Sylvia Kauders (née Wolinsky; December 1, 1921 – May 5, 2016) was an American actress.

Early life and education

Kauders was born Sylvia Wolinsky on December 1, 1921, in Philadelphia to Russian immigrants, Morris and Sadie (née Pincus) Wolinsky, and grew up in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. When her father died while she was only ten, Kauders' mother ran a grocery store. Kauders attended Upper Darby High School and in 1942 graduated from the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

, where she majored in English and social studies. She also took classes at Temple University to meet teaching requirements.

Career

When Kauders's college education did not lead to a job, she learned shorhand and typing and in the mid-1940s began working as a secretary for the Jewish Community Relations Council and went on to become assistant to the group's public relations director. In 1950 she took a temporary position in Philadelphia's information office, and that led to a career that spanned decades as she progressed from information officer to special events coordinator to director. During that time she worked with five current and former presidents of the United States. Her work included promoting the city on the television program ''Under Billy Penn's Hat.'' Kauders worked in a variety of roles before committing in her 60s to a career in acting. Following college graduation she worked in radio and television. She later became Philadelphia's special events director and worked with five different mayors, organizing events and hosting celebrities and dignitaries. Kauders was the first woman president of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association in 1972-1973 and became a member of its Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1977, aged 55, she decided to seriously pursue an acting career and establish herself in New York City. Her Broadway debut took place in 1982 in

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's '' Torch Song Trilogy'' as Mrs. Beckoff, the role originated by Estelle Getty. With her role in Jewish Repertory Theater's production of '' Crossing Delancey'', she became known as an "entirely lovable Bubbie ... a peppery lady whose charm is a mask for a determination to carry out her schemes", according to ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' theater critic, Richard F. Shepard.THE THEATER: ''Crossing Delancey''
''New York Times'', May 2, 1985. Her film credits include roles in '' American Splendor''; '' Analyze That'' (2002); ''

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'' (1990), ''

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'' (1996).

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tapped her for two of his films, '' Crimes and Misdemeanors'' (1989) and '' Manhattan Murder Mystery'' (1993). Also in 1993, she appeared in ''My Life'' (as

Diane Keaton Diane Keaton (née Hall; born January 5, 1946) is an American actress. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Diane Keaton, various accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including an Academy Award, a Bri ...

's character's aunt). Her last films were '' Inside Llewyn Davis'' (2013) and '' Love the Coopers'' (2015). Kauders appeared in such television shows as including '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', and in the HBO series ''

The Sopranos ''The Sopranos'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime drama television series created by David Chase. The series follows Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey American Mafia, Mafia boss who suffers from panic attacks. He reluct ...

'', in the final season, as a foul-mouthed old neighborhood lady, who seeks Tony's help with "fixing the neighborhood."

Personal life and death

Her husband, Randy Kauders, died in the 1990s after they had been together for four decades. She died on May 5, 2016, in Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, aged 94.

Partial filmography

*''

Witness In law, a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know. A witness might be compelled to provide testimony in court, before a grand jur ...

'' (1985) - Tourist Lady *'' The Equalizer'' (1985) - Old Lady - " Bump and Run" *'' Armed and Dangerous'' (1986) - Older Woman at Party *'' Sticky Fingers'' (1988) - Francis *'' Crimes and Misdemeanors'' (1989) - Seder Guest *''

'' (1990) - Ruth *''

Age Isn't Everything ''Age Isn't Everything'' (also known as ''Life in the Food Chain'') is a 1991 comedy film directed by Douglas Katz and starring Jonathan Silverman, Robert Prosky, and Rita Moreno. The film premiered at the 1991 American Film Market and was consecut ...

'' (1991) *'' This Is My Life'' (1992) - Evelyn *'' Manhattan Murder Mystery'' (1993) - Neighbor *'' My Life'' (1993) - Aunt Tekla *''

'' (1996) - Gussie *'' XXL'' (1997) - Secrétaire *'' Meschugge'' (1998) - Sarah Singer *'' Judy Berlin'' (1999) - Woman on Bench *'' Love the Hard Way'' (2001) - Mrs. Rosenberg *'' Mr. Deeds'' (2002) - Sue, the Bench Woman *'' Analyze That'' (2002) - Aunt Esther *'' American Splendor'' (2003) - Old Jewish Lady *'' Imaginary Heroes'' (2004) - Hattie *''Building Girl'' (2005) - Mrs. Rochen *'' The Last New Yorker'' (2007) - Miriam Weiss *'' The Wrestler'' (2008) - Hudson Acres Lady at Deli Counter *'' The Answer Man'' (2009) - Old Woman *'' Today's Special'' (2009) - Restaurant Patron *'' According to Greta'' (2009) - Mrs. Wocheski *'' Man on a Ledge'' (2012) - Angry Traffic Woman *'' The Big Wedding'' (2013) - Elderly Wife *'' Peeples'' (2013) - Mrs. Davis *'' Inside Llewyn Davis'' (2013) - Ginny *'' Blue Bloods'' (2013) - Mrs. Caruso *'' Love the Coopers'' (2015) - Sara (final film role)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kauders, Sylvia 1921 births 2016 deaths Actresses from Philadelphia American public relations people American film actresses American people of Russian-Jewish descent American stage actresses Jewish American actresses University of Pennsylvania alumni 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American Jews