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Lainie Kazan, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’ Actress, Hospitalized After Head-On Collision

By Jonathan Franks
Published on: 08:45 PST, Apr 14, 2016

Actress Lainie Kazan was reportedly taken to the hospital after being involved in a major automobile accident last weekend.

According to TMZ, the My Big Fat Greek Wedding actress experienced a head-on collision moments after her Lincoln SUV “drifted into an oncoming lane.” Lainie’s vehicle reportedly struck another vehicle, causing a head-on collision in an incident that witnesses allegedly claim was her fault.

TMZ reported that Lainie Kazan and the other driver were both conscious after the accident. Photographs of Lainie’s neck being immobilized within a neck brace were published on the TMZ website Thursday.

The report also stated that the current condition of the 75-year-old actress was “unclear” and “her rep wouldn’t comment.” Even though no citations have been issued as of yet, police officers are reportedly investigating the accident.

Lainie Kazan’s acting career extends back to the late 1950s, nearly six decades ago. However, many moviegoers today recognize her from the 2012 hit movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding starring Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Kazan played Maria Portokalos, the mother of Nia Vardalos’ leading character Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos.

The film was a massive box-office hit generating over $368.7 million at the box office worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lainie Kazan believed that the success of My Big Fat Greek Wedding was simply because the film “spoke to everyone” and “had a universal theme.” She further stated that people enjoyed her character due to the fact that she was an honest reflect of most mothers.

“[Maria] was loved by everyone who has a mother like that – ‘Eat, honey. Educate yourself.’ There are basic things that every mother – most mothers – try to impart. I did that. My mother did that.”

Kazan rejoined the Portokalos family for the 2016 follow-up sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lainie Kazan opened up about her excitement over coming back to the My Big Fat Greek Wedding cast and crew, claiming that she “would have gone back for nothing.” Kazan explained that “it was like we just worked yesterday” even though there was a 14-year break between the theatrical releases of both films.

Over the years, Lainie Kazan has made a name for herself as a singer and actress on the stage as well as in movie theaters and television screens. In addition to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, some of her other popular movie credits include Harry and the Hendersons, Beaches, The Associate, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Pixels. Lainie Kazan also starred in a number of different television series, including The King of Queens and Desperate Housewives.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]

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