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
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
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 (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Self (archive footage)
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
(archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
Cora Hoover Hooper
Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
61
Gender
Female
Birthday
1942-09-29
Place of Birth
Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA
Also Known As
Madeleine Kahn