Lainie Kazan

Last updated
Lainie Kazan
Academy Awards afterparty CUN Lainey Kazan.jpg
Kazan in February 2007
Born
Lainie Levine

(1940-05-15) May 15, 1940 (age 83)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Education Erasmus Hall High School
Alma mater Hofstra University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1958–present
Known for My Favorite Year
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Spouse
Peter H. B. Daniels
(m. 1971;died 1989)
Children1
Website lainiekazan.com

Lainie Kazan (born Lainie Levine; May 15, 1940) [1] [2] is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for St. Elsewhere and the 1993 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for My Favorite Year . She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in My Favorite Year (1982). Kazan played Maria Portokalos in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. She also played Aunt Freida on The Nanny .

Contents

Early life

Kazan was born Lainie Levine in Brooklyn, [3] [4] the daughter of Carole (nee Kazan) and Ben Levine. [5] [6] [7] She is of Ashkenazi Jewish and Sephardic Jewish descent with Russian and Turkish roots. [6] Some of her grandparents lived in Jerusalem before moving to Manchester, England and settling in Brooklyn. [8] [9] Kazan has described her mother as "neurotic, fragile and artistic." [10] [11] [9] Kazan attended Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School with Barbra Streisand, for whom she would later understudy. She graduated in 1956. Kazan studied theatre at HB Studio [12] and graduated from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York in 1960. While at Hofstra, Kazan appeared in school musicals written and directed by a classmate director Francis Ford Coppola as well as actor James Caan. [3]

Career

Kazan made her Broadway debut in 1961 with the musical The Happiest Girl in the World. She appeared the following year in another musical, Bravo Giovanni, and understudied Barbra Streisand for the lead role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1964). When Streisand could not perform due to a throat condition, Kazan took her place in a matinee and evening performance for one day of the show's run. [3] Her popularity increasing, Kazan posed nude for the October 1970 issue of Playboy, which was reused in Pocket Playboy #4, issued in 1974. Her appearance in the magazine opened the door for her to headline and operate two different Playboy Jazz Clubs. Overseen by Hugh Hefner, the clubs were named Lainie's Room West and Lainie's Room East, each on opposite coasts, with the first one located in Los Angeles and the other in Manhattan. Her Playboy photographs inspired the look of Jack Kirby’s superheroine Big Barda. [13]

Along with appearing in numerous supper clubs across the country, Kazan guest-starred on Dean Martin’s variety series 26 times. Other television work includes a recurring role as Aunt Frieda on the Fran Drescher sitcom The Nanny, the mother of Kirstie Alley's character on Veronica's Closet, and various guest roles, including one on St. Elsewhere that resulted in an Emmy nomination. Her other television work has included The Paper Chase,Columbo, [14] Touched by an Angel, and Will & Grace .

Kazan played Maria Portokalos, the mother of Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. Following the first film in the franchise, Kazan was featured in My Big Fat Greek Life, a short-lived series based on the film series. Other recent film work includes the mother of Adam Sandler’s character in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Although the scene was deleted in the feature film, it is included on the DVD in the special features section. Kazan appeared as singer Ava St. Clair with Kevin James in two episodes of The King of Queens .

A life member of The Actors Studio, [15] Kazan returned to Broadway to recreate her film role for the musical adaptation of My Favorite Year, earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance. She completed a stint in The Vagina Monologues. She has appeared in regional productions of A Little Night Music, Man of La Mancha, Gypsy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Hello, Dolly!, and Fiddler on the Roof . In 1984, she made a guest appearance on the Faerie Tale Theatre episode “Pinocchio” as Sophia the Blue Fairy.

In the Ugly Betty episode "Fire and Nice," Kazan played Dina Talercio, the mother of Bobby (Adam Rodriguez), who becomes the character's brother-in-law. [16] In 2010, Kazan joined the cast of Desperate Housewives for season 7. She played the role of Mrs. Maxine Rosen, a self-employed business owner and neighbor to Susan Delfino. [17]

Personal life

After meeting musical director-arranger Peter H.B. Daniels on the Broadway musical Funny Girl , in which Kazan was a cast member and he was associate orchestra conductor, the two began a five-year relationship. They married sometime after the 1971 birth of their daughter Jennifer. [9] [18] [3] The marriage did not endure, and Kazan was single again by 1976. [9]

In the 1970s, Kazan was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Since then, she has dedicated time to public education about DVT. [19] [20]

Beginning in 2012, Kazan became an adjunct professor at UCLA, teaching acting classes and directing her students in drama-department productions. She has served on the boards of the Young Musicians’ Foundation, AIDS Project LA, the B'nai Brith, the California Jazz Foundation, and her alma mater, Hofstra University. [6]

