Madeline Kahn

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Birthday:

29 September 1942, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Birth Name:

Madeline Gail Wolfson

Height:

160 cm

Madeline Kahn was born Madeline Gail Wolfson on September 29, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Freda (Goldberg) and Bernard B. Wolfson, a garment manufacturer. She was of Russian Jewish descent. Madeline began her acting career in high school and went on to university where she trained as an opera singer and starred in several campus productions, ultimately earning a doctorate in her chosen field. Her finest years came in Paper Moon (1973) with Ryan O'Neal, which was followed the next year by Mel Brooks's outrageous Blazing Saddles (1974) as Lili Von Shtupp, a cabaret singer who was obviously based on Marlene Dietrich's performance in Destry Rides Again (1939). She was so delightful in both that Madeline was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in both movies. In 1998, Madeline lent her voice to Gypsy in the wildly popular animated film A Bug's Life (1998). Tragically, on December 3, 1999, Madeline died of ovarian cancer in New York City, a disease from which she suffered for about a year while she was a cast member of Cosby (1996). The accomplished stage and screen actress was only 57 years old. Show less «

Actually, I hold a degree in speech therapy. I was going to get my doctorate but acting got in the way. Pity, I always thought I'd like to d...Show more »

Actually, I hold a degree in speech therapy. I was going to get my doctorate but acting got in the way. Pity, I always thought I'd like to do something dignified. Show less «

Mel Brooks is sensual with me. He treats me like an uncle - a dirty uncle. He's an earthly man and very moral underneath. He has traditional...Show more »

Mel Brooks is sensual with me. He treats me like an uncle - a dirty uncle. He's an earthly man and very moral underneath. He has traditional values. Show less «

It's acceptable for men to act the fool. When women try, they're considered aggressive and opinionated.

[on What's Up, Doc? (1972)] I was petrified of Barbra Streisand when I did "What's Up, Doc?". It was my first movie and every single thing a...Show more »

[on What's Up, Doc? (1972)] I was petrified of Barbra Streisand when I did "What's Up, Doc?". It was my first movie and every single thing about it was new. I was petrified of the palm trees! Show less «

In Hollywood I thought I was large and klutzy, like the characters I played. I never acted kooky, but I did fill a time slot slated for a wo...Show more »

In Hollywood I thought I was large and klutzy, like the characters I played. I never acted kooky, but I did fill a time slot slated for a woman who was expected to display interesting neurotic behavior. Show less «