Madeline Kahn

Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 29, 1942, Madeline Kahn was an American actress whose career spanned 59 credits before her passing on December 3, 1999. Movie fans know her from a string of 1970s films: What’s Up, Doc? (1972) as Eunice Burns, Paper Moon (1973) as Trixie Delight, and both Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (1974), where she played Lili Von Shtupp and Elizabeth. She also appeared in High Anxiety (1977), The Muppet Movie (1979) and History of the World: Part I (1981).

In the years that followed, she played Mrs. White in Clue (1985) and Martha Mitchell in Nixon (1995). Animation viewers may recognize her voice as Gussie Mausheimer in An American Tail (1986) and as Gypsy Moth in A Bug’s Life (1998). Her honors include the 1993 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, a 1993 Drama Desk Award and a Daytime Emmy Award.

Frequent co-stars

• Cloris Leachman · 4 films together: Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, My Little Pony: The Movie, History of the World: Part I
• Marty Feldman · 3 films together: Young Frankenstein, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, Yellowbeard
• Mel Brooks · 3 films together: Blazing Saddles, High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I
• Dom DeLuise · 3 films together: The Cheap Detective, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, History of the World: Part I
• Harvey Korman · 3 films together: Blazing Saddles, High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I
• Gene Wilder · 3 films together: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

Awards won

• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (1993)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (1993)
• Daytime Emmy Award

Nominations

• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (1989)
• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (1978)
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1975)
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1974)
• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (1974)
• Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress (1972)

Career at a glance

First credit: Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) · Credits: 52

Roles played

Titles reviewed on Drama4U

• Clue1985 · Mrs. WhiteReviewed

Other work

• Little Bill1999
• Judy Berlin1999 · Alice Gold
• A Bug's Life1998 · Gypsy Moth (voice)
• Cosby1996 · Pauline Fox
• London Suite1996 · Sharon Semple
• For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story1996 · Sabrina
• Nixon1995 · Martha Mitchell
• New York News1995 · Nan Chase
• Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall1995 · Cora Hoover Hooper
• Mixed Nuts1994 · Blanche Munchnik
• Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book1993 · Narrator (voice)
• Lucky Luke1992 · Esperanza
• For Richer, for Poorer1992 · Billie
• Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House1991 · Grace Anderson
• They call me Lucky Luke - Ma Dalton1991 · Esperanza
• Betsy's Wedding1990 · Lola Hopper
• Road to Avonlea1990 · Pigeon Plumtree
• Mr. President1987 · Lois Gullickson
• Sesame Street: Sing Along1987 · Special Appearance

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Profile based on TMDB and Wikidata facts and checked against public sources. Career information only.