Carol Kane

Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18, 1952[1]) is an American actress and comedian. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in films such as Hester Street, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, Annie Hall, and The Princess Bride. She appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s, as Simka Gravas, the wife of Latka, the character played by Andy Kaufman, winning two Emmy Awards for her work. She has played the character of Madame Morrible in the musical Wicked, both in regional productions and on Broadway from 2005 to 2014. From 2015 to 2020, she was a main cast member on the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in which she played Lillian Kaushtupper.

Carol Kane
Kane in 2018
Born
Carolyn Laurie Kane

(1952-06-18) June 18, 1952[1]
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActress, comedian
Years active1966–present

Early life

Kane was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Joy, a jazz singer, teacher, dancer, and pianist, and Michael Kane.[2] Her family is Jewish, and her grandparents emigrated from Russia, Austria, and Poland.[3][4] Her parents divorced when she was 12 years old.[5] She attended the Cherry Lawn School, a boarding school in Darien, Connecticut, until 1965.[6][7] She studied theatre at HB Studio[8] and also went to the Professional Children's School, in New York City, and made her professional theatre debut in a 1966 production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, starring Tammy Grimes.[9]

Career

Television

Kane portrayed Simka Dahblitz-Gravas, wife of Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman), on the American television series Taxi from 1981 to 1983. She received two Emmy Awards for her work in the series.[10]

In 1984, Kane appeared in episode 12, season 3 of Cheers as Amanda, an acquaintance of Diane Chambers from her time spent in a mental institution.

Kane was a regular on the 1986 series All Is Forgiven, a regular on the 1990–1991 series American Dreamer, guest-starred on a 1994 episode of Seinfeld, a 1996 episode of Ellen and had a supporting role in the short-lived sitcom Pearl.

In 1988, Kane appeared in the Cinemax Comedy Experiment Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card alongside Jon Cryer and the Smothers Brothers.

In January 2009, she appeared in the television series Two and a Half Men as the mother of Alan Harper's receptionist.[11] In March 2010, Kane appeared in the television series Ugly Betty as Justin Suarez's acting teacher. In 2014, she had a recurring role in the TV series Gotham as Gertrude Kapelput, Oswald Cobblepot's (Penguin's) mother.[12]

In 2015, she was cast as Lillian Kaushtupper, the landlord to the title character of Netflix's series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.[13] She reprised the role in the television movie Kimmy vs the Reverend.

In 2020, Kane was part of the ensemble cast of the Amazon show Hunters, which includes Al Pacino and Logan Lerman.

Films

Kane and Gene Wilder in a publicity photo for The World's Greatest Lover, 1977

Kane appeared in The Last Detail (1973), Hester Street (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Annie Hall (1977), The World's Greatest Lover (1977), When a Stranger Calls (1979), Norman Loves Rose (1982), Transylvania 6-5000 (1985), The Princess Bride (1987), Scrooged (1988), in which Variety called her "unquestionably [the] pic's comic highlight,"[14] and Flashback (1989) with Dennis Hopper.

In 1998, she played Mother Duck on the cartoon movie The First Snow of Winter. In 1999, she made a cameo in the movie Man On The Moon as her character she played on Taxi.

Kane was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Hester Street (1975)

At the 48th Academy Awards, Kane was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Hester Street. Kane also starred in the Addams Family remakes as grandma.

Theatre

She starred in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in February 2010.[15]

Kane made her West End debut in January 2011 in a major revival of Lillian Hellman's drama The Children's Hour at London's Comedy Theatre. She starred alongside Keira Knightley, Elisabeth Moss and Ellen Burstyn.[16]

In May 2012, Kane appeared on Broadway as Betty Chumley in a revival of the play Harvey.

Wicked

Kane is also known for her portrayal of the evil headmistress Madame Morrible in the Broadway musical Wicked, whom she played in various productions from 2005 to 2014.

Kane made her Wicked debut on the 1st National Tour, playing the role from March 9 through December 19, 2005. She then reprised the role in the Broadway production from January 10 through November 12, 2006. She again played the role for the Los Angeles production which began performances on February 7, 2007. She left the production on December 30, 2007, and later returned from August 26, 2008, until the production closed on January 11, 2009.

