Lainie Kazan: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 42
- on screen
- 1968–2025
- box office
- $257M
- nomination
- 1
- average score
- 59
- Born
- May 15, 1940 (age 86)
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
- Full name
- Lainie Levine
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actress, Singer
- Years active
- 1958-present
- Spouses
- Peter H. B. Daniels
- Children
- 1
The Best Lainie Kazan Movies
The highest-rated films Lainie Kazan is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The Italians (2025) scores highest, at 83. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
Lainie Kazan's Career in Numbers
Lainie Kazan's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Lainie Kazan works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Lady in Cement (1968) to The Italians (2025), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.
Lainie Kazan Movies by Decade
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 1
- 1980s 14
- 1990s 7
- 2000s 7
- 2010s 7
- 2020s 3
The 1980s were Lainie Kazan's busiest decade, with 14 films.
Lainie Kazan Movies by Genre
- Comedy 18
- Drama 6
- Family 4
- Romance 4
- Adventure 2
- Tv movie 2
- Horror 1
- Action 1
- Crime 1
Comedy is the genre Lainie Kazan has worked in most, with 18 films, ahead of drama (6).
Lainie Kazan Career Milestones
- First film
- Lady in Cement 1968
- Biggest box office hit
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 $90.6M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- The Italians Movie Echo Score 83
- Newest film
- The Italians 2025
Lainie Kazan Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Lainie Kazan is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 59. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Lainie Kazan Movies as an Actor
40- 2025
The Italians as Lucia · Comedy Movie Echo Score: 83 - 2023
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 as Maria · Comedy Worldwide box office: $38.8M Movie Echo Score: 48 - 2021
Tango Shalom as Leah Zlotkin · Comedy Worldwide box office: $105K Movie Echo Score: 48 - 2019
The Amityville Murders as Angela 'Nonna' Brigante · Horror Worldwide box office: $77.2K Movie Echo Score: 37 - 2016
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Comedy Worldwide box office: $90.6M - 2014
The Cookie Mobster as Mamma · Family - 2014
I’m a Mitzvah as Mrs. Cohen · Comedy - 2012
Divorce Invitation as Elaine lipnick · Comedy - 2010
Expecting Mary as Lillian Littlefeather · Family - 2010
Ollie Klublershturf vs. the Nazis as Sharon Klublershturf · Comedy - 2009
Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay! as Shirley Hirsch · Romance Worldwide box office: $89.5K - 2008
Beau Jest as Miriam Goldman · Comedy - 2006
Red Riding Hood as Grandma · Family - 2005
The Engagement Ring as Alicia Rosa Anselmi · Comedy - 2003
A Good Night to Die as Diane · Comedy - 2003
Tempted as Julia · Romance - 2000
If You Only Knew as Bess · Romance Worldwide box office: $6.35K - 1998
The Unknown Cyclist as Rachel · Drama - 1998
Safety Patrol! as Mrs. Day · Adventure - 1996
The Associate as Cindy Mason · Comedy Worldwide box office: $12.8M - 1996
Love Is All There Is as Sadie Capomezzo · Romance Worldwide box office: $61.9K - 1993
The Cemetery Club as Selma · Comedy Worldwide box office: $6.01M - 1992
I Don’t Buy Kisses Anymore as Sarah Fishbine · Comedy - 1991
29th Street as Mrs. Pesce · Comedy Worldwide box office: $2.12M - 1989
Hägar the Horrible as Helga · Family - 1988
Beaches Drama Worldwide box office: $57M - 1988
Out of the Dark as Nancy · Comedy - 1988
Out of the Dark as Nancy · Comedy - 1987
Medium Rare as Helga Costas - 1986
The Delta Force Action Worldwide box office: $17.8M - 1985
The Journey of Natty Gann Adventure Worldwide box office: $9.71M - 1984
Lust in the Dust as Marguerita Ventura · Comedy Worldwide box office: $728K - 1984
Obsessive Love as Margaret Chase · Drama - 1984
Pinocchio as Sophia, the Blue Fairy · Tv movie - 1984
The Jerk, Too as Card Player · Comedy - 1983
Sunset Limousine as Jessie Durning · Tv movie - 1982
My Favorite Year Drama Worldwide box office: $20.1M - 1982
One from the Heart as Maggie · Drama Worldwide box office: $720K - 1971
Romance of a Horsethief as Estusha · Drama - 1968
Lady in Cement as Maria Baretto · Crime
Lainie Kazan in Documentaries & Specials
2
Lainie Kazan: Awards & Nominations
1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
40th Golden Globe Awards- Lainie Kazan: Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) My Favorite Year
Who Is Lainie Kazan?
Lainie Kazan was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. in 1940 and is 86 years old. Credited on films since 1968, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Lainie Kazan (born Lainie Levine; May 15, 1940) is an acclaimed American actress and singer with a prolific career spanning over six decades. Known for her roles in My Favorite Year and the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, Kazan's talent has been recognized with Emmy and Tony Award nominations. While often remembered as Maria Portokalos, her body of work spans theatre, television, and film; highlights include her stint as understudy to Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl and recurring roles in TV series such as The Nanny, Veronica's Closet, and Will & Grace.
Her career launched with her Broadway debut in 1961 in the musical The Happiest Girl in the World, and she has since established herself as a staple in the industry. Kazan's multifaceted career extends to music, having operated two Playboy Jazz Clubs and even posing for Playboy magazine for an issue in 1970. A life member of The Actors Studio, she also taught acting classes as an adjunct professor at UCLA. Aside from her artistic pursuits, Kazan is dedicated to public educational work about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition with which she was diagnosed in the 1970s.
Who Lainie Kazan Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Lainie Kazan shares the most films with. Divine comes first, with 3 films together, followed by Geoffrey Lewis (3).
Lainie Kazan: Questions & Answers
How many movies Lainie Kazan has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Lainie Kazan been in?
Lainie Kazan is credited on 42 films, from 1968 to 2025. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Lainie Kazan's highest-grossing movie?
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) is Lainie Kazan's biggest box office hit, with $90.6M worldwide, ahead of Beaches (1988) ($57M). Across every film with box office figures, Lainie Kazan's movies have made $257M.
Lainie Kazan's biggest hits What is the best Lainie Kazan movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Lainie Kazan's best-rated film is The Italians (2025) with a score of 83, followed by Olympia (2018) (78).
Best Lainie Kazan movies, ranked Has Lainie Kazan won an Oscar?
Lainie Kazan has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Lainie Kazan has 0 wins from 1 nomination.
How old is Lainie Kazan?
Lainie Kazan is 86 years old, born on May 15, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S..
What is Lainie Kazan's newest movie?
The most recent film on Lainie Kazan's filmography is The Italians (2025), in the role of Lucia.
Who does Lainie Kazan work with most often?
Lainie Kazan shares the most films with Divine (3 films), Geoffrey Lewis (3 films) and Paul Bartel (3 films).
The Best Lainie Kazan Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 42 credits.
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