Carol Kane


Carolyn Laurie Kane is an American actress and comedienne. 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 original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in which she played Lillian Kaushtupper.

Early life

Kane was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Joy, a jazz singer, teacher, dancer, and pianist, and Michael Kane. Her family is Jewish, and her grandparents emigrated from Russia, Austria, and Poland. Her parents divorced when she was 12 years old. She attended the Cherry Lawn School, a boarding school in Darien, Connecticut, until 1965. She studied theatre at HB Studio 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.

Career

Television

Kane portrayed Simka Dahblitz-Gravas, wife of Latka Gravas, on the American television series Taxi, from 1981 to 1983. She received two Emmy Awards for her work in the series.
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 NBC series All Is Forgiven, a regular on the 1990–1991 NBC 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 1996–1997 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. 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 mother.
In 2015, she was cast as Lillian Kaushtupper, the landlord to the title character of Netflix's original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
In 2020, Kane was part of the ensemble cast of the Amazon show Hunters, which includes Al Pacino and Logan Lerman, among other.

Films

Kane appeared in The Last Detail, Dog Day Afternoon, Annie Hall, The World's Greatest Lover, When A Stranger Calls, Norman Loves Rose, Transylvania 6-5000, The Princess Bride, Scrooged, in which Variety called her "unquestionably pic's comic highlight," and Flashback with Dennis Hopper.
In 1998, she played Mother Duck on the cartoon movie The First Snow of Winter. In 1999 she made a cameo on the movie Man On The Moon as her character she played on Taxi.
for her performance in Hester Street.
At the 48th Academy Awards, Kane was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Hester Street.

Theatre

She starred in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in February 2010.
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.
In May 2012, Kane appeared on Broadway as Betty Chumley in a revival of the play Harvey.

