Biography for
Madeline Kahn More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 September 1942, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Date of Death

3 December 1999, New York City, New York, USA (ovarian cancer)

Birth Name

Madeline Gail Wolfson

Height

5' 3" (1.60 m)

Mini Biography

Madeline Kahn was born on September 29, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. She began her acting career in high school and went on to university where she trained as an opera singer and starred in several campus productions, ultimately earning a doctorate in her chosen field. Her finest years came in Paper Moon (1973) with Ryan O'Neal, which was followed the next year by Mel Brooks's outrageous Blazing Saddles (1974) as Lili Von Shtupp, a cabaret singer who was obviously based on Marlene Dietrich's performance in Destry Rides Again (1939). She was so delightful in both that Madeline was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in both movies. In 1998, Madeline lent her voice to Gypsy in the wildly popular animated film A Bug's Life (1998). Tragically, on December 3, 1999, Madeline died of ovarian cancer in New York, a disease from which she suffered for about a year while she was a cast member of "Cosby" (1996). The accomplished stage and screen actress was just 57.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson

Spouse

John Hansbury

(10 October 1999 - 3 December 1999) (her death)

Trade Mark

Often appeared in 'Mel Brooks'' films

Trivia

Graduate of Martin Van Buren High School (1960), Queens Village, Queens, New York.

Daughter of Paula Kahn.

Sister of Jeffrey Kahn.

Aunt of Eliza Kahn.

Father's name is Bernard Wolfson.

Has a half sister named Robyn.

Graduated from Hofstra University on a drama scholarship.

Operatically trained singer.

Her performance as Lili von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles (1974) is ranked #74 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

According to 'Mel Brooks (I)', she was--contrary to her screen image--quite shy and reserved in real life.

Nominated for the 1974 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Drama for "Boom Boom Room".

Nominated for the 1978 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Musical for "On the Twentieth Century".

Nominated for the 1989 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Play/Comedy for "Born Yesterday".

Won the 1993 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Drama for "The Sisters Rosensweig".

Madeline Kahn died 10 years after her former SNL co-star Gilda Radner from the same disease (ovarian cancer).

Personal Quotes

Actually, I hold a degree in speech therapy. I was going to get my doctorate but acting got in the way. Pity, I always thought I'd like to do something dignified.

Mel Brooks is sensual with me. He treats me like an uncle. A dirty uncle.

It's acceptable for men to act the fool. When women try, they're considered aggressive and opinionated.

[on What's Up, Doc? (1972)] I was petrified of [Barbra Streisand] when I did "What's Up, Doc?". It was my first movie and every single thing about it was new. I was petrified of the palm trees!