Madeline Kahn

Born: 1942-09-29

Birthplace: Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA

Biography

Madeline Gail Kahn (née Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian and singer, known for comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including What's Up, Doc? (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974), High Anxiety (1977), History of the World, Part I (1981), and her Academy Award–nominated roles in Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974).

Kahn made her Broadway debut in Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968, and received Tony Award nominations for the play In the Boom Boom Room in 1974 and for the original production of the musical On the Twentieth Century in 1978. She starred as Madeline Wayne on the short-lived sitcom Oh Madeline (1983–84) and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1987 for an ABC Afterschool Special. She received a third Tony Award nomination for the revival of the play Born Yesterday in 1989, before winning the 1993 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the comedy The Sisters Rosensweig. Her other film appearances included The Cheap Detective (1978), City Heat (1984), Clue (1985), and Nixon (1995).

Known For

Clue
A Bug's Life
Blazing Saddles
The Muppet Movie
An American Tail
Young Frankenstein
The Pixar Story
High Anxiety
Paper Moon
The Cheap Detective

Top Movie Credits

Clue Mrs. White
A Bug's Life Gypsy Moth (voice)
Blazing Saddles Lili Von Shtupp
The Muppet Movie El Sleezo Patron
An American Tail Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
The Pixar Story Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
High Anxiety Victoria Brisbane
Paper Moon Trixie Delight
The Cheap Detective Mrs. Montenegro