Sylvia Kauders

The diminutive Sylvia Kauders is embracing her second career as an actress. Previously, from the 1950s through the 1970s, she worked for five Philadelphia mayors and even started her own public relations firm. In 1977, she made New York City her second home and began to pursue her love of acting, landing her first significant role in the Broadway production "Torch Song Trilogy" in 1982. Most of her work from that point has come in the form of bit parts in major feature films, usually billed as "elderly woman," "old woman," or "tiny old lady." Most will recognize Kauders from her role on HBO's "The Sopranos" as the foul-mouthed busybody, Mrs. Conte. She has also notably appeared in two Woody Allen films, "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "Manhattan Murder Mystery," and was the exasperating woman in the supermarket check-out line ahead of a weary Paul Giamatti in "American Splendor." Her television work includes spots on "30 Rock" and "Louie," and a recurring role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."