Lainie Kazan
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1940-05-15
    • Born Place: New York City, New York, USA
  • Also Known As:

    ლაინი კაზანი, لینی کازان

Lainie Kazan

Lainie Kazan (née Lainie Levine; born May 15, 1940, in Brooklyn) is a veteran American actress, singer, and entertainer whose career spans over six decades. Of mixed Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish heritage, she honed her performance skills early—studying theatre at HB Studio and graduating from Hofstra University in 1960, where she appeared in productions with future luminaries like Francis Ford Coppola and James Caan. She made her Broadway debut in The Happiest Girl in the World (1961) and notably served as Barbra Streisand's understudy in Funny Girl, stepping into the lead for a matinee and evening show in 1964. Kazan’s vibrant singing and cabaret performances led to 26 guest appearances on The Dean Martin Show, plus headlining and operating "Lainie’s Room" jazz clubs—first in LA, later in New York—through a partnership with Playboy in the 1970s; her Playboy pictorial even inspired the design of the DC Comics hero Big Barda . Transitioning successfully to film and television, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for My Favorite Year (1982) and an Emmy nod for her guest spot on St. Elsewhere, while her defending mother role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) resonated so deeply it turned “Mama Portokalos” into a cultural icon—she reprised the role in its sequels and in a TV spin-off. Beyond acting, Kazan is a beloved mentor—teaching "Acting for the Singer" at UCLA and Hofstra—and a philanthropist serving on boards like the Young Musicians Foundation and AIDS Project LA. Though recognized in her later years with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, her legacy truly shines in the stage musicals, nightclub performances, comedic film roles, and heartfelt portrayals that define a richly varied and inspiring career.

Person History