''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. She ended her limited engagement on March 22, 2009. Kane returned to the Broadway company of Wicked from July 1, 2013, through February 22, 2014.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974We, the WomanSusannah WhiteTelevision film
1978VisionsEpisode: "Fans of the Kosko Show"
1978–1981Great PerformancesEliza Southgate; Frances LoomisEpisodes: "Out of Our Father's House"; "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses and Other Stories"
1980The Greatest Man in the WorldAprilTelevision film
1982Laverne & ShirleyOlgaEpisode: "Jinxed"
1983An Invasion of PrivacyIlene CohenTelevision film
1983American PlayhouseLaviniaEpisode: "Keeping On"
1980–1983TaxiSimka Dahblitz-Gravas17 episodes
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series
Medallion Award
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
Nominated —TV Land Award for Most Wonderful Wedding
1983Faerie Tale TheatreThe "Good" FairyEpisode: "Sleeping Beauty"
1984Burning RageMary HarwoodTelevision film
1984CheersAmanda BoyerEpisode: "A Ditch in Time"
1985Tales from the DarksideAnne MacCollEpisode: "Snip, Snip"
1985Crazy Like a FoxEpisode: "Bum Tip"
1986Tall Tales & LegendsBarbaraEpisode: "Casey at the Bat"
1986All is ForgivenNicolette Bingham9 episodes
1987Paul Reiser Out on a WhimFortune TellerTelevision film
1988Drop-Out MotherMaxineTelevision film
1988Rap Master Ronnie: A Report CardTelevision film
1989–1994Sesame StreetNina the NiceEpisode 2648: "Bob accompanies Oscar to Grouchytown"; archival footage
1990Tales from the CryptJudyEpisode: "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today"
1990Tiny Toon AdventuresOllie Episode: "A Quack in the Quarks"
1990–1991American DreamerLillian Abernathy17 episodes
1992SibsSallyEpisodes: "The Crash: Part 1", "The Crash: Part 2"
1991–1992Brooklyn BridgeAunt Sylvia5 episodes
1992The Ray Bradbury TheaterPollyEpisode: "Tomorrow's Child"
1993When a Stranger Calls BackJill JohnsonTelevision film
1993TriBeCaAmandaEpisode: "Stepping Back"
1993Eligible DentistTelevision film
1994SeinfeldCorinneEpisode: "The Marine Biologist"
1994AladdinBrawnhilda Episodes: "Stinkerbelle", "Smells Like Trouble"
1994Empty NestShelbyEpisode: "The Courtship of Carol's Father"
1995A.J.'s Time TravelersEmily RoeblingEpisode: "Brooklyn Bridge"
1995Dad, the Angel & MeThe AngelTelevision film
1995NapoleonSpider English version
1995Freaky FridayLeanne FuttermanTelevision film
1995Chicago HopeMarguerite BirchEpisode: "Stand"
Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
1996EllenLily PenneyEpisode: "A Penney Saved"
1996–1997PearlAnnie Caraldo22 episodes
1997Hey Arnold!Emily Dickinson Trophy Episode: "Freeze Frame/Phoebe Cheats"
1997The Tony Danza ShowSimka GravaasEpisode: "The Milk Run"
1997'Gwen MunchEpisode: ""
1997Merry Christmas, George BaileyCousin Tilly/Mrs. HatchTelevision film
1998The First Seven YearsMrs. FeldTelevision short
1998Adventures from the Book of VirtuesThe Beetle Episode: "Patience"
1998NoddyTooth FairyEpisode: "The Tooth Fairy"
1999Noah's ArkSarahTelevision film
1999Blue's CluesLittle Miss Muffet Episode: "Blue's Big Treasure Hunt"
1999–2000Beggars and ChoosersLydia Luddin3 episodes
2000As Told by GingerMaudeEpisodes: "I Spy a Witch"; "Carl and Maude"
2001Family GuyCarol Episode: "Emission Impossible"
2002That's LifeGloriaEpisode: "Baum's Thesis"
2002The GrubbsSophie GrubbEpisode: "Pilot"
2003Audrey's RainMissy FlandersTelevision film
2004Hope & FaithCornelia RackettEpisode: "Faith Scare-Field"
2005The Grim Adventures of Billy & MandyMrs. ClausEpisode: "Billy and Mandy Save Christmas"
2006The Year Without a Santa ClausMother NatureTelevision film; cameo
2009Two and a Half MenShellyEpisodes: "Thank God for Scoliosis"; "David Copperfield Slipped Me a Roofie"
2009, 2013'Gwen MunchEpisodes: "Zebras |Zebras", "Wonderland Story"
2009MonkJoyEpisode: "Mr. Monk Is the Best Man"
2010Ugly BettyLena KorvinkaEpisode: "All the World's a Stage"
2011–2014Phineas and FerbNana Shapiro 2 episodes
2011Dora the ExplorerGrandma Troll Episode: "The Grumpy Old Troll Gets Married"
2011–2012Jake and the Never Land PiratesSea Witch 2 episodes
2013GirlsClorisEpisode: "It's Back"
2013Anger ManagementCarolEpisode: "Charlie and His New Friend with Benefits"
2014–2016GothamGertrud KapelputRecurring guest; 10 episodes
2015–2020Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtLillian Kaushtupper/FionaMain role; 42 episodes/Fiona in “Kimmy VS The Reverend”
2016CrowdedLindaEpisode: "Given to Fly"
2017–2019OK K.O.! Let's Be HeroesGinger 2 episodes
2017Halt and Catch FireDeniseEpisode: "Ten of Swords"
2017Star vs. the Forces of EvilDr. Jelly Goodwell Episode: "Princess Turdina/Starfari"
2018Pinkalicious & PeterrificEdna 3 episodes
2018–2019Rapunzel's Tangled AdventureMadam Canardist 3 episodes
2018VampirinaMadame Spook Episode: "Countess Vee/Frights Camera Action"
2018AnimalsChompy 2 episodes
2018F Is for FamilySue's Mother Episode: "Summer Vacation"
2019Los EspookysBianca Nova4 episodes
2019Bubble GuppiesThe Sea Witch Episode: "The New Guppy"
2019Big MouthThe Menopause Banshee Episode: "Florida"
2019Summer Camp IslandBarb Junior Episode: "The Great Elf Invention Convention"
2020HuntersMindy Markowitz10 episodes

Other works