On April 9, 2016, Kazan was injured in a head-on traffic collision. Kazan was driving her car when the collision occurred in Sherman Oaks, California, which necessitated hospitalization. [21]

In December 2017, outside a California supermarket, Kazan was arrested for shoplifting. [22] [23] Prosecutors reached a plea deal with her. [24] [25]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968 Dayton's Devils Leda Martell
1968 Lady in Cement Maria Baretto
1971 Romance of a Horsethief Estusha
1982 One from the Heart Maggie
1982 My Favorite Year Belle Carroca
1985 Lust in the Dust Marguerita Ventura
1985 The Journey of Natty Gann Connie
1986 The Delta Force Sylvia Goldman
1987 Harry and the Hendersons Irene Moffitt
1987Medium RareHelga Costas
1988 Out of the Dark Hooker / Nancy
1988 Beaches Leona Bloom
1989EternityMother BerneiceUncredited
1991 29th Street Mrs. Lainie Pesce
1992 I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore Sarah Fishbine
1993 The Cemetery Club Selma
1996 Love Is All There Is Sadie Capomezzo
1996Movies Money MurderSylvia
1996 The Associate Cindy Mason
1997Allie & MeCamille Alexander
1998 The Big Hit Jeanne Shulman
1998 Permanent Midnight June StahlUncredited
1998The Unknown CyclistRachel
1999KimberlyHanna
1999Mike & Spike MovieEstelle Kazan
2000 What's Cooking? Ruth 'Ruthie' Seelig
2000 Bruno Sister Mary PerpetuaAlso known as The Dress Code
2000 The Crew Pepper Lowenstein
2002 My Big Fat Greek Wedding Maria Portokalos
2002 Eight Crazy Nights OdaSinging voice
2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Documentary
2003 A Good Night to Die Diane
2003 Gigli Mother Susie
2004 Red Riding Hood Grandma
2005 Whiskey School Hedy Seligman
2007 Bratz: The Movie Bubbie
2007Beau JestMiriam Goldman
2008 You Don't Mess with the Zohan Gail
2009 Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! Shirley Hirsch
2010 Expecting Mary Lillian Littlefeather
2012Divorce InvitationElaine Lipnicks
2013Finding JoyGloria
2013Growing DefiantLesliecameo appearance
2015 Pearly Gates Millie
2015 Pixels Mickey Lamonsoff
2016 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Maria Portokalos
2018The Amityville MurdersNona
2021 Tango Shalom Leah Zlotkin
2023 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Maria Portokalos

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962 Car 54, Where Are You? Girl at BarEpisode: "Je T'Adore Muldoon"
1965 Ben Casey DellaEpisode: "Why Did the Day Go Backwards?"
1969 The Dean Martin Show Ella11 episodes
1977 The Bobby Vinton Show Edna19 episodes
1978A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig StorySophie TuckerTelevision film
1978 Columbo Valerie KirkEpisode: "Make Me a Perfect Murder"
1980A Cry for LoveTina WeathersbyTelevision film
1983 Sunset Limousine Jessie DurningTelevision film
1984The Jerk, TooCard PlayerTelevision film
1984Obsessive LoveMargaret ChaseTelevision film
1985–1986 The Paper Chase Rose Samuels15 episodes
1986 Tough Cookies Rita6 episodes
1987 Karen's Song Claire Steiner13 episodes
1987-1988 St. Elsewhere Frieda Fiscus3 episodes
1988 The Van Dyke Show BunnieEpisode: "Fatal Condo"
1989 Hägar the Horrible HelgaVoice, television short
1990Earthday BirthdayVoice, television film
1992 Beverly Hills 90210 Rose ZuckermanEpisode: "Down and Out of District in Beverly Hills"
1993 Tales from the Crypt Mrs. GrafungarEpisode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses"
1994 Animaniacs MollyVoice, episode: "Pigeon on the Roof"
1995 Murder, She Wrote Anna GrimaldiEpisode: "Crimson Harvest"
1995Prince for a DayRoseTelevision film
1995–1998 The Nanny Aunt Freida4 episodes
1998 Safety Patrol Mrs. DayTelevision film
1998 Touched by an Angel Doris BernsteinEpisode: "Deconstructing Harry"
2001 Will & Grace Aunt HoneyEpisode: "Moveable Feast: Part 1"
2002 Touched by an Angel Aunt MegEpisode: "The Princeless Bride"
2002Returning LillyDanaTelevision film
2003 My Big Fat Greek Life Maria Portokalos7 episodes
2005The Engagement RingAlicia Rosa AnselmiTelevision film
2006 Living with Fran Cookie (Fran's mom)1 episode
2007 The King of Queens Ava St. Clair2 episodes
2008 Boston Legal Judge Paula SternEpisode: "Dances with Wolves"
2010Medium RareHelga CostasEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
2010 'Til Death Donna3 episodes
2010 Desperate Housewives Maxine Rosen5 episodes
2012 Modern Family EleanorEpisode: "New Year's Eve"
2013 Jessie Wanda WinkleEpisode: "Throw Momma From the Terrace"
2013 Grey's Anatomy Catherine "C.J." JacksonEpisode: "Two Against One"
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race HerselfEpisode: "Glamazon by Colorevolution"
2018 Young & Hungry Susie LowensteinEpisode: "Young and Third Wheel"
2018 Fuller House IrmaEpisode: "Angels' Night Out"

