Lainie Kazan
Singer / Actress
Lainie Kazan reflects on her diverse career, from her role in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' to her Golden Globe-nominated performance in 'My Favorite Year.' She shares insights from her early days as Barbra Streisand's understudy in 'Funny Girl,' detailing the challenges and unique opportunities of that experience.
Lainie Kazan
of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”
About Lainie Kazan
Lainie Kazan is an actress and singer who made her Broadway debut in 1961 and gained early recognition as Barbra Streisand's understudy in Funny Girl. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for My Favorite Year and a Tony nomination for the musical adaptation of the same work. Her film career includes the role of Maria Portokalos in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, and she received an Emmy nomination for St. Elsewhere.
In this interview
- Recalls waiting a year and three months before performing in Funny Girl
- Describes having a front row seat to the making of a great star
- Shares the frustration of wanting Streisand to get sick so she could perform
- Notes her career took off after performing twice in one day
“I had a front row seat in the making of one of the greatest stars”— Lainie Kazan, in this interview
Since this interview
Kazan appeared in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in 2016. Her first four MGM Records albums from 1966-1968 were released on digital platforms in 2024 via Republic Records.
