. Sorrel · Thriller - 1991
Quiet Fire as Kim Martino · Action - 1991
Children of the Night as Karen Thompson · Horror - 1991
The Roller Blade Seven as Tarot · Action - 1991
Rubin & Ed as Rula · Comedy - 1991
Caged Fear as Blanche · Thriller - 1991
Blood Money as Barrett · Action - 1991
Ralph S. Mouse as Miss Kuchenbacker · Family - 1990
Mirror Mirror as Susan Gordon · Horror - 1990
Club Fed as Sally Rich · Comedy - 1990
Haunting Fear as Dr. Julia Harcourt · Horror - 1990
Night Angel as Rita · Horror - 1990
Zapped Again! as Homeroom Teacher · Comedy - 1990
Twisted Justice as Mrs. Granger · Drama - 1990 Overexposed as Mrs. Trowbridge · Horror Worldwide box office: $578K
- 1989
Homer and Eddie as Belle · Mystery - 1988
Out of the Dark as Ruth Wilson · Comedy - 1988
Out of the Dark as Ruth Wilson · Comedy - 1988
The Invisible Kid as Mom · Comedy - 1987
Hostage as Laura Lawrence · Drama - 1987
It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive as Ellen Jarvis · Horror - 1987
The Little Mermaid as Sea Witch · Fantasy - 1986 Invaders from Mars Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $4.88M
- 1985
Cut and Run as Karin · Adventure - 1985
Savage Dawn as Rachel · Thriller - 1985
Martin’s Day as Karen · Drama - 1985
Eternal Evil as Janus · Horror - 1984
Bad Manners as Gladys Fitzpatrick · Comedy - 1983
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? as Zee · Comedy - 1982 Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean as Joanne · Drama Worldwide box office: $842K
- 1982
The Last Horror Film as Karen Black (uncredited) · Comedy - 1981
Chanel Solitaire as Emilienne d'Alençon · Drama - 1981
The Grass Is Singing as Mary Turner · Drama - 1981
Separate Ways as Valentine Colby · Drama - 1979
Killer Fish as Kate · Action - 1979
Mr. Horn as Ernestina Crawford · Western - 1978
The Squeeze as Clarisse Saunders · Action - 1978
In Praise of Older Women as Maya · Romance - 1978
Capricorn One Action Worldwide box office: $402 - 1976
Burnt Offerings Mystery - 1976
Family Plot Drama Worldwide box office: $111 - 1976
Crime and Passion as Susan Winters · Crime - 1975 Nashville Drama Worldwide box office: $10M
- 1975
The Day of the Locust Drama Worldwide box office: $42 - 1975
Trilogy of Terror as Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia · Horror - 1974
Airport 1975 Action - 1974
Law and Disorder as Gloria · Crime - 1974
Rhinoceros as Daisy · Drama - 1973
The Outfit as Bett Harrow · Drama - 1973
The Pyx as Elizabeth Lucy · Horror - 1973
Little Laura and Big John as Laura · Drama - 1972
Portnoy’s Complaint as Mary Jane Reid a.k.a. Monkey · Comedy - 1971
Born to Win Drama - 1971
Cisco Pike as Sue · Drama - 1971
A Gunfight as Jenny Simms · Western - 1971
Drive, He Said as Olive · Comedy - 1970
Five Easy Pieces Drama Worldwide box office: $127 - 1969
Hard Contract as Ellen · Romance - 1966
You’re a Big Boy Now as Amy Partlett · Comedy - 1960
The Prime Time as Betty · Drama
Karen Black in Documentaries & Specials
9- 2024
My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 73 - 2010
BBStory: An American Film Renaissance as Self · Documentary - 2008
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos as Self · Documentary - 2006
Wanderlust as Herself · Documentary - 2003
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex ’n’ Drugs ’n’ Rock ’n’ Roll Generation Saved Hollywood as Self · History - 2001
Plotting ‘Family Plot’ as Self · Documentary - 1999
Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage as Self · Documentary - 1998
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs as Self · Documentary - 1997
Who Is Henry Jaglom? as Self · Documentary
Karen Black: Awards & Nominations
2 wins from 6 nominations across 2 award bodies, from 1971 to 1976. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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Golden Globes 2 wins from 3 nominations -
Oscars 3 nominations
- 48th Academy Awards
- Karen Black: Nominated Best Actress Hard Times
- Karen Black: Nominated Best Supporting Actress Hard Times
- 33rd Golden Globe Awards
- Karen Black: Nominated Best Actress – Drama The Day of the Locust
- 32nd Golden Globe Awards
- Karen Black: Win Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) The Great Gatsby
- 43rd Academy Awards
- Karen Black: Nominated Best Supporting Actress Five Easy Pieces
- 28th Golden Globe Awards
- Karen Black: Win Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) Five Easy Pieces
Who Is Karen Black?
Karen Black was born in Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S. in 1939. Credited on films since 1960, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Karen Blanche Black, better known as Karen Black, was an American actress, writer, singer, and songwriter active from 1960 until her death in 2013. Rising to prominence in the 1970s for her work in various studio and independent films, she often portrayed eccentric and offbeat characters. She played key roles in films like Francis Ford Coppola's 'You're a Big Boy Now', Dennis Hopper's 'Easy Rider', 'Five Easy Pieces' that picked her a Golden Globe, 'Airport 1975', and 'The Great Gatsby'. This only affirms her versatility and incredible talent. Her accolades include two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Beyond acting, Black also had an impressive music career, performing two songs for Robert Altman's 'Nashville' which earned her a Grammy nomination. Despite her great success in Hollywood, she favored working in independent films. In the 1990s and 2000s, she starred in various arthouse, independent, and horror films, as well as writing her own screenplays. In Rob Zombie's 'House of 1000 Corpses', Black played a villainous mother role, cementing her status as a cult horror icon. She also worked as a playwright and made contributions to the theater world.
Who Karen Black Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Karen Black shares the most films with. Peter Bogdanovich comes first, with 6 films together, followed by Henry Jaglom (6).
Karen Black: Questions & Answers
How many movies Karen Black has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Karen Black been in?
Karen Black is credited on 104 films, from 1960 to 2024. 94 of them as an actor and 1 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Karen Black's highest-grossing movie?
House of 1000 Corpses (2003) is Karen Black's biggest box office hit, with $16.8M worldwide, ahead of Nashville (1975) ($10M). Across every film with box office figures, Karen Black's movies have made $33.1M.
Karen Black's biggest hits What is the best Karen Black movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Karen Black's best-rated film is My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock (2024) with a score of 73.
Best Karen Black movies, ranked Has Karen Black won an Oscar?
Karen Black has been nominated for 3 Oscars but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Karen Black has 2 wins from 6 nominations.
What is Karen Black's newest movie?
The most recent film on Karen Black's filmography is My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock (2024), in the role of Self.
Who does Karen Black work with most often?
Karen Black shares the most films with Peter Bogdanovich (6 films), Henry Jaglom (6 films) and Dennis Hopper (5 films).
The Best Karen Black Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 104 credits.
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