# Lainie Kazan

Lainie Kazan (born Lainie Levine; May 15, 1940) 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.

## Early life

Kazan was born Lainie Levine in Brooklyn, the daughter of Carole (née Kazan) and Ben Levine. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish and Sephardic Jewish descent with Russian and Turkish roots. Some of her grandparents lived in Jerusalem before moving to Manchester, England, and settling in Brooklyn. Kazan has described her mother as "neurotic, fragile and artistic." 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 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.

## 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. 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.
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, 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, 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. 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.

## 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. The marriage did not endure, and Kazan was single again by 1976.
In the 1970s, Kazan was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Since then, she has dedicated time to public education about DVT.
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.
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.
In December 2017, outside a California supermarket, Kazan was arrested for shoplifting. Prosecutors reached a plea deal with her.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 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 | |
| 1987 | Medium Rare | Helga Costas | |
| 1988 | Out of the Dark | Hooker / Nancy | |
| 1988 | Beaches | Leona Bloom | |
| 1989 | Eternity | Mother Berneice | Uncredited |
| 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 | |
| 1996 | Movies Money Murder | Sylvia | |
| 1996 | The Associate | Cindy Mason | |
| 1997 | Allie & Me | Camille Alexander | |
| 1998 | The Big Hit | Jeanne Shulman | |
| 1998 | Permanent Midnight | June Stahl | Uncredited |
| 1998 | The Unknown Cyclist | Rachel | |
| 1999 | Kimberly | Hanna | |
| 1999 | Mike & Spike Movie | Estelle Kazan | |
| 2000 | What's Cooking? | Ruth 'Ruthie' Seelig | |
| 2000 | Bruno | Sister Mary Perpetua | Also known as The Dress Code |
| 2000 | The Crew | Pepper Lowenstein | |
| 2002 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding | Maria Portokalos | |
| 2002 | Eight Crazy Nights | Oda | Singing voice |
| 2003 | Broadway: The Golden Age | Herself | 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 | Also known as Bratz |
| 2007 | Beau Jest | Miriam Goldman | |
| 2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Gail | |
| 2009 | Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! | Shirley Hirsch | |
| 2010 | Expecting Mary | Lillian Littlefeather | |
| 2012 | Divorce Invitation | Elaine Lipnicks | |
| 2013 | Finding Joy | Gloria | |
| 2013 | Growing Defiant | Leslie | cameo appearance |
| 2015 | Pearly Gates | Millie | |
| 2015 | Pixels | Mickey Lamonsoff | |
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Maria Portokalos | |
| 2018 | The Amityville Murders | Nona | |
| 2021 | Tango Shalom | Leah Zlotkin | |
| 2023 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 | Maria Portokalos | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1962 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Girl at Bar | Episode: "Je T'Adore Muldoon" |
| 1965 | Ben Casey | Della | Episode: "Why Did the Day Go Backwards?" |
| 1969 | The Dean Martin Show | Ella | 11 episodes |
| 1977 | The Bobby Vinton Show | Edna | 19 episodes |
| 1978 | A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story | Sophie Tucker | Television film |
| 1978 | Columbo | Valerie Kirk | Episode: "Make Me a Perfect Murder" |
| 1980 | A Cry for Love | Tina Weathersby | Television film |
| 1983 | Sunset Limousine | Jessie Durning | Television film |
| 1984 | The Jerk, Too | Card Player | Television film |
| 1984 | Obsessive Love | Margaret Chase | Television film |
| 1985–1986 | The Paper Chase | Rose Samuels | 15 episodes |
| 1986 | Tough Cookies | Rita | 6 episodes |
| 1987 | Karen's Song | Claire Steiner | 13 episodes |
| 1987–1988 | St. Elsewhere | Frieda Fiscus | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | The Van Dyke Show | Bunnie | Episode: "Fatal Condo" |
| 1989 | Hägar the Horrible | Helga | Voice, television short |
| 1990 | Earthday Birthday | | Voice, television film |
| 1992 | Beverly Hills 90210 | Rose Zuckerman | Episode: "Down and Out of District in Beverly Hills" |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Mrs. Grafungar | Episode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses" |
| 1994 | Animaniacs | Molly | Voice, episode: "Pigeon on the Roof" |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Anna Grimaldi | Episode: "Crimson Harvest" |
| 1995 | Prince for a Day | Rose | Television film |
| 1995–1998 | The Nanny | Aunt Freida | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Safety Patrol | Mrs. Day | Television film |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel | Doris Bernstein | Episode: "Deconstructing Harry" |
| 2001 | Will & Grace | Aunt Honey | Episode: "Moveable Feast: Part 1" |
| 2002 | Touched by an Angel | Aunt Meg | Episode: "The Princeless Bride" |
| 2002 | Returning Lilly | Dana | Television film |
| 2003 | My Big Fat Greek Life | Maria Portokalos | 7 episodes |
| 2005 | The Engagement Ring | Alicia Rosa Anselmi | Television film |
| 2006 | Living with Fran | Cookie (Fran's mom) | 1 episode |
| 2007 | The King of Queens | Ava St. Clair | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Judge Paula Stern | Episode: "Dances with Wolves" |
| 2010 | Medium Rare | Helga Costas | Episode: "Episode #1.1" |
| 2010 | 'Til Death | Donna | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Desperate Housewives | Maxine Rosen | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Modern Family | Eleanor | Episode: "New Year's Eve" |
| 2013 | Jessie | Wanda Winkle | Episode: "Throw Momma From the Terrace" |
| 2013 | Grey's Anatomy | Catherine "C.J." Jackson | Episode: "Two Against One" |
| 2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Episode: "Glamazon by Colorevolution" |
| 2018 | Young & Hungry | Susie Lowenstein | Episode: "Young and Third Wheel" |
| 2018 | Fuller House | Irma | Episode: "Angels' Night Out" |

