Madeline Kahn

Biography

Madeline Gail Kahn (née Wolfson) 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

Empress Nympho

History of the World: Part I

Elizabeth

Young Frankenstein

Kitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)

At Long Last Love

Martha Mitchell

Nixon

Gussie Mausheimer (voice)

An American Tail

El Sleezo Patron

The Muppet Movie

Lili Von Shtupp

Blazing Saddles

Trixie Delight

Paper Moon

Blanche Munchnik

Mixed Nuts

Betty

Yellowbeard

Eunice Burns

What's Up, Doc?

Victoria Brisbane

High Anxiety

The Witch

Wholly Moses

Gypsy Moth (voice)

A Bug's Life

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary

Alice Gold

Judy Berlin

Self (archive footage)

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

Jenny Hill

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

Mrs. Montenegro

The Cheap Detective

Estie Del Ruth

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Mrs. White

Clue

Self (archive footage)

Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World

Self (archive footage)

Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition

Caroline Howley

City Heat

Self (archive footage)

Back in the Saddle

Lola Hopper

Betsy's Wedding

Self

Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff

Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain

Slapstick of Another Kind

Sharon Semple

Neil Simon's London Suite

Esperanza

They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton

Billie

For Richer, for Poorer

Mrs. Link

First Family

Schoolteacher

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Self (uncredited) (archive footage)

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days

Sigfried

De Düva

Self

Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?

Ellie Coleman

Wanted: The Perfect Guy

Self

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)

The Pixar Story

Sabrina

For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story

Draggle (voice)

My Little Pony: The Movie

Special Appearance

Sesame Street: Sing Along

Self

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

Dr. Cynthia Mallory

Simon

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book

Nurse Ruth Kelly

Harvey

Pat Nixon (archive footage)

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd

Bunny Weinberger

Happy Birthday, Gemini

Self (archive footage)

Mel Brooks: Unwrapped

Self / Mrs. Yellowbeard

Group Madness

Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Self

Sesame Street | Put Down the Duckie: An All-Star Musical Special

Self (archive footage)

The World of Jim Henson

Elizabeth (archive footage)

Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein

Self

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star

Self

All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds

Madeline

Scrambled Feet

Self

Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!

Self (archive footage)

Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West

(archive footage)

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

60

Gender

Female

Birthday

1942-09-29

Place of Birth

Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA

Also Known As

Madeleine Kahn