Carol_Kane

Carol Kane

Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18 1952) is an Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated American actress, known for her work on stage, screen and television.

Biography

Early life

Kane was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Joy, a jazz singer, teacher, dancer, and pianist, and Michael Kane, an architect who worked for the World Bank. Her family is Jewish, her grandparents having emigrated from Russia. Her parents divorced when she was twelve years old. She attended the Cherry Lawn School, a progressive boarding school in Darien, Connecticut until 1965. She attended the Professional Children's School in New York and made her professional theatre debut in a 1966 production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, starring Tammy Grimes.

Career

Kane is perhaps best-known for her portrayal of Simka Dahblitz-Gravas, wife of Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman), on the American television series Taxi from 1981 to 1983, and also for her role as Allison Portchnik in Woody Allen's Annie Hall. Kane earned two Emmy Awards for her work in the series. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Hester Street. She also appeared in 1987's The Princess Bride and 1988's Scrooged with Bill Murray, in which Variety called her "unquestionably [the] pic's comic highlight".

Kane was a regular on the 1986 NBC series All Is Forgiven, a regular on the 1990-1991 NBC series American Dreamer, guest-starred on a 1994 episode of Seinfeld and had a supporting role in the short-lived 1996-1997 sitcom Pearl, which starred Rhea Perlman.

In early 2006, Kane began a ten month run in the Broadway musical Wicked, playing Madame Morrible, a role which she had previously played in the show's first national tour. She also appeared in the NBC television live action production of The Year Without a Santa Claus in December 2006. She recently reprised the role of Madame Morrible in the open-ended Los Angeles production of Wicked, which opened on February 21, 2007 at the Pantages Theatre. She left the production on December 30, 2007 along with co-stars Eden Espinosa and Adam Wylie. Kane was replaced by Jo Anne Worley. Kane returned to the Los Angeles company of Wicked on August 26, 2008 to once again play the role of Madame Morrible.

Filmography

The Pacifier (2005) - Helga
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) - Ms. Baggoli
The Shrink Is In (2001) - Dr. Louise Rosenberg
My First Mister (2001) - Mrs. Benson
Man on the Moon (1999) - Herself/Simka Dahblitz
Jawbreaker (1999) - Ms. Sherwood
Gone Fishin' (1997) - Donna Waters
The Pallbearer (1996) - Tom's Mother
Trees Lounge (1996) - Connie
Big Bully (1996) - Faith Bigger
When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) - Jill Johnson
Addams Family Values (1993) - Grandmama
In the Soup (1992) - Barbara
Flashback (1990) - Maggy
My Blue Heaven (1990) - Shaldeen
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) - Cassie
Scrooged (1988) - The Ghost of Christmas Present
License to Drive (1988)- Mrs. Anderson
The Princess Bride (1987) - Valerie, Miracle Max's wife
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) - Cynthia
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) - Lupi
Pandemonium (1982) - Candy
When a Stranger Calls (1979) - Jill Johnson
The Mafu Cage (1978) - Cissy
The World's Greatest Lover (1977) - Annie
Annie Hall (1977) - Allison Portchnik
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) - Jenny
Hester Street (1975) - Gitl
The Last Detail (1973) - Young Whore
Wedding in White (1972) - Jeannie Dougall
Carnal Knowledge (1971) - Jennifer

Partial other works

Wicked (2007) - Madame Morrible (Los Angeles)
The Happy Elf (2006) - Gilda (voice)
Wicked (2005) - Madame Morrible (Broadway musical)
Family Guy (2001) - Carol Pewterschmidt (voice) in episode: "Emission Impossible"
Beggars and Choosers (1999-2000) - Lydia Ludden
Seinfeld (1994) - Corinne in episode: "The Marine Biologist"
Tales from the Crypt (1990) - Judy in episode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"
Cheers (1984) - Amanda Boyer in episode: "A Ditch in Time"
Taxi (1980) - Simka Dahblitz