She then transferred with the L.A. company, to play the role once again, in the San Francisco production which began performances January 27, 2009.[17] She ended her limited engagement on March 22, 2009.[18] Kane returned to the Broadway company of Wicked from July 1, 2013, through February 22, 2014 (a period that included the show's 10th anniversary).[19]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1971 Desperate Characters Young Girl
1971 Carnal Knowledge Jennifer
1972 Wedding in White Jeannie Dougall
1972 ...and Hope to Die (a.k.a. La course du lièvre à travers les champs) Her scenes were cut from the finished film.[20]
1973 The Last Detail Young Whore
1975 Hester Street Gitl Nominated Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (1976)
1975 Dog Day Afternoon Jenny
1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Florence
1977 Annie Hall Allison
1977 Valentino Starlet
1977 The World's Greatest Lover Annie Hickman
1978 The Mafu Cage Cissy
1979 The Muppet Movie Myth
1979 When a Stranger Calls Jill Johnson
1979 La Sabina Daisy
1981 The Games of Countess Dolingen Louise Haines-Pearson
1981 Strong Medicine
1982 Pandemonium Candy
1982 Norman Loves Rose Rose Nominated AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
1983 Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? Customer at Cafe
1984 Over the Brooklyn Bridge Cheryl
1984 Racing with the Moon Annie the Hooker
1984 The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud Martha Bernays
1984 Terror in the Aisles Jill Johnson Archival footage
1985 Transylvania 6-5000 Lupi
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Cynthia
1987 Ishtar Carol
1987 The Princess Bride Valerie
1988 Sticky Fingers Kitty
1988 License to Drive Mrs. Anderson
1988 Scrooged Ghost of Christmas Present
1990 The Lemon Sisters Franki D'Angelo
1990 Flashback Maggie
1990 Joe Versus the Volcano Hairdresser Cameo; credited as Lisa LeBlanc
1990 My Blue Heaven Shaldeen
1991 Ted & Venus Colette
1992 In the Soup Barbara
1992 Baby on Board Maria
1992 The Real Story of Here Comes the Bride Margaret Mouse Voice
1993 When a Stranger Calls Back Jill Johnson
1993 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Carla
1993 Addams Family Values Granny Frump
1994 The Crazysitter Treva Van Arsdale
1995 Theodore Rex Molly Rex Voice; direct-to-video
1996 Big Bully Faith
1996 American Strays Helen
1996 Sunset Park Mona
1996 The Pallbearer Mrs. Thompson
1996 Trees Lounge Connie
1997 Gone Fishin' Donna Waters
1997 Office Killer Dorine Douglas
1998 The Tic Code Miss Gimpole
1999 Jawbreaker Principal Sherwood
1999 Man on the Moon Herself/Simka Dahblitz
1999 The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald Org's Mom Voice; video short
2000 The Office Party Linda Short
2001 D.C. Smalls Mom Short
2001 My First Mister Mrs. Benson
2001 The Shrink Is In Dr. Louise Rosenberg
2001 Tomorrow by Midnight Officer Garfield
2002 Love in the Time of Money Joey
2003 Cosmopolitan Mrs. Shaw Released theatrically in 2003
Televised on Independent Lens on PBS in 2004
2004 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen Miss Baggoli
2005 The Pacifier Helga
2005 The Civilization of Maxwell Bright Temple
2005 The Happy Elf Gilda Voice
2008 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five Sheep Voice
2008 Four Christmases Aunt Sarah Uncredited
2010 The Bounty Hunter Dawn
2010 My Girlfriend's Boyfriend Barbara
2010 Pete Smalls Is Dead Landlady
2011 The Key Man Marsha
2012 Sleepwalk with Me Linda Pandamiglio
2012 Should've Been Romeo Ruth
2012 Thanks for Sharing Roberta
2013 Clutter Linda Bradford
2014 Emoticon ;) Hannah Song
2015 Ava's Possessions Talia
2018 The Sisters Brothers Mrs. Sisters
2018 Ghost Light Madeline Styne
2019 The Dead Don't Die Mallory O'Brien

