Molly Picon, born Mollie Picon on February 28, 1898, in Manhattan, New York, was a renowned American actress of stage, screen, radio, and television. She was also a lyricist and dramatic storyteller. Her career spanned nearly 90 years, starting from a young age when she performed in song-and-dance routines.

She was known as the great comedienne of Yiddish theater, and her popularity extended to English-language productions later in her career.

Molly Picon was born to Jewish immigrant parents from Warsaw and Kyiv, and her family moved to Philadelphia when she was three years old. She began her career in the Yiddish Theatre District, becoming a star and performing in numerous plays.

Many shows even included her adopted name, Molly, in their titles. In 1931, she opened the Molly Picon Theatre in New York. Her early films were made in Europe, and she starred in several Yiddish films, including "East and West" (1923) and "Yidl mitn Fidl" (1936).

She transitioned to English-language roles in the 1940s, making her Broadway debut in 1940. She starred in the Jerry Herman musical "Milk and Honey" in 1961 and appeared in the Frank Sinatra film "Come Blow Your Horn" (1963). One of her most famous roles was as Yente the Matchmaker in the 1971 film adaptation of "Fiddler on the Roof".

She also had roles in television shows like "Gomer Pyle, USMC" and "Car 54, Where Are You?".

Molly Picon was married to Jacob Kalich, a Yiddish playwright and stage star, from 1919 until his death in 1975. They collaborated on many productions, and Kalich managed her career.

She passed away on April 5, 1992, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.