Lainie Kazan

Birth Name:

Lanie Levine

Birth Place:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Profession

Actress, Soundtrack, Producer

Serves on the boards of the Young Musicians Foundation, AIDS Project LA and B'nai Brith, and has given many benefit performances for these causes
Was presented with "The Israeli Peace Award" in 1990
Was Barbara Streisand's understudy in the Broadway production of "Funny Girl․"
As an actress, one of her most successful roles was as the Greek matriarch in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," an independent film that achieved wide mainstream popularity
Sang in in New York and Los Angeles nightclubs early in her career and made many guest appearances on talk and variety shows
The photographs she took for "Playboy" served as the inspiration for the appearance of DC comic book super hero Big Barda
Though she played Bette Midler's mother in "Beaches," she is only five years older than the other actress in real life

1983Golden Globe - Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture:Nominated
1987ACE - Actress in a Dramatic Series:Nominated
1988Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series:Nominated
2003Actor - Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture:Nominated
2003Golden Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical:Nominated
2003Stinker Award - Worst Supporting Actress:Nominated
2004Razzie Award - Worst Supporting Actress:Nominated
2010FilmOut Festival Award - Best Actress:Winner
2017Movies for Grownups Award - Best Grownup Love Story:Nominated
2021Festival Award - Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film:Nominated
2023Vanguard Award - Best Actress:Winner

Fast Facts