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Ellen Greene as Vivian in "Pushing Daisies"
Ellen Greene as Vivian in "Pushing Daisies" - © ABC
Ellen Greene stars as Vivian on ABC's "Pushing Daisies."

For over 30 years, Ellen Greene has been a highly regarded and critically acclaimed actress, singer and performer in theater, motion pictures and television. Ellen Greene first made a name for herself as a nightclub chanteuse in such Manhattan clubs as The Brothers & Sisters, Grand Finale and Reno Sweeney.

While performing one night to standing ovations at Reno Sweeney, Ellen Greene received a telegram on stage from Peter Allen which read: "I hear you're making my cheap music sound good." This marked the beginning of a long and true friendship with Allen. Reno Sweeney bloomed as a New York nightspot, along with Ellen Greene's career.

This brought Ellen Greene to her first starring role in Robert Stigwood's "Rachel Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It!") at the age of 21, meshing her acting career with her singing. During her engagement at Reno's, Ellen Greene was cast in the starring role of Chrissy in David Rabe's "In the Boom Boom Room." Joe Papp awarded Ellen Greene the role and took her under his wing. Under his tutelage at The New York Shakespeare Festival, Ellen Greene's acting career took off. The brilliant reviews Ellen Greene received for her role as Chrissy led director Paul Mazursky to cast her opposite Lenny Baker and Shelley Winters in "Next Stop, Greenwich Village," her first feature film.

That led to the Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Threepenny Opera," where Ellen Greene starred opposite Raul Julia at the Vivian Beaumont in Lincoln Center. Ellen Greene was compared to Martha Graham and received a Tony nomination for her soulful rendition of "Pirate Jenny" in the role originated by Lotte Lenya.

Another theater with which Ellen Greene had a close relationship was the WPA. There Ellen Greene met Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, leading to a long-lasting friendship. Ellen Greene appeared in Menken's "Weird Romance," Anne Commire's "Starting Monday," and scored a great hit when she originated the lovelorn Audrey in the musical comedy "Little Shop of Horrors." Ellen Greene received critical acclaim for the stage productions in New York, Los Angeles and London, and starred in the film version of the production, which has gone on to become a cult classic.

Other film credits for Ellen Greene include "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can," "Talk Radio," "Me and Him," "Pump Up the Volume," "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult," "Rock-a-Doodle," "Stepping Out," "Wagons East," "The Professional," "Killer: A Journal of Murder," "One Fine Day," "Jaded," "Alex in Wonder" (aka "Sex and a Girl") and "The Cooler." Ellen Greene will also be seen in the upcoming film, "Privileged."

Television credits for Ellen Greene include the miniseries "Seventh Avenue," "Rock Follies," "Miami Vice," "Cybill," "Suddenly Susan," "The X-Files," "Crossing Jordan" and "Heroes." Ellen Greene received an ACE Award nomination for her role as Sister Ruth, a rock singer-turned-evangelist, in the HBO miniseries "Glory! Glory!" Ellen Greene also starred as Kitty Packard in the remake of "Dinner at Eight," and in the Hallmark production, "Fielder's Choice" and "Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder."

When she can, Ellen Greene returns to her first love, cabaret. In her current show, "Torch," Ellen Greene brings her experience and artistic integrity to a diverse selection of music, ranging from jazz standards to contemporary pop songs. Playbill.com called Ellen Greene "One of the most entrancing cabaret performers … witnessed in a long time ... her emotional nakedness and fragility comes across in most every number," and designated her Winner of the Ten Best Performances of 2003 and 2004. Ellen Greene's album "In His Eyes," won rave reviews and was voted Vocal Recording of the Year of 2004 by Playbill Magazine.






ELLEN GREENE: FACTS

How old is Ellen Greene? Where was Ellen Greene born? Find out here.

Age: 58 years old
Birthday: February 22, 1951
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY

Husbands:
Christian Klikovits
Tibor Hardik
 
 
 
 
ELLEN GREENE: TWEETS

@jeffcthomefan Oh cool beans :D Have you heard the cover that Kristin Cheno and Ellen Greene did for Pushing Daisies? It's tres bien!
1 day ago
Ellen Greene Day #characteractorrockbands
1 day ago
Listening to Kristin Chenoweth & Ellen Greene's version of Birdhouse In Your Soul. Like partyrings: bad for me, unsatisfying & addictive #fb
5 days ago