Stage work

Discography

As guest vocalist

With Benny Carter

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbra Streisand</span> American singer and actress (born 1942)

Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being among the first performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).

<i>Funny Girl</i> (musical) 1964 musical based on the life of Fanny Brice

Funny Girl is a musical with score by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and book by Isobel Lennart, that first opened on Broadway in 1964. The semi-biographical plot is based on the life and career of comedian and Broadway star Fanny Brice, featuring her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Eder</span> American singer and actress

Linda Eder is an American singer and actress. She is most notable for having originated the role of Lucy Harris in the Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award.

<i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding</i> 2002 film by Joel Zwick

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, and Joey Fatone. It follows a young Greek-American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Martin</span> American actress (born 1947)

Andrea Louise Martin is an American and Canadian actress, best known for her work in the television series SCTV and Great News. She has appeared in films such as Black Christmas (1974), Wag the Dog (1997), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), and Little Italy (2018). She has also lent her voice to the animated films Anastasia (1997), The Rugrats Movie (1998), and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001). Since 2021, she co-stars in the supernatural drama series Evil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanny Brice</span> American actress, singer, and comedian (1891–1951)

Fania Borach, known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedian, illustrated song model, singer, and actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. She is known as the creator and star of the top-rated radio comedy series The Baby Snooks Show.

<i>On a Clear Day You Can See Forever</i> 1965 musical

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is a musical with music by Burton Lane and a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner based loosely on Berkeley Square, written in 1926 by John L. Balderston. It concerns a woman who has ESP and has been reincarnated. The musical received three Tony Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Constantine</span> American actor (1927–2021)

Michael Constantine was an American actor. He is most widely recognized for his portrayal Kostas "Gus" Portokalos, the stubborn Greek father of Toula Portokalos, in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). For his performance, Constantine won the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy.

"I Have Dreamed" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. In the original Broadway production it was sung by Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas. It has since become a standard, with many artists recording the song.

<i>My Big Fat Greek Life</i> American TV series or program

My Big Fat Greek Life is an American sitcom television series that ran on CBS from February 24 to April 13, 2003. The series is a continuation of the 2002 movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and was produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tom Hanks's Playtone Productions for CBS. The two lead characters' names are changed, from Toula and Ian, to Nia and Thomas.

The 7th Golden Satellite Awards, honoring the best in film and television of 2002, were presented by the International Press Academy on January 12, 2003.

<i>The Barbra Streisand Album</i> 1963 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Barbra Streisand Album is the debut album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released February 25, 1963, on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 2007 in mono and CS 8807 in stereo. It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top LPs, and has been certified a gold album by the RIAA. By 1966, the album had sold over one million copies worldwide.

<i>The Second Barbra Streisand Album</i> 1963 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Second Barbra Streisand Album is the title of Barbra Streisand's second solo studio album. It was released in August 1963, just six months after the release of her debut album, The Barbra Streisand Album, and was recorded in four days in June 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A House Is Not a Home (song)</span> 1964 song by Burt Bacharach

"A House Is Not a Home" is a 1964 ballad written by the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1964 film of the same name, starring Shelley Winters and Robert Taylor. The song was recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, and was a modest hit in the United States for the singer, peaking at #71 on the pop singles chart as the B-side of the top 40 single, "You'll Never Get to Heaven ". Another version of the song, by Brook Benton, which was the version that appeared in the film, was released at nearly the same time. It debuted two weeks earlier on the Billboard Hot 100. Benton's version split airplay with Warwick's, and ultimately peaked at #75.

