Madeline Kahn

'Madeline Kahn' (qv) was born Madeline Gail Wolfson of Russian Jewish descent on September 29, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Freda Goldberg (later known as 'Paula Kahn' (qv)), who was still in her teens, and Bernard B. Wolfson, a garment manufacturer. She began her acting career in high school and went on to university where she trained as an opera singer and starred in several campus productions, ultimately earning a doctorate in her chosen field.Kahn's best-known work came in _Paper Moon (1973)_ (qv) with 'Ryan O'Neal' (qv), which was followed the next year by 'Mel Brooks' (qv)'s outrageous _Blazing Saddles (1974)_ (qv) as Lili Von Shtupp, a cabaret singer who was obviously based on 'Marlene Dietrich' (qv)'s performance in _Destry Rides Again (1939)_ (qv). Kahn was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in both movies. In 1998, she lent her voice to the character of "Gypsy" in _A Bug's Life (1998)_ (qv).On December 3, 1999, 'Madeline Kahn' (qv) died of ovarian cancer in New York City, after a yearlong or so battle, during part of which time she was a cast member of _Cosby (1996)_ (qv), aged 57.::Denny Jackson