Madeline Kahn
Known for: Acting
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).
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Great Performances
Self
1971
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Performer / Winner
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self
1967
Series
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Series
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993
Series
Reading Rainbow
Self - Narrator (voice)
1983
Series
ABC Afterschool Special
Ellie Coleman
1972
Film
A Bug's Life
Gypsy Moth (voice)
1998
Series
Road to Avonlea
Pigeon Plumtree
1990
Series
Cosby
Pauline Fox
1996
Series
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star
1976
Series
Legends
Elizabeth (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
Series
My Little Pony
1986
Film
Clue
Mrs. White
1985
Series
Fridays
Self - Guest Host
1980
Series
New York News
Nan Chase
1995
Series
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest
1996
Series
The Comedy Factory
Violet Kingsley
1985
Series
Adam's Rib
Doris
1973
Series
Little Bill
1999
Film
Blazing Saddles
Lili Von Shtupp
1974
Film
Young Frankenstein
Elizabeth
1974
Film
An American Tail
Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
1986
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Nurse Ruth Kelly
1951
Film
Nixon
Martha Mitchell
1995
Series
Lucky Luke
Esperanza
1992
Series
Lucky Luke
Esmeralda
1992
Film
Mixed Nuts
Blanche Munchnik
1994
Film
The Muppet Movie
El Sleezo Patron
1979
Film
Yellowbeard
Betty
1983
Series
Oh Madeline
Madeline Wayne
1983
Series
Mr. President
Lois Gullickson
1987
Film
High Anxiety
Victoria Brisbane
1977
Film
City Heat
Caroline Howley
1984
Film
Paper Moon
Trixie Delight
1973
Film
The Pixar Story
Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
2007
Film
The Cheap Detective
Mrs. Montenegro
1978
Film
What's Up, Doc?
Eunice Burns
1972
Film
History of the World: Part I
Empress Nympho
1981
Film
Harvey
Nurse Ruth Kelly
1972
Film
Group Madness
Self / Mrs. Yellowbeard
1983
Film
Betsy's Wedding
Lola Hopper
1990
Film
My Little Pony: The Movie
Draggle (voice)
1986
Film
First Family
Mrs. Link
1980
Film
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
2006
Film
Happy Birthday, Gemini
Bunny Weinberger
1980
Film
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Jenny Hill
1975
Film
For Richer, for Poorer
Billie
1992
Film
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
2020
Film
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Elizabeth (archive footage)
1996
Film
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Pat Nixon (archive footage)
2005
Film
At Long Last Love
Kitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)
1975
Film
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Estie Del Ruth
1976
Film
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Self (archive footage)
1990
Film
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
2013
Series
Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House
Grace Anderson
1991
Film
Wholly Moses
The Witch
1980
Film
The Last Impresario
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Sesame Street: Sing Along
Special Appearance
1987
Film
Slapstick of Another Kind
Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
1982
Film
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Self
1988
Film
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
2010
Film
The World of Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
1994
Film
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Self
1992
Film
Simon
Dr. Cynthia Mallory
1980
Film
Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World
Self (archive footage)
2009
Film
London Suite
Sharon Semple
1996
Film
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Schoolteacher
1973
Film
Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition
Self (archive footage)
2009
Film
Wanted: The Perfect Guy
Ellie Coleman
1986
Film
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Film
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Self
1985
Film
Judy Berlin
Alice Gold
1999
Film
Back in the Saddle
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988
Film
For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story
Sabrina
1996
Film
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
Self
2020
Film
Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall
Cora Hoover Hooper
1995
Film
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self (archive footage)
2018
All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds
Self
1981
Film
The Dove
Sigfried
1968
Film
They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton
Esperanza
1991
Film
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?
Self
1972
Film
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
1993
Film
Scrambled Feet
Madeline
1982