Carol Kane

Carol Kane
Born Carolyn Laurie Kane
June 18, 1952[1]
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1971–present

Carolyn Laurie "Carol" Kane (born June 18, 1952)[1] is an American stage, screen and television actress. She became known in the 1970s in films such as Hester Street (for which she received an Academy Award nomination) and Annie Hall. She appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s, as 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.

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.[2] Her family is Jewish, and her grandparents emigrated from Russia.[3] Her parents divorced when she was 12 years old.[4] She attended the Cherry Lawn School, a progressive boarding school in Darien, Connecticut, until 1965.[5][6] She attended 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.[7]

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. Kane earned two Emmy Awards for her work in the series and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Hester Street. She also appeared in The Last Detail (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), The Princess Bride (1987) and Scrooged (1988), in which Variety called her "unquestionably [the] pic's comic highlight."[8]

Kane was a regular on the 1986 NBC series All Is Forgiven, a regular on the 1990–91 NBC series American Dreamer, guest-starred on a 1994 episode of Seinfeld and had a supporting role in the short-lived 1996–97 sitcom Pearl, which starred Rhea Perlman. In 1998, she played Mother Duck on the cartoon movie The First Snow of Winter. In 1999 she did a cameo on the movie Man On The Moon as her character she played on Taxi (TV series) She also appeared in the NBC television live action production of The Year Without a Santa Claus in December 2006.

In January 2009, Kane appeared in the TV series Two and a Half Men as the mother of Alan Harper's receptionist.[9]

She starred in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in February 2010.[10]

In March 2010, Kane appeared in the TV series Ugly Betty as Justin Suarez's acting teacher.

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.[11]

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

In 2014, Kane 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 on the Netflix original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.[13] It received strong reviews and is currently Netflix's second highest rated television programme,/[14] behind QI.

Wicked

Kane is 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.[15] She ended her limited engagement on March 22, 2009.[16] Kane returned to the Broadway company of Wicked from July 1, 2013 through February 22, 2014.[17]

