You may not know her name but you certainly know her face. She is Kathleen Freeman. A character actress who appeared in scores of films and TV Ms Freeman worked steadily in Hollywood for decades. Her forte was comedy usually playing a nurse, maid or overbearing nosy neighbor. Jerry Lewis loved her and used Ms. Freeman in eleven of his films. When Kathleen Freeman wasn't acting in TV shows and movies she taught acting in her studio in Studio City.
Born in Chicago in 1919 to vaudevillian parents. She made her first stage appearance at the age of two dancing in her parents act. After briefly studying music at UCLA Ms Freeman became a full time actress in 1946. Besides her roles in the Jerry Lewis films she had many other film roles including "Singing in the Rain", "Myra Breckinridge", "The Fly" and "The Blues Brothers" where she played Sister Mary Stigmata aka The Penguin. Ms Freeman was a friend of Lucille Ball who cast her five times in various roles on her television series.
Freeman always the face you knew but the name you didn't was once approached by a fan, who said to her, "I do not know who you are or what you did, but you were
wonderful!" Freeman roared with laughter and hoped someday to use that line as a title of
her memoires. In 1999 Ms Freeman performed a one woman show at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood titled "Are you Somebody?"
She was always the consummate actress, a pro. Her last performance was in the Broadway production of "The Full Monty". Ms Freeman died of lung cancer at the age of 82. She was survived by her long time companion Helen Ramsey.
Eighty-six years ago today in Brooklyn, New York Melvin Kaminsky was born. Known today as the comic genius Mel Brooks he is one of America's treasures. His career started in the Catskills "Borscht Belt" where he was a part-time comic and tummler at Grossingers. For those of you who don't know what a tummler is; a tummler is a master entertainer who made sure all the guests were having a good time and knew of the entertainments offered at the resorts. His old friend Sid Caesar hired him on as a writer for the ground breaking 1950's televison show "Your Show of Shows". There he wrote with fellow comic greats Neil Simon and Carl Reiner. Mel and Carl Reiner teamed up after the show and created the 2000 Year Old Man. Carl Reiner went on to create the Dick Van Dyke show and the character of Buddy Sorrel played by Morey Amsterdam was based on Mel Brooks. In the mid 60's Mel teamed up with another comic of reknown Buck Henry and created the television classic "Get Smart" starring Don Adams.
Brooks went on to become known as a director of comic masterpieces starting with "The Producers" and including such revered comedies "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", "Silent Movie" and "High Anxiety" among others.
He was married for 41 years to the actress Anne Bancroft until her death in 2004. He is still working to this day. A broadway production of "The Producers" won a record 12 Tony awards. Mel Brooks is one of a handful of performers to have received an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy award.
Happy Birthday to Mel Brooks!
