- Kay Medford
Infobox actor
name = Kay Medford
birthname = Margaret O'Regan
birthdate = birth date|1914|9|14|mf=y
birthplace =New York City, New York ,United States
deathdate = death date and age|1980|4|10|1914|9|14|mf=y
deathplace =New York City, New York ,United States Kay Medford (
September 14 ,1914 –April 10 ,1980 ), was anAcademy Award -nominated American characteractress .Born Margaret O'Regan in
New York City , the daughter of first-generation Irish parents, she was the original "Mama" in "Bye Bye Birdie ", starring oppositeDick van Dyke on Broadway, and garnering excellent reviews. She lost the film role to another Irish-American actress,Maureen Stapleton .She also appeared on Broadway in "Carousel", "
Paint Your Wagon " and "Funny Girl" (asFanny Brice 's mother); which role she recreated in the film version and was nominated for both aTony Award and an Academy Award for her performances on Broadway and on film. She did not appear in "Funny Girl"'s sequel, "Funny Lady ".She died from
cervical cancer inNew York City in 1980, aged 65.External links
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