Isobel Lennart was an American screenwriter and playwright. She is best known for writing the book for the Broadway musical Funny Girl which premiered in 1964, although she also wrote scripts for successful Hollywood films featuring major stars, some of which received Oscar nominations.

<i>Funny Girl</i> (film) 1968 film by William Wyler

Funny Girl is a 1968 American biographical-musical film directed by William Wyler and written by Isobel Lennart, adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title. It is loosely based on the life and career of comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

<i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2</i> 2016 American film

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is a 2016 American romantic comedy film directed by Kirk Jones and written by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin, Ian Gomez, and Elena Kampouris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elena Kampouris</span> American actress (born 1997)

Elena Kampouris is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Allison Doss in the drama film Men, Women & Children (2014), Maya Decker in the NBC drama series American Odyssey (2015), Paris Miller in the romantic comedy films My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023), Juliet Sykes in the drama film Before I Fall (2017), and Chloe Sampson in the Netflix superhero series Jupiter's Legacy (2021). She made her Broadway debut as Cécile Volanges in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2016).

<i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding</i> (franchise) American media franchise

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, consists of American romantic comedies, including three theatrical films, and a television series. The series was created by Nia Vardalos.

<i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3</i> 2023 film by Nia Vardalos

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. The third installment in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, the film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin. It is the first entry not to star Michael Constantine, Bess Meisler, and Ian Gomez. Filming took place in Athens, Greece, from June through August 2022.

References

  1. "Lainie Kazan: Performer". Internet Broadway Database . Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  2. "Lainie Kazan papers 1960-1998". The New York Public Library.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Klein, Alvin (May 3, 1992). "Lainie Kazan Goes Back to Her Roots". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2010. Her 21-year-old daughter, Jennifer Daniels...
  4. Kazan, Lainie. "Lainie Kazan". Actors' Equity Association . Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2017. I had just changed my name from Lainie Levine to Lainie Kazan (Kazan being my mother's maiden name).
  5. "Paid Notice: Deaths — Levine, Carole". The New York Times. March 16, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Miller, Gerri (March 23, 2016). "Lainie Kazan happily goes 'Greek' again for comedy sequel". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  7. Avasthi, Surabhi (June 16, 1996). "Down Memory Lainie How a Nice Jewish Girl From Brooklyn Bared All For Playboy .. And Survived The Aftermath". New York Daily News . Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  8. "Q&A with Lainie Kazan". Palm Beach Illustrated. December 1, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Breslauer, Jan (February 2, 1997). "You Can't Pin Her Down". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2017. In 1971, she became pregnant by her companion of five years, Peter Daniels, whom she'd met when he was the associate musical conductor on 'Funny Girl'. Kazan's daughter, Jennifer Bena, who now lives in L.A., was born at the end of 1971. After Jennifer's birth, Kazan and Daniels were married, but the match only endured a few more years. In 1976, newly single and a mother...
  10. Pfefferman, Naomi (April 11, 2003). "Lainie Kazan's 'Big Fat' Jewish Life". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles . Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  11. Pine, Dan (March 31, 2006). "Lainie Kazan bringing cabaret classics to S.F." J. The Jewish News of Northern California . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  12. "Alumni". HB Studio. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. Evanier, Mark. "The Jack F.A.Q." POVonline.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  14. "Columbo" Make Me a Perfect Murder (TV Episode 1978) - IMDb , retrieved 2022-04-08
  15. Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan. p. 278. ISBN   978-0025426504.
  16. Abrams, Natalie (January 22, 2010). "Ugly Betty Casts Bobby's Parents". TV Guide . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  17. Abrams, Natalie (August 17, 2010). "Lainie Kazan to Guest-Star on Desperate Housewives". TV Guide . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  18. "Peter H.B. Daniels; Musical Director, Arranger". Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1989. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  19. "Still Kicking: Lainie Kazan". Ability . August–September 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  20. Georgia Thrombosis Forum Members (May 4, 2017). "Spreading Awareness of Blood Clots". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  21. Guglielmi, Jodi (April 14, 2016). "My Big Fat Greek Wedding Star Lainie Kazan on the Mend After Car Accident". People . Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  22. Lovece, Frank (December 27, 2017). "Lainie Kazan arrested for shoplifting, report says". Newsday. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  23. "'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' star Lainie Kazan allegedly shoplifted groceries before". Fox News. December 29, 2017.
  24. "Lainie Kazan gets plea deal in shoplifting case". Hollywood.com. January 28, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  25. Bitette, Nicole. "'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' star Lainie Kazan reaches deal after shoplifting arrest". nydailynews.com.