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Madeline Kahn

Actor

Madeline Kahn

Born September 29, 1942 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USADied December 3, 199938 films

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).

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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).

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The best way into Madeline Kahn's work
Young Frankenstein posterFirst watchYoung Frankenstein19747.9as ElizabethA young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
A Bug's Life poster7.0A Bug's Life1998Blazing Saddles poster7.2Blazing Saddles1974Clue poster7.2Clue1985Paper Moon poster7.9Paper Moon1973An American Tail poster6.8An American Tail1986The Muppet Movie poster7.2The Muppet Movie1979History of the World: Part I poster6.7History of the World: Part I1981What's Up, Doc? poster7.4What's Up, Doc?1972

Filmography

38 films as actor
  1. 1999Judy BerlinAlice Gold
  2. 1998A Bug's LifeGypsy Moth (voice)
  3. 1996London SuiteSharon Semple
  4. 1996For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump StorySabrina
  5. 1995NixonMartha Mitchell
  6. 1995Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie HallCora Hoover Hooper
  7. 1994Mixed NutsBlanche Munchnik
  8. 1993Dr. Seuss's Sleep BookNarrator (voice)
  9. 1992For Richer, for PoorerBillie
  10. 1991They call me Lucky Luke - Ma DaltonEsperanza
  11. 1990Betsy's WeddingLola Hopper
  12. 1987Sesame Street: Sing AlongSpecial Appearance
  13. 1986An American TailGussie Mausheimer (voice)
  14. 1986Wanted: The Perfect GuyEllie Coleman
  15. 1986My Little Pony: The MovieDraggle (voice)
  16. 1985ClueMrs. White
  17. 1984City HeatCaroline Howley
  18. 1983YellowbeardBetty
  19. 1982Slapstick of Another KindEliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
  20. 1982Scrambled FeetMadeline
  21. 1981History of the World: Part IEmpress Nympho
  22. 1980First FamilyMrs. Link
  23. 1980Wholly MosesThe Witch
  24. 1980Happy Birthday, GeminiBunny Weinberger
  25. 1980SimonDr. Cynthia Mallory
  26. 1979The Muppet MovieEl Sleezo Patron
  27. 1978The Cheap DetectiveMrs. Montenegro
  28. 1977High AnxietyVictoria Brisbane
  29. 1976Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved HollywoodEstie Del Ruth
  30. 1975The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter BrotherJenny Hill
  31. 1975At Long Last LoveKitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)
  32. 1974Young FrankensteinElizabeth
  33. 1974Blazing SaddlesLili Von Shtupp
  34. 1973From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. FrankweilerSchoolteacher
  35. 1973Paper MoonTrixie Delight
  36. 1972HarveyNurse Ruth Kelly
  37. 1972What's Up, Doc?Eunice Burns
  38. 1968The DoveSigfried