Background
MacMahon was born to William Marcus MacMahon and Jennie (née Simon) MacMahon in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
MacMahon was born to William Marcus MacMahon and Jennie (née Simon) MacMahon in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Aline MacMahon was raised in New York City and educated at Erasmus Hall High School (Brooklyn) and Barnard College.
Her career began on stage in 1921. She worked extensively in film and television until her retirement in 1975. According to the 1910 United States Federal Census, her father was born in 1878 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (today the North Side of the city of Pittsburgh) to an Irish-born father, whose occupation was a telegraph operator.
Her mother, Jennie, was born in 1879 in Russia of Jewish descent.
Jennie MacMahon died in 1984, aged 105. MacMahon began appearing on Broadway in 1921.
Her first film role was in 1931 in Five Star Final. She alternated between Broadway and Hollywood throughout her career.