Madeline Kahn was an American actress, singer, and comedienne best known for her comedic roles in films such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and High Anxiety. She was born Madeline Gail Wolfson in 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts and began her career on stage in the 1960s. Her breakthrough role came in 1974 when she starred in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles. She went on to appear in several other of his films, including Young Frankenstein and History of the World Part I. Kahn won an Emmy Award for her performance in the television movie Mrs. Munck and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Paper Moon. Her last film role was in the 1996 comedy The First Wives Club. Her last name is Kahn, which is the answer to the crossword clue.