Lainie Kazan Biography

American actress Lainie Kazan is noted for her stage, film, and television work as well as her singing abilities. She remains best known, however, for her work in the unexpected hit comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Lanie Levine, known popularly as Lainie Kazan, was born May 15, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a bookie, while Kazan was quoted as describing her mother as “neurotic, fragile, and artistic.”

On the education front, she attended Erasmus Hall High School.

Knowing she wanted to make her mark in the world of entertainment, Kazan began her career onstage. Her first Broadway appearance came in 1961 with a version of The Happiest Girl in the World. Shortly after, she appeared in Bravo Giovanni.

She even served as Barbra Streisand’s understudy in the hugely successful stage adaptation of Funny Girl. When Streisand suffered a throat condition a year and a half into the performance, Kazan finally received her chance to perform.

With her stage career on the rise, Kazan’s visibility increased. This was aided by posing in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine in October of 1970.

Pursuing her acting and singing, Kazan is noted for appearing over twenty-five times on Dean Martin’s television variety series.

Branching out into many avenues, Kazan made her onscreen debut in 1962 with a one-episode appearance on Car 54, Where Are You?

Establishing herself as a talented character actor, she immediately found steady work in numerous supporting roles. She is particularly known, however, for her role in My Favorite Year opposite Peter OToole, Joseph Bologna, and Anne De Salvo.

Kazan also had a recurring role on the television drama The Paper Chase. Her character, Rose Samuels, appeared from 1985 to 1986.

Displaying her versatility, she switched gears the following year to appear with John Lithgow in the comedy Harry and the Hendersons.

Some may recognize her for her stint in Garry Marshall’s comedy/drama Beaches. She shared the screen with Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, and John Heard.

Seeing a revival in her career during the mid-90s, Kazan could be seen with Fran Drescher in several episodes of The Nanny.

But it was 2002 that really offered a boost to her career. In that year, she landed the role of Maria Portokalos in the runaway hit comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Written by and starring Nia Vardalos, the Oscar-nominated work also starred Michael Constantine and John Corbett.

She reprised her role for the short-lived television series of the same name. That endeavor only lasted through 2003.

Most recently, she appeared as Gail in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. The comedy starred Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Rob Schneider, and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Always harboring her love of the theater, Kazan returned to Broadway with My Favorite Year. The performance earned her a Tony nomination. She could also be seen briefly with the hit play The Vagina Monologues.

In her personal life, she married Peter Daniels on February 28, 1971. They had one daughter before divorcing.