Madeline Kahn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madeline Kahn
Kahn in 1983
Born	Madeline Gail Wolfson (1942-09-29)September 29, 1942 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	December 3, 1999(1999-12-03) (aged 57) New York City, U.S.
Education	Hofstra University
Occupation	Actress comedian singer
Years active	1964–1999
Spouse(s)	John Hansbury ​ (m. 1999)​

Madeline Gail Kahn (born Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was a talented American actress, comedian, and singer. She was famous for her funny roles in movies directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks. Some of her well-known films include What's Up, Doc? (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974), and Blazing Saddles (1974). She was even nominated for an Academy Award for her roles in Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles.

Madeline Kahn first appeared on Broadway in 1968. She was nominated for a Tony Award several times for her work in plays and musicals. In 1993, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for The Sisters Rosensweig. She also starred in the TV show Oh Madeline (1983–84) and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1987. Her other movies include Clue (1985) and Nixon (1995).

Early Life and School

Madeline Kahn in her 1964 Hofstra University yearbook.

Madeline Kahn was born in Boston. Her parents, Bernard B. Wolfson and Freda Goldberg, separated when Madeline was two years old. She then moved to New York City with her mother. In 1953, her mother married Hiller Kahn, who later adopted Madeline. Madeline also had two half-siblings.

In 1948, Madeline went to a boarding school in Pennsylvania. There, she started acting in school plays. In 1960, she finished high school in Queens, New York. She then earned a scholarship to Hofstra University on Long Island. At Hofstra, she studied drama, music, and speech therapy. She graduated in 1964 with a degree in speech therapy. Later, she also studied singing in New York City.

Her Amazing Career

While in college, Madeline worked as a singing waitress at a German restaurant. She would sing musical comedy songs during the shows.

Starting Out in the 1960s

After graduating from Hofstra, Madeline began trying out for acting roles. She also briefly taught at a public school. She chose the professional name Madeline Kahn, using her stepfather's last name. Her first stage role was as a chorus girl in a play called Kiss Me, Kate.

In 1968, Madeline had her first main role in a special concert. This was for the operetta Candide. Later that year, she made her official Broadway debut in Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968. She also performed in an Off-Broadway musical called Promenade.

Becoming a Star in the 1970s and 1980s

Madeline appeared in two Broadway musicals in the 1970s. She had a role in Two by Two in 1970. In 1978, she played the main character, Lily Garland, in On the Twentieth Century. She left this show early in its run.

Madeline's first movie role was in a short film in 1968. Her first big movie was What's Up, Doc? (1972). In this comedy, she played a funny, nervous fiancée. Her film career continued with Paper Moon (1973). For this movie, she was nominated for an Academy Award.

In 1974, Madeline was cast in the movie Mame. However, she left the movie. She then joined the cast of Blazing Saddles.

She worked with director Mel Brooks on several comedies. These included Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), and High Anxiety (1977). Mel Brooks helped bring out her best comedic skills. Their last movie together was History of the World, Part I in 1981. For Blazing Saddles, she was nominated for another Academy Award. Her performance in Blazing Saddles is considered one of the greatest comedic performances ever.

In 1975, Madeline worked with Peter Bogdanovich again in the musical At Long Last Love. She also teamed up with Gene Wilder in his comedy The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. In 1978, she played Mrs. Montenegro in the comedy The Cheap Detective. This movie made fun of famous detective films. She also had a small role in The Muppet Movie in 1979.

Madeline's roles were mostly funny, but she also performed in some plays that mixed comedy with serious parts.

After her success with Mel Brooks, Madeline appeared in many films in the 1980s. She played Mrs. White in Clue (1985). She was also the First Lady in First Family (1980). She voiced characters in animated films like My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) and An American Tail.

In 1983, Madeline starred in her own TV show called Oh Madeline. It lasted for one season. In 1987, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for her role in an ABC Afterschool Special. She returned to Broadway in 1989 in the play Born Yesterday. She was nominated for a Tony Award for this role.

Later Years and TV in the 1990s

In 1990, Madeline played a mother in the movie Betsy's Wedding. She also voiced a character in an animated movie that was not released. In 1994, she was in the holiday comedy Mixed Nuts. She also appeared in the movie Nixon (1995) as Martha Mitchell.

Later in her career, Madeline played Dr. Gorgeous in the 1993 Broadway play The Sisters Rosensweig. For this role, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Her most famous role at this time was on the TV show Cosby (1996–1999). She played Pauline, an interesting friend. She also voiced Gypsy the moth in the animated movie A Bug's Life (1998).

Madeline received good reviews for her last film, Judy Berlin (1999). Before she passed away, she also worked on the first two episodes of the children's show Little Bill. She voiced Mrs. Shapiro. The second episode was dedicated to her memory.

Her Final Years

Madeline Kahn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998. She received treatment and continued to work on the TV show Cosby. In the summer of 1999, she married John Hansbury. However, the cancer spread quickly, and she passed away on December 3, 1999, at age 57.

She was cremated a few days later. A bench was placed in Central Park in her memory by her husband and brother. The bench is near the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in New York City.

Movies She Was In

TV Shows She Was In

Plays She Performed In

Awards She Won

• Year given is year of ceremony

See also

In Spanish: Madeline Kahn para niños