Madeline Kahn

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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Saturday Night Live

Golden Globe Awards

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

Great Performances

The Dick Cavett Show

All Movies (62)

• Who Done It: The Clue Documentary2022 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star2020 · as Self
• The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault2020 · as (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Unwrapped2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Last Impresario2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Make a Noise2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days2010 · as Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
• Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Pixar Story2007 · as Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
• The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays2006 · as Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
• Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd2005 · as Pat Nixon (archive footage)
• Back in the Saddle2001 · as Self (archive footage)
• Judy Berlin1999 · as Alice Gold
• A Bug's Life1998 · as Gypsy Moth (voice)
• London Suite1996 · as Sharon Semple
• For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story1996 · as Sabrina
• Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein1996 · as Elizabeth (archive footage)
• Nixon1995 · as Martha Mitchell
• Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall1995 · as Cora Hoover Hooper
• Mixed Nuts1994 · as Blanche Munchnik
• The World of Jim Henson1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book1993
• Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall1992 · as Self
• For Richer, for Poorer1992 · as Billie
• They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton1991 · as Esperanza
• Betsy's Wedding1990 · as Lola Hopper
• Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!1990 · as Self (archive footage)
• Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie1988 · as Self
• Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration1988 · as Self
• Sesame Street: Sing Along1987 · as Special Appearance
• An American Tail1986 · as Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
• Wanted: The Perfect Guy1986 · as Ellie Coleman
• My Little Pony: The Movie1986 · as Draggle (voice)
• Clue1985 · as Mrs. White
• Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff1985 · as Self
• City Heat1984 · as Caroline Howley
• Yellowbeard1983 · as Betty
• Group Madness1983 · as Self / Mrs. Yellowbeard
• Slapstick of Another Kind1982 · as Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
• Scrambled Feet1982 · as Madeline
• All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds1981 · as Self
• History of the World: Part I1981 · as Empress Nympho
• First Family1980 · as Mrs. Link
• Wholly Moses1980 · as The Witch
• Happy Birthday, Gemini1980 · as Bunny Weinberger
• Simon1980 · as Dr. Cynthia Mallory
• The Muppet Movie1979 · as El Sleezo Patron
• The Cheap Detective1978 · as Mrs. Montenegro
• High Anxiety1977 · as Victoria Brisbane
• Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976 · as Estie Del Ruth
• The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother1975 · as Jenny Hill
• At Long Last Love1975 · as Kitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)
• Young Frankenstein1974 · as Elizabeth
• Blazing Saddles1974 · as Lili Von Shtupp
• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler1973 · as Schoolteacher
• Paper Moon1973 · as Trixie Delight
• Harvey1972 · as Nurse Ruth Kelly
• What's Up, Doc?1972 · as Eunice Burns
• Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?1972 · as Self
• The Dove1968 · as Sigfried

All TV Shows (29)

• Legends2006 · as Elizabeth (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Little Bill1999
• Cosby1996 · as Pauline Fox
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
• New York News1995 · as Nan Chase
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self
• Lucky Luke1992 · as Esperanza
• Lucky Luke1992 · as Esmeralda
• Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House1991 · as Grace Anderson
• Road to Avonlea1990 · as Pigeon Plumtree
• Mr. President1987 · as Lois Gullickson
• My Little Pony1986
• The Comedy Factory1985 · as Violet Kingsley
• Oh Madeline1983 · as Madeline Wayne
• Reading Rainbow1983 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Fridays1980 · as Self - Guest Host
• The Muppet Show1976 · as Self - Special Guest Star
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host
• Adam's Rib1973 · as Doris
• ABC Afterschool Special1972 · as Ellie Coleman
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer / Winner
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Nurse Ruth Kelly
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee