Person

Cloris Leachman

Acting · 1926–2021 · Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Biography

Cloris Leachman (April 30, 1926 – January 26, 2021) was an American actress and comedian, whose career spanned over seven decades. She won various accolades, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, making her the most nominated and, along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, most awarded actress in Emmy history. In addition, she won an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Leachman's breakthrough role was the nosy and cunning landlady Phyllis Lindstrom in the landmark CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–75), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1974 and 1975; its spin-off, Phyllis (1975–77), earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Actress – Musical or Comedy.

Known for

Filmography

2022Jump, DarlingMargaret
2021Not to ForgetDonna
2021High HolidayNana
2021Dear Diary: World's First PranksGran (voice)
2020The Croods: A New AgeGran (voice)
2020When We Last SpokeItasca
2019Mad About YouMrs. Mandelbaum
2019Being and NothingnessIvy
2018Lez BombJosephine
2018It's Who You KnowLiz
2018I Can Only ImagineMemaw
2017The GliksmansHelen Neuman
2017American GodsZorya Vechernyaya
2016Justice League ActionGranny Goodness (voice)
2016The ComedianMay Conner
2016Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?Maxine
2016To Tell the TruthSelf - Panelist
2016The Bronx BullLilian Forrester
2016So B. ItAlice Wilinsky
2016TeachersMemaw
2016A Wig and a Prayer: The Peaches Christ StorySelf
2015Enzian: When the Lights Go UpSelf (archive footage)
2015Baby, Baby, BabyActress
2015Scouts Guide to the Zombie ApocalypseMiss Fielder
2015Mary Tyler Moore: A CelebrationSelf / Phyllis Lindstrom (archive footage)
2015This Is HappeningEstelle (Grandmother)
2015UnityNarrator (voice)
2015The Wedding RingerGrandma Palmer
2014Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living PharmacistsMrs. Feyersied (voice)
2014Girl Meets WorldMrs. Svorski
2014Last Week Tonight with John OliverSelf - Guest
2014ClarenceCloris (voice)
2014Adult WorldMary Ann
2013KirstieShirley Kluszewski
2013The MillersLouise
2013Mel Brooks: Make a NoiseSelf (archive footage)
2013The CroodsGran (voice)
2012The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon AdventureDotty Rounder
2012Foodfight!Brand X Lunch Lady (voice)
2012GambitGrandma Merle
2011The FieldsGladys
2011Franklin & BashIrina Lottye Kruskal
2011Bob's BurgersMeryl (voice)
2011Obsession: Letters to David LynchSelf
2010Top Gear
2010Expecting MaryAnnie
2010You AgainHelen (uncredited)
2010Raising HopeMaw Maw
2010Hawaii Five-0Ruth Tennenbaum
2010Hot in ClevelandPeg
2009Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of SuspenseSelf
2009Inglourious BasterdsThanks
2009American CowslipSandy
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2009Love Takes WingHattie Clarence
2009RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Guest Judge
2008The WomenMaggie
2008New York, I Love YouMitzie
2008Comedy Central Roast of Bob SagetSelf
2007Phineas and FerbMrs. Feyersied (voice)
2007Lake Placid 2Sadie
2007The Wedding BellsEdith Fleischman
2006The Megan Mullally ShowSelf - Guest
2006BeerfestGreat Gam Gam
2006Scary Movie 4Mrs. Norris
2006Mrs. HarrisPearl "Billie" Schwartz
2005The CaliforniansEileen Boatwright
2005Beach GirlsAunt Aida
2005Sky HighNurse Spex
2005Dancing with the StarsSelf - Contestant
2005The Longest YardLynette
2005Buzz
2005The OfficeLily Hanaday
2004SpanglishEvelyn Wright
2003Bad SantaGrandma (uncredited)
2003Joan of ArcadiaAunt Olive
2003Two and a Half MenNorma
2003Happy FamilyLois, Peter's Mother
2003Comedy Central RoastsSelf
