Ellen Beatriz Griffin Dunne est née le 28 janvier 1932 en Arizona, États-Unis. Elle était mariée à Dominick Dunne. Elle est morte le 9 janvier 1997 en Arizona, États-Unis.
She and husband Dominick Dunne had 5 children in a marriage which lasted fifteen years: 3 daughters and 2 sons. Two daughters died in infancy, and daughter Dominique Dunne was murdered in 1982, and sons Griffin Dunne and Alex survived to mature adulthood.