Elaine Kaufman
Encyclopedia
Elaine Edna Kaufman was a restaurateur whose Manhattan
restaurant Elaine's
attracted a following among prominent actors, writers, and other celebrities.
restaurant Portofino. Portofino was frequented by people in the downtown publishing business and Off-Broadway
theater.
Four years later, after she and Viazzi split up, she bought a restaurant in the Upper East Side and Elaine's was born. Despite the location—not popular at the time—many customers from Portofino followed her to the new spot. Over the years, Kaufman bought the entire building that housed the restaurant, as well as the building next door. The rental income subsidized the restaurant in lean years. Kaufman was designated a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy
in 2003.
In addition to her career as a restaurateur, Kaufman had a small uncredited acting role in the 1970 film The Boys in the Band
, as a pedestrian glancing disapprovingly at flamboyant Emory (Cliff Gorman
) on a Manhattan street corner. She also had a brief appearance in the 2010 film Morning Glory
as herself at her restaurant.
Kaufman died from emphysema and hypertension on December 3, 2010 at Lenox Hill Hospital
, aged 81.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
restaurant Elaine's
Elaine's
Elaine's was an Upper East Side bar and restaurant, located near the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 88th Street in Manhattan which shut its doors for the last time on May 26th, 2011.-History:...
attracted a following among prominent actors, writers, and other celebrities.
Life and career
Kaufman was born in Manhattan on February 10, 1929, and raised in Queens and later the Bronx. After a variety of jobs, including night cosmetician, she started in the restaurant business in 1959, joining Alfredo Viazzi—then her boyfriend—in running his recently-opened Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
restaurant Portofino. Portofino was frequented by people in the downtown publishing business and Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
theater.
Four years later, after she and Viazzi split up, she bought a restaurant in the Upper East Side and Elaine's was born. Despite the location—not popular at the time—many customers from Portofino followed her to the new spot. Over the years, Kaufman bought the entire building that housed the restaurant, as well as the building next door. The rental income subsidized the restaurant in lean years. Kaufman was designated a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy
New York Landmarks Conservancy
The New York Landmarks Conservancy is a non-profit organization "dedicated to preserving, revitalizing, and reusing New York’s architecturally significant buildings." It provides technical assistance, project management services, grants, and loans, to owners of historic properties in New York State...
in 2003.
In addition to her career as a restaurateur, Kaufman had a small uncredited acting role in the 1970 film The Boys in the Band
The Boys in the Band
The Boys in the Band is a 1970 American drama film directed by William Friedkin. The screenplay by Mart Crowley is based on his Off Broadway play of the same title, Crowley penned a sequel to the play years later entitled The Men From The Boys...
, as a pedestrian glancing disapprovingly at flamboyant Emory (Cliff Gorman
Cliff Gorman
Cliff Gorman was an American stage and screen actor. He won an Obie award in 1968 for the stage presentation of The Boys in the Band, and went on to reprise his role in the 1970 film version....
) on a Manhattan street corner. She also had a brief appearance in the 2010 film Morning Glory
Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a 1933 pre-Code American drama film which tells the story of an eager but naive would-be actress and her journey to stardom. It stars Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Adolphe Menjou. The movie was adapted by Howard J. Green from the play by Zoe Akins, and was directed...
as herself at her restaurant.
Kaufman died from emphysema and hypertension on December 3, 2010 at Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital, on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, is a 652-bed, acute care hospital and a major teaching affiliate of New York University Medical Center. Founded in 1857 as the German Dispensary, today's 10-building Lenox Hill Hospital complex has occupied its present site since...
, aged 81.