Kazan, Lainie

Actor-singer Lainie Kazan has had a wide-ranging career performing in musical theatre, jazz clubs, television and film.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, she studied acting at Hofstra University and appeared on Broadway in THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD (1961) and BRAVO GIOVANNI (1962). Her big break came when she was cast as the understudy to Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL (1964). Kazan went on to pursue a career as a vocalist, recording albums, and singing in cabarets. She made many television appearances on THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW and starred in her own syndicated television variety special, THE LAINIE KAZAN SHOW, in 1968.

In 1976, Kazan was given the opportunity to manage her own lounge, Lainie's Club, at the Playboy Club of Los Angeles. The venture proved so successful that the Playboy Club of New York approached her to create Lainie's Room at their club in 1977. Kazan continues to appear in film and television including ONE FROM THE HEART in 1982 and MY FAVORITE YEAR, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, and which she revived on stage at Lincoln Center Theatre in 1992. She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the television series ST. ELSEWHERE and appeared in the film BEACHES with Bette Midler and the film and television series MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, among others.

Lainie Kazan was born Lainie Levine on May 15, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. From the age of three, her inclination to pursue a life in show business was evident: she was already taking tap dancing lessons. She entered Hofstra University to study acting and changed her last name to Kazan, her mothers maiden name. Kazans studies eventually led her to perform on Broadway in such shows as THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD (1961) and BRAVO GIOVANNI (1962).

Kazans big break came when she was cast in another Broadway show, FUNNY GIRL (1964), as the understudy to lead actress Barbara Streisand in the role of Fanny Brice. Given the opportunity to shine as Fanny Brice for one matinee and one evening performance in FUNNY GIRL, Kazan received excellent reviews, and found it difficult to continue thereafter as a chorus girl in the shadow of Streisands fame.

Kazan went on to pursue a career as a vocalist, recording albums, and singing in cabarets. She made many television appearances on THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW and starred in her own syndicated television variety special, THE LAINIE KAZAN SHOW, in 1968. After tiring of life on the road, she married musical director Peter Daniels, and they gave birth to a daughter, Jennifer, in 1971.

Actress Shelley Winters introduced Kazan to renowned acting teacher Lee Strasberg, and Kazan enrolled to study with him at the Actors Studio. In 1976, Kazan was given the opportunity to manage her own lounge, Lainie's Club, at the Playboy Club of Los Angeles, where she revived her singing career. The venture proved so successful that the Playboy Club of New York approached her to create Lainies Room at their club in 1977.

Kazans former Hofstra classmate, Francis Ford Coppola, encouraged her to return to film, casting her in his feature, ONE FROM THE HEART in 1982. Her Brooklyn roots fared well for the Yenta mother character of Belle in the film comedy, MY FAVORITE YEAR, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, and which she revived on stage at Lincoln Center Theatre in 1992. Kazan had a successful run in the popular cable television series, THE PAPER CHASE, and was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the series ST. ELSEWHERE. Other notable credits include the film BEACHES with Bette Midler and the film and television series MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. Kazan has done several singing performance benefits to raise funds for AIDS research as well as cancer research.