Background
She was born Margaret Kathleen Regan in 1919 in New York City to James and Mary Regan, first-generation Irish-American parents.
She was born Margaret Kathleen Regan in 1919 in New York City to James and Mary Regan, first-generation Irish-American parents.
She was orphaned in her teens. She adopted the name "Kay Medford" professionally, and began her career after graduating from high school and working as a nightclub waitress. She was the original "Mama" in Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway, garnering excellent reviews, but lost the film role to Maureen Stapleton.
Medford appeared in the Warner Brothers rock and roll film, Jamboree (1957).
She made her Broadway debut in 1951 in the musical Paint Your Wagon. Her many film credits included roles in A Face in the Crowd (1957), The Rat Race (1960), BUtterfield 8 (1960), Ensign Pulver (1964), A Fine Madness (1966), The Busy Body (1967), Angel in My Pocket (1969), Twinky (1969), Fire Sale (1977), and Windows (1980).
Medford was cast in guest-starring roles on various television series, including Decoy, To Rome With Love, The Partridge Family, Barney Miller, and The Dean Martin Show. She co-starred in the 1968-1969 American Broadcasting Company series That"s Life.
Kay Medford never married.
She died from cervical cancer in New York City in 1980, aged 60.