Matinee Classics - Madeline Kahn Biography & Filmography

Madeline Kahn ACTOR

MADELINE kAHN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Madeline Kahn was born on September 29th, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts with the birth name Madeline Gail Wolfson, born to Bernard Wolfson and Paula Kahn. At the age of two her parents marriage ended in divorce and she relocated to live in New York City.

It was during high school at Martin Van Buren that she first developed an interest in acting and after earning her high school diploma she went on to study at University and also took training as an opera singer. After earning a degree in drama and speech therapy from Hofstra University Kahn began auditioning for acting work and also made a living as a teacher.

Her first job was stage work as a chorus girl in the production, "Kiss Me, Kate" followed by roles in such productions as, "Promises, Promises", "New Faces of 1968", "Candide" and "Promenade".

Other Broadway musical credits she soon added to her resume were on, "Two by Two" and "On the Twentieth Century". Over the course of her career she was nominated in 1974 for a Tony Award for, "Boom Boom Room" and in 1978 she earned another Tony Award nomination for, "On the Twentieth Century". Kahn then won a Tony Award in 1993 for Actress in a Drama on, "The Sisters Rosensweig".

In 1968, along with her stage work she began working in the film industry first appearing on, "De Düva (The Dove)", a short film followed by roles in, "What's Up, Doc?" (1972) and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, "Paper Moon" (1973).

As her career progressed other roles she added to her credits were in, "Blazing Saddles" (1974), "Young Frankenstein" (1974), "High Anxiety" (1977) and "The Cheep Detectives" (1978). For her role in "Blazing Saddles" she earned another Academy Award nomination.

Along with film she appeared on television in such series as, "Oh Madeline" (1983), "Mr. President" (1987-1988), "Wanted: The Perfect Guy" (1987) for which she won a Daytime Emmy award and "Cosby" (1996-1999).

Kahn never neglected her love of working as a stage actress adding to her resume later in her career roles in, "Born Yesterday", "The Sisters Rosensweig" and "Anyone Can Whistle".

In addition to television, stage and film work, Kahn did a number of voice over projects such as for the animated movie, "The Magic 7", "A Bug's Life" and "An American Tale".

Madeline Kahn married only once to John Hansbury in 1999 and they remained together until she passed away at the age of fifty seven on December 3rd, 1999 in New York City, New York after suffering from ovarian cancer.