The exquisite Madeline Kahn

She was a genius.

I love the ducking at the end of this scene.

One of the few actors who I can say never gave a bad performance. She was always dependable to be able to find a laugh somewhere even if it wasn't in the script.

I'm so mad cancer claimed her....I hate it SO much....flames.....

So, why was she fired from On the Twentieth Century so early in its run only to be replaced by the zaftig Judy Kaye? Back then I heard cocaine abuse.

Honestly, I never thought she was very funny.

She was genius

It’s always the good ones who die young

Meanwhile, her co star in What’s Up Doc, is still despoiling the world with her ire sense

She was more than funny. Just fully human, with every emotion and thought and creativity. She was deeply funny. And sad and searching and surprising and supremely talented. A most unique talent. She worked very hard at it too. She wanted to offer something different. So she did.

Yes Bernadette Peters could do this song in her little baby voice - Madeline does it with zany wickedness.

I never understood her appeal.

She was a treasure. Like Gilda Radner. Miss them both.

[quote]never gave a bad performance.

Let me tell you about Maddy Kahn....

Gorgeous!

R7 one of my all time favorite movies of hers!

She sings a strange song then has quite a lovely conversation with Johnny Carson. He's not bad. I think he got her sensitive fun vibe. They talk about depression and nerves and who knows. Except she sang the song after the convo. The reverse clip somehow makes more sense. I get why people don't get her. But I do. How fucking wonderful she was. Way too much for regular color TV.

This was on my favorite Sesame Street tape as a toddler... That's all I got.

Amazing in Paper Moon.

I think I remember a TV show......

A performance few people know of hers... "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes's Smarter Brother"

From the same movie--showing off her voice, which was perfect for operetta:

"In our circles..in our circles"........Star of "Catwomen on Mars."

She was wonderful working with the great Dr. Cosny on "Cosby".

r6 Young?? She died at 57 for fuck's sake!

She was extraordinary back in a time when people appreciated such things. The nerves, the neurosis, the voice and tenacity - she was comic genius.

Speaking of strange songs.....she did this on SNL

(not this clip but this song)

R17

You were not tripping!

Oh I love that R24. She's insane. And very beautiful there. Thanks.

She made the otherwise execrable CBS Cosby show better.

Damn, he even spent 30 seconds not talking about himself to praise her.

For me, Madeline Kahn was an acquired taste. At first, I wasn't even sure I liked her, but every movie of hers that I saw I admired her more and more, eventually loving her performances. She was unique, one of a kind.

Whenever I put on jeans in the morning, I think of her.

I only saw her on film, and the fact is... she never played likeable people on film!

So I never really liked her.

Do go on.

Oh jesus wrong thread...sorry!

I loved her turn as the Lili Von Stupp, the Teutonic Titwillow.

I was 12 years old and this was my introduction to her genius.

She was genius when she worked with genius. She worked harder when she carried the load alone.

20 years today!

She won an Emmy Award for playing Ben Affleck mother

I think she was wonderfully talented and eccentric but she was sadly most effective as a supporting player. She just didn't have it as a leading lady. Odd because her supporting roles make you want more but she's just too much in starring roles.

[quote]One of the few actors who I can say never gave a bad performance.

Then you didn't see her in "On The 20th Century".

The worst performance I have ever seen on B'Way.

How so, R40? I saw it with Judy Kaye, but Madeline Kahn sounds divine on the cast recording.