Filmography

Film & television
Year Title Role Notes
1971 Carnal Knowledge Jennifer
1971 Desperate Characters Young Girl
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.[18]
1973 The Last Detail Young Whore
1974 We, the Woman Susannah White Television film
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 Visions Episode: "Fans of the Kosko Show"
1978 The Mafu Cage Cissy
1979 The Muppet Movie Myth
1979 When a Stranger Calls Jill Johnson
1979 La Sabina Daisy
1980 The Greatest Man in the World April Television film
1978–1981 Great Performances Eliza Southgate; Frances Loomis Episodes: "Out of Our Father's House"; "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories"
1981 Les jeux de la Comtesse Dolingen de Gratz Louise Haines-Pearson
1981 Strong Medicine
1982 Pandemonium Candy
1982 Norman Loves Rose Rose — Nominated: AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
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 23 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 "Sleeping Beauty"
1983 Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? Customer at Cafe
1984 The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud Martha Bernays
1984 Over the Brooklyn Bridge Cheryl
1984 Racing with the Moon Annie the Hooker
1984 Burning Rage Mary Harwood Television film
1984 Cheers Amanda Boyer Epiosde: "A Ditch in Time"
1984 Terror in the Aisles
1985 Tales from the Darkside Anne MacColl Episode: "Snip, Snip"
1985 Crazy Like a Fox Episode: "Bum Tip"
1985 Transylvania 6-5000 Lupi
1986 Tall Tales & Legends Barbara Episode: "Casey at the Bat"
1986 All is Forgiven Nicolette Bingham 9 episodes
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Cynthia
1987 Paul Reiser Out on a Whim Fortune Teller Television film
1987 Ishtar Carol
1987 The Princess Bride Valerie
1988 Drop-Out Mother Maxine Television film
1988 Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card Television film
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 Tales from the Crypt Judy Episode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"
1990 My Blue Heaven Shaldeen
1990 Tiny Toon Adventures Ollie Episode "A Quack in the Quarks"
1990–1991 American Dreamer Lillian Abernathy 17 episode
1991 Ted & Venus Colette
1992 Sibs Episodes: "The Crash: Part 1", "The Crash: Part 2"
1992 In the Soup Barbara
1991–1992 Brooklyn Bridge Aunt Sylvia 5 episodes
1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Polly Episode: "Tomorrow's Child"
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 Television film
1993 TriBeCa Amanda Episode: "Stepping Back"
1993 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Carla
1993 Eligible Dentist Television film
1993 Addams Family Values Grandmama Addams
1994 Seinfeld Corinne Episode: "The Marine Biologist"
1994 Aladdin Brawnhilda Episodes: "Stinkerbelle", "Smells Like Trouble"
1994 Empty Nest Shelby Episode: "The Courtship of Carol's Father"
1995 The Crazysitter Treva Van Arsdale
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)
1995 Theodore Rex Molly Rex Voice; direct-to-video
1996 Big Bully Faith
1996 Ellen Lily Penney Episode: "A Penney Saved"
1996 Sunset Park Mona
1996 The Pallbearer Mrs. Thompson
1996 Trees Lounge Connie
1996 American Strays Helen
1997 Gone Fishin' Donna Waters
1996–1997 Pearl Annie Caraldo 22 episodes
1997 Office Killer Dorine Douglas
1997 Hey Arnold! Emily Dickinson Trophy Epiosde: "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"[19]
1999 Jawbreaker Ms. Sherwood
1999 Noah's Ark Sarah Television film
1999 Blue's Big Treasure Hunt Little Miss Muffet Voice
1999 Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald Org's Mom Voice; video short
1999 Blue's Big Tresure Hunt little Miss Muffet Voice
1999 Man on the Moon Herself/Simka Dahblitz
2000 The Office Party Linda Short
1999–2000 Beggars and Choosers Lydia Luddin 3 episodes
2000 The Tic Code Miss Gimpole
2000 As Told by Ginger Maude Episodes: "I Spy a Witch"; "Carl and Maude"
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
2001 Family Guy Carol Episode: "Emission Impossible"
2002 That's Life Gloria Episode: "Baum's Thesis"
2002 The Grubbs Sophie Grubb Episode: "Pilot"
2002 Love in the Time of Money Joey
2003 Cosmopolitan Mrs. Shaw Released theatrically in 2003
Televised on Independent Lens on PBS in 2004
2003 Audrey's Rain Missy Flanders Television film
2004 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen Miss Baggoli
2004 Hope & Faith Cornelia Rackett Episode: "Faith Scare-Field"
2005 The Pacifier Helga
2005 The Civilization of Maxwell Bright Temple
2005 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Mrs. Claus Episode: "Billy and Mandy Save Christmas"
2005 The Happy Elf Gilda Voice
2006 The Year Without a Santa Claus Mother Nature Television film; cameo
2008 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five Sheep Voice
2008 Four Christmases Aunt Sarah Uncredited
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"
2010 The Bounty Hunter Dawn
2010 My Girlfriend's Boyfriend Barbara
2010 Pete Smalls Is Dead Landlady
2011 The Key Man Marsha
2011 Phineas and Ferb Nana Shapiro Voice; episode: "Lotsa Latkes"
2012 Sleepwalk with Me Linda Pandamiglio
2012 Should've Been Romeo Ruth
2012 Thanks for Sharing Roberta
2012 Emoticon ;) Hannah Song
2013 Clutter Linda Bradford
2013 Girls Cloris Episode: "It's Back"
2013 Anger Management Carol Episode: "Charlie and His New Friend with Benefits"
2014–present Gotham Gertrud Kapelput
2015–present Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Lilian Series Regular

Other works

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Carol Kane movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography - AllMovie". AllMovie. All Media Network. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Carol Kane Biography (1952–)" filmreference.com, accessed August 27, 2011
  3. ↑ Archived September 27, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Archived September 27, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Cherry Lawn School, Class of 1965" CherryLawnSchool.org, accessed August 27, 2011
  6. ↑ "Cherry Lawn School Photo Of The Month, October 1999" CherryLawnSchool.org, accessed August 27, 2011
  7. ↑ "Carol Kane Biography" YahooMovies, accessed August 27, 2011
  8. ↑ "Scrooged" Variety (requires registration), retrieved August 27, 2011
  9. ↑ Two and a Half Men: Thank God for Scoliosis Season 6" TV.com, accessed August 27, 2011
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ Shenton, Mark.Ellen Burstyn and Carol Kane Join Cast of West End's Children's Hour Playbill.com, November 19, 2010
  12. ↑ IMDb.com Gotham. Spirit of the Goat episode accessed 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. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt
  15. ↑ Dan Bacalzo (December 16, 2008). "Garrison, Kane, Kassebaum, Wicks Set for San Francisco Wicked".
  16. ↑ Andrew Gans (March 2, 2009). "Academy Award Winner Duke to Join Cast of San Fran's Wicked".
  17. ↑ "Broadway's Wicked Will Welcome Carol Kane and Michael Wartella". June 21, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  18. ↑ 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 9780810851573.
  19. ↑ http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=NODY++000106

External links