Lainie Kazan was born Lainie Levine in Brooklyn, New York, to Carole (Kazan) and Ben Levine. She graduated from Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York. Her film career began in Dayton's Devils (1968), starring alongside Leslie Nielsen. Later, Lainie was nominated a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture for her performance in Où est passée mon idole? (1982). Over the years, she made appearances as boisterous mother types. Notably in Au fil de la vie (1988), 29th Street (1991), and Mariage à la grecque (2002).
