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Gilda Radner biography

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Quick Facts

  • NAME: Gilda Radner
  • OCCUPATION: Television Actress, Comedian
  • BIRTH DATE: June 28, 1946
  • DEATH DATE: May 20, 1989
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: Detroit, Michigan
  • PLACE OF DEATH: Los Angeles, California
  • Full Name: Gilda Susan Radner

Best Known For

Gilda Radner was an award-winning actress and comedian known for her work on Saturday Night Live. She was married to fellow comedian Gene Wilder.

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Synopsis

Gilda Radner, born on June 28, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan, went on to star with close friend John Belushi in NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Some of her most memorable characters included Roseanne Roseannadanna and Baba Wawa, and she won an Emmy for her work in 1978. She married fellow comedian Gene Wilder, whom she met on the set of the film Hanky Panky. She died of ovarian cancer in 1989.

Quotes

"I'd much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes and they're the first to be rescued off sinking ships."
– Gilda Radner

Early Life

Comedienne and actress Gilda Radner was born on June 28, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. Gilda Radner was a brilliant comedienne, winning over fans with her over-the-top characters. Once a theater student in college, she became a member of the renowned Toronto-based comedy troupe Second City, performing with Dan Aykroyd and John Candy.

'Saturday Night Live'

Gilda Radner was selected by producer Lorne Michaels to join the cast of a new late-night comedy program called Saturday Night Live in 1975. She stayed on the show for five years, creating such legendary characters as Roseanne Rosannadanna, the annoying newswoman, and Baba Wawa, a parody of Barbara Walters. She performed with many emerging comic stars, including John Belushi and Bill Murray.

Death and Legacy

Facing her greatest challenge with humor, Gilda Radner battled ovarian cancer in the late 1980s. She wrote about her experiences in It's Always Something (1989). She died on May 20 of that same year. She was married to comedic actor Gene Wilder. A women's cancer support organization, Gilda's Club, was established in honor of her memory.

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