Thelma Leeds

Those viewers watching Albert Brooks' 1981 movie Modern Romance might not have noted the presence of Thelma Leeds in the cast of players, but this was Leeds' first screen appearance in 40 years, and was almost an in-joke, in that she was Brooks' mother. Born Thelma Goodman in 1912, she entered the entertainment business in the early '30s as a protégée of Al Siegel and became a singer, with a repertory that included "Love Me Tonight" -- she was chosen for the 1935 cast of On Your Toes on Broadway, and, in 1936, she was signed to RKO, where she made a handful of movies. In 1937, she married Harry Einstein, the radio comedian and actor best known for his portrayal of a comic Greek called Parkyakarkus. Their marriage lasted 21 years, until Einstein's death, and their children, in addition to Brooks, included comic actor and writer Bob Einstein.

~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide