Karen Black
Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. Karen rose to fame in the 1970s with her knack for playing quirky, eccentric characters, earning her a spot in the New Hollywood movement. Her illustrious career spanned over half a century and included nearly 200 roles in both blockbuster and indie films. She snagged two Golden Globes and even got a nod from the Academy for Best Supporting Actress. Talk about an overachiever!
A suburban Chicago girl, Karen cut her teeth in theater at Northwestern University before dropping out to chase dreams in the Big Apple. By 1965, she was gracing Broadway and soon after made her film debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s “You’re a Big Boy Now” (1966). Then came California and a role as an LSD-tripping prostitute in Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider” (1969). But it was her role as a hopeless waitress in “Five Easy Pieces” (1970) that got her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win. From disaster flicks like “Airport 1975” to playing Myrtle Wilson in “The Great Gatsby” (1974)—which won her another Golden Globe—Karen showed she could do it all.
Early Life
Born on July 1, 1939, in Park Ridge, Illinois, Karen was the third child of Elsie Mary (a children’s book author) and Norman Arthur Ziegler (an engineer and businessman). With a classical musician paternal grandfather and German, Czech, and Norwegian roots, talents clearly ran deep in her family. Growing up at 224 N. Greenwood Ave. and spending summers on her uncle’s farm near Green Bay, Wisconsin, young Karen dreamed big. By 13, she was already hustling for summer stock theater jobs, doing everything from cleaning toilets to landing minor acting gigs by 17.
After stints at Maine East High School, Jefferson High School, and Purdue University, Karen transferred to Northwestern University to major in theatre arts. Studying under Alvina Krause, she stuck it out for two years before calling it quits. Reflecting on her training, Karen had some choice words: “College training was very lousy, and I don’t think people learn by being invalidated.” Harsh but honest!
Career
1960–1970: Stage and Film Beginnings
In 1960, Karen set out for New York City, taking up residence in a cold-water flat and a series of odd jobs to make ends meet. She found early gigs with the Rockefeller Players and briefly attended the Actors Studio before concluding that non-actors can’t teach acting. She made her screen debut with a minor role in “The Prime Time” (1960), a film she later dubbed “the worst ever made.” Disillusioned, she returned to theater, landing a role in the Broadway production “Take Her, She’s Mine” in December 1961.
Her breakout came in 1965 with “The Playroom,” earning her a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award nomination. Fast forward to 1966, Karen’s role in Francis Ford Coppola’s “You’re a Big Boy Now” earned her critical acclaim and prompted a move to Los Angeles. TV roles soon followed in The F.B.I., Run for Your Life, Mannix, and Adam-12.
Karen’s career skyrocketed in the late ’60s with her role in the counterculture flick “Easy Rider,” playing an acid-tripping prostitute opposite Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. This paved the way for her standout role in “Five Easy Pieces,” earning her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win.
1971–1979: Hollywood Breakthrough and Heyday
Karen churned out hit after hit in the ’70s. From “Born to Win” (1971) and “Drive, He Said” to “A Gunfight” and “Cisco Pike,” she was versatile. Whether playing a foul-mouthed fashion model in “Portnoy’s Complaint” or a doomed prostitute in “The Pyx” (1973), she captivated audiences. Her role as a stewardess in “Airport 1975” (1974) marked her first major commercial success, while “The Great Gatsby” performance garnered her a second Golden Globe.
In 1975, Karen starred in “Trilogy of Terror,” taking on multiple roles and earning critical acclaim. That same year, her performance in “The Day of the Locust” earned her yet another Golden Globe nomination. While the production wasn’t exactly her favorite experience, she shined as a glamorous country singer in Robert Altman’s ensemble film “Nashville.”
Karen continued to wow audiences, playing a femme fatale jewel thief in Alfred Hitchcock’s final film “Family Plot” (1976) and starring opposite Oliver Reed and Bette Davis in “Burnt Offerings.” She rounded out the decade with notable TV appearances and films like “Capricorn One” (1978).
1980–1985: Career Comedown
The ’80s saw Karen in a variety of television and film roles, though not quite the headliners of the past. From “Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop” (1980) to “Killing Heat” (1981), she explored intriguing new characters. A highlight was starring in the Robert Altman-directed “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” (1982) on Broadway, later reprising her role in the film adaptation.
Black had her share of quirky roles too, like a divorcee in “Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?” (1983) and a guest-starring gig on E/R between 1984 and 1985. From exploitation horror in “Cut and Run” to action films like “Savage Dawn,” she kept audiences guessing.
1986–2002: Independent Films and Horror Roles
Black thrived in the world of horror and indie films. She starred with her son in Tobe Hooper’s “Invaders from Mars” (1986) and played a mutant’s mother in “It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive” (1987). The ’90s saw her embracing horror with films like “Mirror, Mirror” (1990), “Evil Spirits” (1990), and “Children of the Night” (1991). She also had roles in quirky projects like “Rubin and Ed” (1991) and a cameo in Robert Altman’s “The Player” (1992).
Moving into the new millennium, Karen’s work leaned toward independent and genre films. She took on a memorable role in Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” (2003), solidifying her status as a horror icon.
2003–2013: Establishment as Cult Figure
Karen continued to enjoy a cult following. She earned accolades, including a Best Actress Award at the Fantasporto International Film Festival for her roles in “Firecracker” (2005). Her play “Missouri Waltz” debuted in 2007, where she starred and received praise. She even took on live narrations for Guy Maddin’s “Brand Upon the Brain!”
From indie hits like “Some Guy Who Kills People” (2010) to appearing in a music video for Death Grips, Karen kept things fresh. She performed vocals on Cass McCombs’ “Dreams-Come-True-Girl” and made a lasting impression wherever she went.
Image and Acting Style
Karen was known for her slightly cross-eyed appearance and unglamorous roles. She found her training at Northwestern and the Actors Studio oppressive but saw acting as a form of imaginative play. “Thinking isn’t good for acting,” she once quipped. Critics saw her as an off-center icon, a fitting description for someone who graced both mainstream and independent films with equal vigor.
Beliefs
A practicing Scientologist from 1964 till her death, Karen was a fierce advocate for gay rights and animal rights. “Who you are is very sacred,” she once said, “and should be honored.”
Personal Life
Karen’s personal life was as vibrant as her career. Four marriages, a couple of engagements, and numerous relationships pepper her history. She had two children, one of whom she reconnected with in 2012 after putting up for adoption at birth. Her last marriage to Stephen Eckelberry in 1987 lasted until her death, and their adopted daughter acted alongside her in films.
Illness and Death
Diagnosed with ampullary cancer in 2010, Karen underwent multiple surgeries. Despite her illness, she continued to work, embodying the spirit of perseverance she showcased throughout her career. Karen passed away on August 8, 2013, at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.
Juliette Lewis called her a mentor and second mother, while Peter Fonda praised her versatility. Karen Black was an actress whose legacy in overcoming typecasting and embracing diverse roles resonates with fans and fellow actors alike.
