Gilda Susan Radner, considered one of the great comic geniuses of 20th century, made her acting debut with the play ‘Godspell’ (1972), and then worked as featured player on radio.
Radner’s first screen appearance was in a brief role in the comedy drama film ‘The Last Detail’ (1973), and a cameo in the TV film ‘All You Need is Cash’ (1978). She provided voice for the children’s TV series ‘Dr. Zonk & the Zunkins’ (1974-1975) and for ‘The Gift of Winter’ (1974). She played ‘Jill’ in ‘Jack: Flash of Fantasy’ (1974).
Radner got her major breakthrough as the first performer in the first season of the late night live TV sketch comedy & variety show ‘Saturday Night Live SNL’ (1975-1980). She was one of the original cast members of ‘Not Ready for Primetime Players,’ and her performances on the show made her popular, earning the ‘Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program’ (1978).
On SNL, Radner parodied many well-known personalities and also created several characters, including ‘Roseanne Roseannadanna’ and ‘Baba Wawa,’ and ‘Emily Litella’ and many more. She also played these characters in her successful one-woman Broadway show ‘Gilda Radner—Live from New York,’ which was filmed and released as ‘Gilda Live’ in 1980.
Radner starred as ‘Gloria’ in the comedy film ‘First Family’ (1980), and lent his voice in the TV Halloween Special ‘Witch’s Night Out’ (1978) and the animated TV film ‘Animalympics’ (1980). She was a narrator in the comedy-documentary ‘It Came from Hollywood’ (1982).
Radner co-starred alongside her then-future husband, Gene Wilder, in the comedy-thriller film ‘Hanky Panky’ (1982). Next, she appeared in the romantic comedy film ‘The Woman in Red’ (1984), which was written and directed by Wilder, who also starred in it. After appearing in the comedy film ‘Movers & Shakers’ (1985), her final film came in Wilder’s comedy horror film ‘Haunted Honeymoon’ (1986). Her appearance in ‘It’s Garry Shandling Show’ (1988) earned praise.
In 1990, she was awarded a posthumous Grammy for ‘Best Spoken-Word or Non-musical Recording.’ A documentary about Radner’s life and career, ‘Love, Gilda,’ (compiled using archive footage) was released in 2018.
The Last Detail is a comedy drama film which revolves around two Navy men, who are given the task to bring a convict to prison. Although he has committed a small theft, he has been sentenced to eight years in prison. They soon realize that he is actually a kleptomaniac, and steals compulsively.
In this one-woman performance, Comedian Gilda Radner does her Broadway performance for Saturday Night Live, where she plays the characters that she is best known for .
The Woman in Red is a romantic comedy film which tells the story of a middle-aged man who has everything that he wishes for in his life. However, things take a turn when he meets a gorgeous woman in a red dress, who turns his life upside down.
Larry and Vickie are both radio voice actors who perform for a show named ‘Manhattan Mystery Theatre’. They decide to get married, but shortly after proposing marriage, he begins to suffer from on-air panic attacks and speech impediments. Fearing that this could get them both fired, they ask Larry’s uncle Dr. Paul Abbot for advice. Dr Abbot decides to treat him with a form of shock therapy.
This is a comedy film, involving America’s fictional first family consisting of President Manfred Link, his usually tipsy wife Constance and their sex starved daughter Gloria. The problem starts when the ruler of a fictional African country, whose support is crucial for vote, makes an unusual demand. Meanwhile, Gloria is also kidnapped.
Gilda Susan Radner Awards
| Saturday Night Live | Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music | 1978 |
| Winner | Best Spoken Word or Non-musical Recording | 1990 |