## Stage work

| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 1960 | Kittiwake Island | Jenny Wren | Martinique Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1961 | The Happiest Girl in the World | Theodora | Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway |
| 1962 | Bravo Giovanni | La Contessa, Singer | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway |
| 1964 | Funny Girl | Showgirl, Vera; standby Fanny Brice | Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway |
| 1973 | Seesaw | Gittel Mosca | Fisher Theater, Detroit |
| 1980 | Show Boat | performer | Wolf Trap, Virginia |
| 1980 | Show Boat | performer | National Theatre, DC |
| 1986 | Hello, Dolly! | Dolly Levi Gallagher | Claridge Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City |
| 1988 | The Rink | Anna | Coconut Grove Playhouse, Florida |
| 1992 | My Favorite Year | Belle Steinberg Carroca | Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway |
| 1994 | The Government Inspector | Anna, The Governor's Wife | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
| 1994 | Fiddler on the Roof | Golde | US national tour |
| 2001 | The Vagina Monologues | performer | Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2006 | Bermuda Avenue Triangle | Tess LaRuffa | DuPont Theater, Wilmington |
| 2006 | Bermuda Avenue Triangle | Tess LaRuffa | Brentwood Theater, Los Angeles |
Other
* Leave It to Jane (1959, Off-Broadway)
* Man of La Mancha (1972, Westbury Music Fair)
* Gypsy (1992, Westbury Music Fair)
* Rags (2006, World AIDS Day benefit concert)

## Discography

* Lainie Kazan (1966) SE-4385 MGM Records (original studio album)
* Right Now (1966) SE-4340 MGM Records (original studio album; with sleeve notes by Dean Martin)
* Love Is Lainie (1967) SE-4496 MGM Records (original studio album)
* The Love Album (1967) SE 4451 MGM Records (original studio album)
* The Best of Lainie Kazan (1969) SE-4631 MGM Records (compilation album)
* The Chanteuse is Loose (1977) LK515 Lainie & Co. (original Live album)
* Body & Soul (1995) 65126 MusicMasters (original studio album)
* In the Groove (1998) 65168 MusicMasters (original studio album)

### As guest vocalist

With Benny Carter
* Benny Carter Songbook Volume II (MusicMasters, 1997)