Neil Nephew: How did Ellen Burstyn’s ex-husband die?

Neil Nephew also known as Neil Burstyn, was an American actor, writer, and story editor. He is also the third husband of actress Ellen Burstyn. Neil Nephew’s ex-wife is known for her portrayals of complicated women in dramas. Her enormously skilled and sympathetic performances as strong and complex women who struggle against what seem like insurmountable challenges in such films as “The Last Picture Show” (1971), “The Exorcist” (1973), and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974), earned her an Academy Award in 1975 and numerous other accolades.

Neil Nephew: Bio Summary

Who was Neil Nephew,  Ellen Burstyn’s ex-husband?

Neil Nephew was born on July 17, 1939, in  New York, New York, United States. He was later known as Neil Burstyn. Neil was an actor, writer, and story editor. As an actor, he is famous for his appearance in the apocalyptic cautionary saga film Panic in Year Zero! where he played the role of Andy. Before starring in Panic in Year Zero, in 1961, the young Nephew landed his first film role as part of an ensemble cast in the gangster tale Mad Dog Coll. He starred alongside future stars like Telly Savalas, Vincent Gardenia, Jerry Orbach, and Joy Harmon.

In 1970, he also made an appearance in the film The Rebel Rousers and in the film Alex in Wonderland with his then-wife Ellen Burstyn. Neil took a small role after a small role on episodic television. He also broke into writing and script editing. As a writer and story editor, Nephew worked on two episodes of The Monkees: “The Monkees’ Christmas Show” (Air date: December 25, 1967) and “The Monstrous Monkee Mash” (Air date: January 22, 1968).

Neil Nephew was the third husband of Ellen Burstyn

Before Nephew and Burstyn meet he was married to William Alexander from 1950 to 1957. That same year she divorced Alexander, Burstyn got married to Paul Roberts from 1958 to 1961. He met and married the future Oscar-winning actress Ellen McRae in 1964. Per marshotelonline, his wife’s career advanced as Neil’s declined and he grew angry and bitter.

ALSO, READ; Paul Roberts: What happened to Ellen Burstyn’s ex-husband?

Neil Nephew decided to change his stage name to “Burstyn,” adopting what he claimed was his original family name. Talking about the change of names, Ellen Burstyn explained- “And then my third marriage was to an actor, Neil Bernstein, and I became Ellen McRae Bernstein. But then he later took his grandfather’s name and became Neil Burstyn.”

The Exorcist actress went on to explain- “ And I said, let’s all have the same name, okay? My son [Jefferson Roberts– from her second marriage to Paul Roberts] was one name, mine was another, my husband was another. I said let’s all be Burstyn. That was in 1970 and I’ve stuck with that ever since.“

ALSO, READ; Jefferson Roberts: Who is Ellen Burstyn’s son?

When they were cast for a role in the film Alex in Wonderland, Ellen asked to be billed as “Ellen Burstyn” in the credits. Neil who also took a small role in the film was also billed as Neil Burstyn. The film would be his last screen appearance. Just after the film Ellen divorced Neil, citing erratic and abusive behavior. They ended their marriage in 1972.

Neil Nephew was schizophrenic

In Ellen Burstyn’s 2006 autobiography, she would assert that his ex-husband was schizophrenic. Per marshotelonline, Neil continued to stalk and badger his ex-wife and even broke into her home and raped her after they divorced. However, no charges were filed because “spousal rape” was not classified as a crime at the time.

How did Ellen Burstyn’s ex-husband, Neil Nephew die?

Ellen Burstyn’s ex-husband, Neil Nephew died on November 9, 1978, in Manhattan, New York, United States at the age of 39. Nephew died by suicide. He killed himself by jumping from the window of his ninth-floor Manhattan apartment as his depression and schizophrenia began to reach its climax.