Madeline Kahn
Acting • Born 1942-09-29 – Died 1999-12-03
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
87 credits
History of the World: Part I
Movie • 1981
Empress Nympho
Young Frankenstein
Movie • 1974
Elizabeth
At Long Last Love
Movie • 1975
Kitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)
Nixon
Movie • 1995
Martha Mitchell
An American Tail
Movie • 1986
Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
The Muppet Movie
Movie • 1979
El Sleezo Patron
Blazing Saddles
Movie • 1974
Lili Von Shtupp
Paper Moon
Movie • 1973
Trixie Delight
Mixed Nuts
Movie • 1994
Blanche Munchnik
Yellowbeard
Movie • 1983
Betty
What's Up, Doc?
Movie • 1972
Eunice Burns
High Anxiety
Movie • 1977
Victoria Brisbane
Wholly Moses
Movie • 1980
The Witch
A Bug's Life
Movie • 1998
Gypsy Moth (voice)
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Judy Berlin
Movie • 1999
Alice Gold
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Movie • 1975
Jenny Hill
The Cheap Detective
Movie • 1978
Mrs. Montenegro
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Estie Del Ruth
Clue
Movie • 1985
Mrs. White
Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
City Heat
Movie • 1984
Caroline Howley
Back in the Saddle
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
Betsy's Wedding
Movie • 1990
Lola Hopper
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Movie • 1985
Self
Slapstick of Another Kind
Movie • 1982
Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
London Suite
Movie • 1996
Sharon Semple
They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton
Movie • 1991
Esperanza
For Richer, for Poorer
Movie • 1992
Billie
First Family
Movie • 1980
Mrs. Link
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Movie • 1973
Schoolteacher
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Movie • 2010
Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
The Dove
Movie • 1968
Sigfried
Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?
Movie • 1972
Self
Wanted: The Perfect Guy
Movie • 1986
Ellie Coleman
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Movie • 1992
Self
The Pixar Story
Movie • 2007
Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story
Movie • 1996
Sabrina
My Little Pony: The Movie
Movie • 1986
Draggle (voice)
Sesame Street: Sing Along
Movie • 1987
Special Appearance
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Movie • 1988
Self
Simon
Movie • 1980
Dr. Cynthia Mallory
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
Movie • 1993
Harvey
Movie • 1972
Nurse Ruth Kelly
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Movie • 2005
Pat Nixon (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Gemini
Movie • 1980
Bunny Weinberger
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
Group Madness
Movie • 1983
Self / Mrs. Yellowbeard
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Movie • 2006
Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Movie • 1988
Self
The World of Jim Henson
Movie • 1994
Self (archive footage)
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Movie • 1996
Elizabeth (archive footage)
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
Movie • 2020
Self
All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds
Movie • 1981
Self
Scrambled Feet
Movie • 1982
Madeline
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Movie • 1990
Self (archive footage)
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
Movie • 2020
(archive footage)
Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall
Movie • 1995
Cora Hoover Hooper
My Little Pony
TV • 1986
The Muppet Show
TV • 1976
Self - Special Guest Star
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Nurse Ruth Kelly
Little Bill
TV • 1999
Cosby
TV • 1996
Pauline Fox
Road to Avonlea
TV • 1990
Pigeon Plumtree
Fridays
TV • 1980
Self - Guest Host
Adam's Rib
TV • 1973
Doris
New York News
TV • 1995
Nan Chase
Mr. President
TV • 1987
Lois Gullickson
Lucky Luke
TV • 1992
Esperanza
Lucky Luke
TV • 1992
Esmeralda
Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House
TV • 1991
Grace Anderson
ABC Afterschool Special
TV • 1972
Ellie Coleman
Oh Madeline
TV • 1983
Madeline Wayne
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Intimate Portrait
TV • 1993
Self
Reading Rainbow
TV • 1983
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV • 1996
Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1967
Self
Legends
TV • 2006
Elizabeth (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Dick Cavett Show
TV • 1968
Self - Guest
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Self
The Comedy Factory
TV • 1985
Violet Kingsley
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Nominee