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1974 We, the Woman Susannah White Television film
1978 Visions Episode: "Fans of the Kosko Show"
1978–1981 Great Performances Eliza Southgate; Frances Loomis Episodes: "Out of Our Father's House"; "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories"
1980 The Greatest Man in the World April Television film
1982 Laverne & Shirley Olga Episode: "Jinxed"
1983 An Invasion of Privacy Ilene Cohen Television film
1983 American Playhouse Lavinia Episode: "Keeping On"
1980–1983 Taxi Simka Dahblitz-Gravas 17 episodes
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1982)
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series
Medallion Award (2007; shared with Danny DeVito, Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Judd Hirsch, James L. Brooks and Randall Carver)
Nominated Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (1983)
Nominated TV Land Award for Most Wonderful Wedding (2006; shared with Andy Kaufman)
1983 Faerie Tale Theatre The "Good" Fairy Episode: "Sleeping Beauty"
1984 Burning Rage Mary Harwood Television film
1984 Cheers Amanda Boyer Episode: "A Ditch in Time"
1985 Tales from the Darkside Anne MacColl Episode: "Snip, Snip"
1985 Crazy Like a Fox Episode: "Bum Tip"
1986 Tall Tales & Legends Barbara Episode: "Casey at the Bat"
1986 All is Forgiven Nicolette Bingham 9 episodes
1987 Paul Reiser Out on a Whim Fortune Teller Television film
1988 Drop-Out Mother Maxine Television film
1988 Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card Television film
1989–1994 Sesame Street Nina the Nice Episode 2648: "Bob accompanies Oscar to Grouchytown"; archival footage
1990 Tales from the Crypt Judy Episode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"
1990 Tiny Toon Adventures Ollie (voice) Episode: "A Quack in the Quarks"
1990–1991 American Dreamer Lillian Abernathy 17 episodes
1992 Sibs Sally Episodes: "The Crash: Part 1", "The Crash: Part 2"
1991–1992 Brooklyn Bridge Aunt Sylvia 5 episodes
1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Polly Episode: "Tomorrow's Child"
1993 When a Stranger Calls Back Jill Johnson Television film
1993 TriBeCa Amanda Episode: "Stepping Back"
1993 Eligible Dentist Television film
1994 Seinfeld Corinne Episode: "The Marine Biologist"
1994 Aladdin Brawnhilda (voice) Episodes: "Stinkerbelle", "Smells Like Trouble"
1994 Empty Nest Shelby Episode: "The Courtship of Carol's Father"
1995 A.J.'s Time Travelers Emily Roebling Episode: "Brooklyn Bridge"
1995 Dad, the Angel & Me The Angel Television film
1995 Napoleon Spider (voice) English version
1995 Freaky Friday Leanne Futterman Television film
1995 Chicago Hope Marguerite Birch Episode: "Stand"
Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (1986)
1996 Ellen Lily Penney Episode: "A Penney Saved"
1996–1997 Pearl Annie Caraldo 22 episodes
1997 Hey Arnold! Emily Dickinson Trophy (voice) Episode: "Freeze Frame/Phoebe Cheats"
1997 The Tony Danza Show Simka Gravaas Episode: "The Milk Run"
1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Gwen Munch Episode: "All Is Bright"
1997 Merry Christmas, George Bailey Cousin Tilly/Mrs. Hatch Television film
1998 The First Seven Years Mrs. Feld Television short
1998 Adventures from the Book of Virtues The Beetle (voice) Episode: "Patience"
1998 Noddy Tooth Fairy Episode: "The Tooth Fairy"[21]
1999 Noah's Ark Sarah Television film
1999 Blue's Clues Little Miss Muffet (voice) Episode: "Blue's Big Treasure Hunt"
1999–2000 Beggars and Choosers Lydia Luddin 3 episodes
2000 As Told by Ginger Maude Episodes: "I Spy a Witch"; "Carl and Maude"
2001 Family Guy Carol (voice) Episode: "Emission Impossible"
2002 That's Life Gloria Episode: "Baum's Thesis"
2002 The Grubbs Sophie Grubb Episode: "Pilot"
2003 Audrey's Rain Missy Flanders Television film
2004 Hope & Faith Cornelia Rackett Episode: "Faith Scare-Field"
2005 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Mrs. Claus Episode: "Billy and Mandy Save Christmas"
2006 The Year Without a Santa Claus Mother Nature Television film; cameo
2009 Two and a Half Men Shelly Episodes: "Thank God for Scoliosis"; "David Copperfield Slipped Me a Roofie"
2009, 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Gwen Munch Episodes: "Zebras", "Wonderland Story"
2009 Monk Joy Episode: "Mr. Monk Is the Best Man"
2010 Ugly Betty Lena Korvinka Episode: "All the World's a Stage"
2011–2014 Phineas and Ferb Nana Shapiro (voice) 2 episodes
2011 Dora the Explorer Grandma Troll (voice) Episode: "The Grumpy Old Troll Gets Married"
2011–2012 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Sea Witch (voice) 2 episodes
2013 Girls Cloris Episode: "It's Back"
2013 Anger Management Carol Episode: "Charlie and His New Friend with Benefits"
2014–2016 Gotham Gertrud Kapelput Recurring guest; 10 episodes
2015–2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Lillian Kaushtupper Main role; 42 episodes
2016 Crowded Linda Episode: "Given to Fly"
2017–2019 OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Ginger (voice) 2 episodes
2017 Halt and Catch Fire Denise Episode: "Ten of Swords"
2017 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Dr. Jelly Goodwell (voice) Episode: "Princess Turdina/Starfari"
2018 Pinkalicious & Peterrific Edna (voice) 3 episodes
2018–2019 Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Madam Canardist (voice) 3 episodes
2018 Vampirina Madame Spook (voice) Episode: "Countess Vee/Frights Camera Action"
2018 Animals Chompy (voice) 2 episodes
2018 F Is for Family Sue's Mother (voice) Episode: "Summer Vacation"
2019 Los Espookys Bianca Nova 4 episodes
2019 Bubble Guppies The Sea Witch (voice) Episode: "The New Guppy"
2019 Big Mouth The Menopause Banshee (voice) Episode: "Florida"
2019 Summer Camp Island Barb Junior (voice) Episode: "The Great Elf Invention Convention"
2020 Hunters Mindy Markowitz 10 episodes
2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend Lillian Kaushtupper/Fiona Television film

