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).

Filmography

Cast Credits

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary

Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

MOVIE • 2022

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star

Character: Self

MOVIE • 2020

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

Character: (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2020

Mel Brooks: Unwrapped

Mel Brooks: Unwrapped

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2018

Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West

Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2014

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2013

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days

Character: Self (uncredited) (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2010

Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World

Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2009

Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition

Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2009

The Pixar Story

The Pixar Story

Character: Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2007

Legends

Legends

Character: Elizabeth (archive footage) (uncredited)

TV • 2006

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Character: Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")

MOVIE • 2006

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd

Character: Pat Nixon (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2005

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle

Character: Self (archive footage)

MOVIE • 2001

Little Bill

Little Bill

Character:

TV • 1999

Judy Berlin

Judy Berlin

Character: Alice Gold

MOVIE • 1999

A Bug's Life

A Bug's Life

Character: Gypsy Moth (voice)

MOVIE • 1998

Cosby

Cosby

Character: Pauline Fox

TV • 1996

London Suite

London Suite

Character: Sharon Semple

MOVIE • 1996

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

Character: Self - Guest

TV • 1996