Carol Kane

From Grokipedia

Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an American actress and comedian recognized for her high-pitched voice, quirky characterizations, and versatile performances across stage, film, and television. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Elaine Joy Fetterman, a jazz singer and pianist, and Michael Myron Kane, an architect, she began her professional acting career with a debut in the 1966 Broadway production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Kane achieved breakthrough recognition with her starring role as Gitl in the 1975 independent film Hester Street, portraying a Jewish immigrant wife adjusting to life in New York's Lower East Side, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her subsequent film credits include supporting roles in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977), The Muppet Movie (1979), The Princess Bride (1987) as Valerie, and Scrooged (1988) as the Ghost of Christmas Present. On television, she earned two Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Simka Dahlen on Taxi (1978–1983), and later gained renewed acclaim for playing the eccentric Lillian Kaushtupper on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2019). Kane's career spans over five decades, encompassing comedic and dramatic roles that highlight her distinctive screen presence and commitment to character-driven work.

In brief

Carol Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an American actress and comedian. She gained recognition for her role in Hester Street (1975), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Annie Hall (1977), When a Stranger Calls (1979), The Princess Bride (1987), Scrooged (1988) and Flashback (1990).

Kane appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s as Simka Gravas, the wife of Latka (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 touring productions and on Broadway from 2005 to 2014. From 2015 to 2020, she was a main cast member on the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in which she played Lillian Kaushtupper.