Biography: Carol Kane

Carolyn Laurie "Carol" Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an 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 and will stay with the production till its closure on January 11, 2009.

Filmography

• Four Christmases (2008)
• 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
• Office Killer (1997) - Dorine
• 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
• The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984)
• 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

References

1. Carol Kane Biography (1952-)
2. http://www.open.org/glennab/carolkanefanbio.htm
3. http://www.open.org/glennab/cktvguidemay1983.htm
4. Cherry Lawn School
5. Cherry Lawn School Photo Of The Month
6. Carol Kane Biography - Yahoo! Movies
7. "Scrooged." Variety online. Accessed 24 December 2006. Available here