Ellen Barkin

Ellen Barkin poses backstage at Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" show on Nov. 21, 2011, in New York.

The Bronx native was born on April 16, 1954. After graduating from Hunter College in New York, Barkin attended The Actors Studio in New York.

Barkin's first major film role was as Beth Schreiber, wife of Laurence "Shrevie" Schreiber (Daniel Stern), who was VERY particular about how his record recollection is sorted, in Barry Levinson's "Diner" (1982).

Barkin played Penny Priddy, girlfriend of Peter Weller's rock musician-surgeon-physicist-crimefighter Buckaroo Banzai, in the sci-fi cult favorite, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension" (1984). Fans are STILL waiting for the sequel.

Ellen Barkin in "Buckaroo Banzai."

In "Desert Bloom" (1986), Barkin played the aunt of Annabeth Gish in a coming-of-age tale set in Nevada during an age of nuclear weapons testing. Also starring with JoBeth Williams abd Jon Voight.

JoBeth Williams, Jon Voight and Ellen Barkin in "Desert Bloom."

Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino in the thriller "Sea of Love" (1989), in which Pacino plays a New York City homicide detective almost convinced that Barkin is a serial killer.

Barkin told CBS News' Erin Moriarty she only got the part because every actress in Hollywood had turned it down: "Because she didn't come into the movie until, you know, page 50 or something. So they were desperate!"

Warner Brothers

In "This Boy's Life" (1993), Ellen Barkin played a mother fleeing an abusive boyfriend with son Leonardo DiCaprio in tow.

Robert De Niro, Leonardo diCaprio and Ellen Barkin in "This Boy's Life."

Ellen Barkin poses with her Emmy at the 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 13, 1998. Barkin won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her role as Glory Marie in "Before Women Had Wings."

Ellen Barkin and Gabriel Byrne pose at the Irish Arts Center's Annual Gala at the New York Athletic Club on Central Park in New York on Oct. 4, 2002. Barkin and Byrne were married from 1988-1999. They have two children together.

Ellen Barkin and billionaire Ronald O. Perelman attend the 10th Annual Fire & Ice Ball on Dec. 11, 2000, in Los Angeles. Barkin and Perleman were married from 2000-2006.

Ellen Barkin and Julianne Moore attend the "Sheryl Crow and Friends" presented to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The National Breast Cancer Coalition at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on March 6, 2002.

Ellen Barkin and arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala on April 28, 2003, in New York.

Ellen Barkin attends the "Palindromes" premiere at the 61st Venice Film Festival on Sept. 7, 2004, in Venice, Italy.

Ellen Barkin and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Todd Solondz's "Palindromes" (2004).

Ellen Barkin stands onstage to receive a Doctorate Of Fine Arts from Hunter College during their commencement ceremony on June 8, 2005, in New York.

Ellen Barkin and actress Joy Bryant attend the 21st Annual American Cinematheque Award honoring George Clooney on Oct. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles.

Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Ellen Barkin attend the opening night party for the new Serge Normant Salon on May 15, 2007, in New York.

Actress Ellen Barkin and actor Chevy Chase attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund on Oct. 16, 2000 at the Pierre Hotel in New York.

Barkin and Al Pacino were reunited in the heist film "Oceans Thirteen" (2007). Barkin played the assistant of casino owner Pacino, targeting by the "Oceans" crew.

Ellen Barkin in "Oceans 13".

Ellen Barkin and waitress Kris Kane in "Oceans Thirteen."

"The Chameleon" (2010), based on a true story, tells of a young man impersonating the long-missing son of a woman (Barkin) struggling with drug addiction.

From left, actors George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ellen Barkin and producer Jerry Weintraub attend the premiere for the film "Ocean's Thirteen" at the Palais des Festivals during the 60th International Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2007, in Cannes, France.

Ellen Barkin attends the "A Steady Rain" Broadway opening night at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Sept. 29, 2009, in New York.

Ellen Barkin attends the "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2010, in Cannes, France.

Ellen Barkin attends the New York Premiere of "Black Swan" at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov. 30, 2010, in New York.

Mark Von Holden/Getty Images for The New Yorker

Ellen Barkin speaks at the 2011 New Yorker Festival: In Conversation With Ellen Barkin at SVA Theatre 2 on Oct. 1, 2011, in New York.

Barkin has starred in "The Big Easy" (1986), "Sea of Love" (1989), "This Boy's Life" (1993), "Wild Bill" (1995), "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1989) and other movies.

Ellen Barkin poses at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 2011 Governors Awards, Nov. 12, 2011, in Los Angeles.

The film/TV/theater actress landed her first lead film role in 1982, starring opposite Mickey Rourke in "Diner."

In Cam Archer's expressionistic indie film "S--- Year" (2011), Barkin plays an actress who has given up acting and limelight and is looking towards the next stage of her life - whatever that may be.

Ellen Barkin speaks on stage during the 65th Annual Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on June 12, 2011, in New York.

Among her more recent film roles are "Someone Like You" (2001), "Oceans Thirteen" (2007) and "Brooklyn's Finest" (2010).