Ellen Barkin

Biography: Ellen Barkin is an actress who won an Emmy and was nominated for two Golden Globes. This versatile actress has been described as many things, from tough, sexy, and captivating, to resilient and being an unconventional beauty.

Ellen Rona Barkin was born on April 16, 1964 in the Bronx, New York City, NY. She grew up in a working-class Jewish family. Her acting debut came in 1980 when Barkin, then 26, had a role in the play “Irish Coffee.” She was in a soap opera, “Search for Tomorrow” before making her film debut in 1982’s “Diner.” Other films, like “Daniel” and “Desert Bloom”, followed. A lead role in the movie “The Big Easy” (1987) ensured her more strong and voracious roles. Alas, her marriage to actor Gabriel Byrne put her career on hold, and this hiatus from leading roles did not help her acting career. During her time with Byrne, Barkin had two children, Jack (born in 1989) and Romey (1992).

Barkin was seen in other movies, but they did not fair so well in the box offair so well in the box office. She was Kristen Dunst’s mom in “Drop Dead Gorgeous” (1999), Ashley Judd’s boss in “Someone Like You” (2001), and a bio tech executive in Spike Lee’s “She Hate Me” (2004).

The actress separated from Byrne in 1993 and divorced him in 1999. She went on to marry Ron Perelman (Revlon chairman and billionaire) in 2000. Their marriage ended bitterly in early 2006. Barkin later had the jewelry she received from her second ex-husband auctioned off, and the money that was made (which tallied in the millions) was used to help the production company Barkin and her brother, George Barkin, had started.… Expand