Madeline Kahn Quotes

United States, Actress
September 29, 1942 – December, 3, 1999.

Madeline Gail Kahn (born Madeline Gail Wolfson; September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, comedian, voice actress, and singer, known for comedic roles in films directed by Peter Bogdanovich and Mel Brooks, including What's Up, Doc? (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974), High Anxiety (1977), History of the World, Part I (1981), and her Academy Award-nominated roles in Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974).

Also known as Comedian, Voice Actor, Singer

From inside where I live, I feel like I just perceive events in a certain rational way. I often find it sad or poignant, and it may not make me laugh a bit. But I don't mind inventing a portrait that allows others to laugh if that's what they want to do.

Madeline Kahn
- Live
- Mind
- May
I find being funny very hard work. I am always asked about it, and I feel guilty saying that, but it's the truth. I love my work, but it ain't easy.

Madeline Kahn
- Work
- Truth
- Funny

Laughter is a strange response. I mean, what is it? It's a spasm of some kind! Is that always joy? It's very often discomfort. It's some sort of explosive reaction. It's very complex.

Madeline Kahn
- Joy
- Laughter
- Strange
Fun is carefree. I am not carefree.

Madeline Kahn
- Carefree
Comedy is created when someone is trying very earnestly to do what he feels is the right thing to do at that moment.

Madeline Kahn
- Trying
- Comedy
- Moment
My mother was a Bohemian - in the good sense of the word. A searcher. And she investigated various religions.

Madeline Kahn
- Good
- She
- Mother
Me, as myself, I don't think I'm particularly funny. But I've noticed that people in my life always have found me amusing. Which, when I was little, really bothered me.

Madeline Kahn
- People
- Life
- Funny
I don't like to be my own audience, I find that being my own audience, being in the audience, makes me self-conscious, basically. So I tune in sometimes, with the sound off, to check it out and I back up to it. In the future I will look at it when some time has passed.

Madeline Kahn
- Up
- Time
- Future

Mel is sensual with me. He treats me like an uncle - a dirty uncle. He's an earthy man and very moral underneath. He has traditional values.

Madeline Kahn
- Moral
- Dirty
- Uncle
In Hollywood I thought I was large and klutzy, like the characters I played.

Madeline Kahn
- Like
- Thought
- Hollywood