In the final reel of Joan Micklin Silver’s 1975 feature film debut Hester Street, Gitl, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who has been continuously bullied into assimilation by her Americanized husband, finally decides her own future. Silver deliberately shoots Gitl in close-up — sad, angry, but determined. She’s even surprised herself with her choice. It’s a powerful moment ,and the then 22 year old Carol Kane captivates.
Kane received her first and only Academy Award nomination for Hester Street, one of very few lead roles she’s played. She lost to Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (arguably a supporting role).
Best known as a comedic actress, Kane spent the early part of her career doing dramatic work (albeit often with a funny edge). She had small parts in seminal films of the early ‘70s like Frank D. Gilroy’s underrated Desperate Characters, Mike Nichols’ Carnal Knowledge, and Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail.
In 1975, besides Hester Street, she appeared as a frightened bank teller in Sidney Lumet’s classic Dog Day Afternoon. She also had a lead role as a rape victim in the Canadian film Wedding in White in 1972.
Post-nomination, Kane did not work for a year, but in 1977 appeared in two films set in the silent era: Gene Wilder’s The World’s Greatest Lover (her first real comedy) and Ken Russell’s biopic Valentino. In addition, she played Allison Portchnik, Alvy Singer’s first wife, in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (winner of the 1977 Best Picture Oscar.)
In 1979, she conquered the horror genre with When a Stranger Calls and had a cameo in The Muppet Movie.
In the early ‘80s Kane was cast in the TV series Taxi as Simka, the wife to Andy Kaufman’s off-the-wall Latka. That solidified her image as a madcap comedy genius and won her two Emmy Awards.
Kane’s ’80s-90s film credits include Transylvania 6-5000, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Elaine May’s infamous (and misunderstood) Ishtar, Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride, Scrooged, The Lemon Sisters, In the Soup, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Addams Family Values, Trees Lounge, and a cameo as herself in Milos Forman’s biopic about Kaufman, Man on the Moon.
She continued to work non-stop in the 2000s in films like Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Sleepwalk with Me, Thanks for Sharing, The Sisters Brothers, and The Dead Don’t Die.
In addition to Taxi, her TV work includes guest appearances on Laverne and Shirley, Cheers, Seinfeld, Chicago Hope, Ellen, Two and a Half Men, Monk, Ugly Betty, and Girls. She co-starred in All is Forgiven (1986), American Dreamer (1990-91) and had recurring roles on the Fox series Gotham (2014) and the HBO show Los Espookys (2019). Kane was also a series regular on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020) as well as two seasons of the terrific Amazon series Hunters (2020-23). She most recently joined the casts of both Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Dinner with the Parents.
Onstage she’s portrayed Madame Morrible in the musical Wicked on Broadway as well as on tour from 2005 to 2014. She was also in the revival of Harvey at Studio 54 in 2012.
She is currently starring in Nathan Silver’s hilarious and heartfelt Between the Temples (now in theaters), arguably her meatiest role since Hester Street. Kane plays Carla O’Connor, a retired elementary school music teacher who decides she’d like to finally be bat-mitzvah’d. Jason Schwartzman (who also has his best role in years) plays a former student, now cantor, suffering his own crisis. It’s a joy watching these two thesps navigate a very strange yet potent love story. Both Hester Street and Between the Temples, almost 50 years apart, have female protagonists examining their Jewish identities in very different ways.
It would be nice if Oscar prognosticators could see past the obvious choices this year and start to include Kane in their awards season assessments. She’s that deserving.
The Contending recently video-zoomed with Kane to discuss her eclectic career. And had a ball!
Oh, that was fun to read. Ive always found this lady quirky and distinctive. I feel that I grew up with this actress, and enjoyed your coverage of her career.
If you haven’t already take a look at the career chart above. She was such a joy to converse with.