Baboon

Elastic comic genius who stole every scene with wild warmth.

Madeline Kahn was a brilliantly improvisational performer whose elastic, expressive comedic style — from her hysterical nervous breakdowns in Blazing Saddles to her deliciously unhinged turns in Young Frankenstein and Clue — perfectly mirrors the baboon's gift for physical comedy, witty timing, and joyful scene-stealing. She radiated affection even in her most absurd moments, drawing audiences in with a rare combination of sophistication and gleeful silliness. Like the baboon, she was the undeniable emotional and comedic center of any ensemble she joined, beloved by co-stars and audiences alike.