Madeline Kahn
ActingMadeline 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).
Known For
A Bug's Life
Gypsy Moth (voice)
Clue
Mrs. White
Blazing Saddles
Lili Von Shtupp
The Muppet Movie
El Sleezo Patron
Young Frankenstein
Elizabeth
Nixon
Martha Mitchell
Paper Moon
Trixie Delight
An American Tail
Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
The Pixar Story
Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
The Cheap Detective
Mrs. Montenegro
Filmography — Acting
A Bug's Life
Gypsy Moth (voice)
Clue
Mrs. White
Blazing Saddles
Lili Von Shtupp
The Muppet Movie
El Sleezo Patron
Young Frankenstein
Elizabeth
Nixon
Martha Mitchell
Paper Moon
Trixie Delight
An American Tail
Gussie Mausheimer (voice)
The Pixar Story
Gypsy (voice) (archive footage)
The Cheap Detective
Mrs. Montenegro
What's Up, Doc?
Eunice Burns
History of the World: Part I
Empress Nympho
My Little Pony: The Movie
Draggle (voice)
Yellowbeard
Betty
Mixed Nuts
Blanche Munchnik
High Anxiety
Victoria Brisbane
Simon
Dr. Cynthia Mallory
City Heat
Caroline Howley
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
Betsy's Wedding
Lola Hopper
Wholly Moses
The Witch
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Gorgeous Teitelbaum (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Self (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
The World of Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
At Long Last Love
Kitty O'Kelly (Kathy Krumm)
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Self
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Estie Del Ruth
For Richer, for Poorer
Billie
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Self
Harvey
Nurse Ruth Kelly
London Suite
Sharon Semple
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Jenny Hill
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Self
First Family
Mrs. Link
Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World
Self (archive footage)
Slapstick of Another Kind
Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
Judy Berlin
Alice Gold
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Sing Along
Special Appearance
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Pat Nixon (archive footage)
The Dove
Sigfried
Wanted: The Perfect Guy
Ellie Coleman
Happy Birthday, Gemini
Bunny Weinberger
Group Madness
Self / Mrs. Yellowbeard
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
Self
Back in the Saddle
Self (archive footage)
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story
Sabrina
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
Elizabeth (archive footage)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Schoolteacher
Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West
Self (archive footage)
All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds
Self
Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition
Self (archive footage)
Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall
Cora Hoover Hooper
They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton
Esperanza
Screwball Comedies... Remember Them?
Self
The Last Impresario
Self (archive footage)
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
Scrambled Feet
Madeline