Gilda Susan Radner (June 28, 1946 ? May 20, 1989) was an Emmy Award winning American comedienne and actress, best known for her five years as part of the original cast of the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live. Radner's death at 42 of ovarian cancer helped increase public awareness of the disease and the need for earlier detection and treatment. Biography Early life Gilda Radner was born to Jewish-American parents, Herman Radner and Henrietta Dworkin, in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Detroit with a nanny, Elizabeth Clementine Gillies, whom she called "Dibby" (and on whom she based her famous character Emily Litella), and an older brother named Michael. When young, they spent their winters in Palm Beach, Florida. Radner was close to her father, who operated Detroit's Seville Hotel, where many nightclub performers and actors stayed while performing in the city.Saltman, David. Gilda: An