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Notes
1972 Ring Around the Bathtub Esme Train Broadway; Martin Beck Theatre
1978 The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Tillie Broadway; Biltmore Theatre
2003 The Exonerated Sunny Jacobs Touring Replacement
2004 Sly Fox Miss Fancy Broadway; Ethel Barrymore Theatre Replacement
2005-2014 Wicked Madame Morrible Touring
2006; 2013 Broadway; Gershwin Theatre Replacement
2012 Harvey Betty Chumley Broadway; Studio 54

Music Videos

Year Title Artist(s)
1985 "This is My Night" Chaka Khan

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1976 Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Actress Hester Street Nominated
1978 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress In A Play The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Nominated
1982 AACTA Awards AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Norman Loves Rose Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Taxi Won
1983 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Nominated
1986 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Chicago Hope Nominated
2006 TV Land Award Most Wonderful Wedding Taxi Nominated (shared with Andy Kaufman)
2007 Medallion Award Won (Shared with Danny DeVito, Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Judd Hirsch, James L. Brooks and Randall Carver)

References

  1. "Carol Kane movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography - AllMovie". AllMovie. All Media Network. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  2. filmreference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  3. "Carol Kane Unofficial Fan Page" at the Wayback Machine
  4. https://www.cbr.com/hunters-carol-kane-interview/
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Cherry Lawn School, Class of 1965" CherryLawnSchool.org. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  7. "Cherry Lawn School Photo Of The Month, October 1999" CherryLawnSchool.org. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  8. HB Studio Alumni
  9. "Carol Kane Biography" YahooMovies. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  10. Lacher, Irene (May 11, 2002). "Moving a Step Beyond". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  11. Two and a Half Men: Thank God for Scoliosis Season 6" TV.com. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  12. IMDb.com Gotham: "Spirit of the Goat" (episode); retrieved October 28, 2014.
  13. Havey, Max (March 20, 2015). "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a great addition to Netflix lineup | Vox Magazine". Vox Magazine. Columbia Missourian. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  14. "Scrooged" Variety (requires registration). Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  15. BWW News Desk." 'Love, Loss And What I Wore' Welcomes Comedic New Cast; Janeane Garofalo, Carol Kane & More Bow 2/3" broadwayworld.com, December 10, 2009.
  16. Shenton, Mark.Ellen Burstyn and Carol Kane Join Cast of West End's Children's Hour Archived October 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, November 19, 2010.
  17. Dan Bacalzo (December 16, 2008). "Garrison, Kane, Kassebaum, Wicks Set for San Francisco Wicked".
  18. Andrew Gans (March 2, 2009). "Academy Award Winner Duke to Join Cast of San Fran's Wicked". Archived from the original on January 5, 2014.
  19. "Broadway's Wicked Will Welcome Carol Kane and Michael Wartella". June 21, 2013. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  20. Becker, Frawley (2004). And The Stars Spoke Back: A Dialogue Coach Remembers Hollywood Players Of The Sixties In Paris. Scarecrow Press. pp. 188, 199. ISBN 978-0-8108-5157-3.
  21. webmaster. "KET - NODDY - The Tooth Fairy". Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
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