2003Alex & EmmaGrandmother
2002The Twilight ZoneAgnes Fremont
2002Manna from HeavenHelen
2002The Mary Tyler Moore ReunionSelf
2001The Ellen ShowDot Richmond
2001The AnimalCat Lady (uncredited)
2001The Amati GirlsDolly Amati
2000Gen¹³Helga (voice)
2000Hanging UpPat Mozell
2000Malcolm in the MiddleIda Welker
1999Music of the HeartAssunta
1999Twice in a LifetimeRuth Harper / Miss Storey
1999The Iron GiantMrs. Lynley Tensedge (voice)
1999ThanksGrammy Winthrop
1999The Last Picture Show: A Look BackSelf
1999Family GuyCloris Leachman (voice)
1999The Titanic Chronicles(voice)
1998Skip Chasers
1997Annabelle's WishAunt Agnes (voice)
1996Beavis and Butt-Head Do AmericaOld Woman On Plane and Bus (voice)
1996Promised LandAunt Ethel Mooster
1996Never Too LateOlive
1996Making Frankensense of Young FrankensteinFrau Blücher (archive footage)
1995Now and ThenGrandma Albertson
1995Maybe This TimeBeasy
1995Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the WestLaura Evans
1995Between Love and HonorAnna Collura
1994A Troll in Central ParkQueen Gnorga (voice)
1994Touched by an AngelRuth
1994Storybook Cinema
1993Intimate PortraitSelf
1993The NannyClara Mueller
1993Double, Double, Toil and TroubleAunt Agatha / Aunt Sofia
1993Diagnosis: MurderSudie
1993The Beverly HillbilliesGranny
1993My Boyfriend's BackMaggie The Zombie Expert
1993Miracle ChildDoc Betty
1993Without a Kiss GoodbyeMrs. Samuels
1993SpiesPamela Beale
1993Fade to BlackRuth
1991A Little Piece of HeavenEdwina 'Ed' McKevin
1991Walter & EmilyEmily Collins
1991Picture ThisSelf
1991Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary ShowHerself
1991In Broad DaylightRuth Westerman
1990The Giant of Thunder MountainNarrator / The Elder Amy
1990Fine ThingsRuth Fine
1990TexasvilleRuth Popper
1990Ferris BuellerGrandma
1990Love HurtsRuth Weaver
1989The SimpsonsMrs. Glick (voice)
1989PrancerMrs. McFarland
1989The Nutt HouseMs. Frick
1988Hansel and GretelGriselda the Witch
1988Going to the ChapelMrs. Haldane
1987The Little Troll PrinceQueen Sirena (voice)
1987Walk Like a ManMargaret Shand
1987The Facts of Life Down UnderBeverly Ann Stickle
1987Sparky's Magic Piano
1986Shadow PlayMillie Crown
1986My Little Pony: The MovieHydia (voice)
1985Love Is Never SilentMrs. Anglin
1985Deadly IntentionsCharlotte Raynor
1985Breakfast with Les and Bess
1984Donald Duck's 50th BirthdaySelf
1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the LaughterMary Kovacs
1983The Demon Murder CaseJoan Greenway
1983Dixie: Changing HabitsSister Eugenio
1983The Woman Who Willed a MiracleMay Lemke
1982Miss All-American BeautyAgatha Blaine
1982American PlayhouseBess Dischinger
1981Advice to the LovelornMaggie Dale
1981History of the World: Part IMadame Defarge
1981The Acorn PeopleNurse Betty Nelson
1981Perfectly Frank: Frank Loesser RevuedPerformer
1980Foolin' AroundSamantha
1980Herbie Goes BananasLouise Trends
1980The Oldest Living GraduateMaureen
1980YesterdayMrs Kramer
1980S.O.S. TitanicMolly Brown
1979Scavenger HuntMildred Carruthers
1979Mrs. R's DaughterRuth Rendell
1979The Facts of LifeBeverly Ann Stickle
1979The Muppet MovieLord's Secretary
1979WillaDarla Jean
1979The North Avenue IrregularsClaire
1979Backstairs at the White HouseMrs. Jaffray
1978Long Journey BackLaura Casella
1977High AnxietyNurse Charlotte Diesel
1977It Happened One ChristmasClara Oddbody
1977Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-BarberaSelf
1977The Mouse and His ChildEuterpe (voice)
1977The Love BoatKaren Cooper
1976The Love BoatIris Havlicek
1976The Muppet ShowSelf - Special Guest Star
1976Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?Self
1975Wonder WomanQueen Hippolyta
1975Death ScreamMrs. Singleton
1975PhyllisPhyllis Lindstrom
1975A Girl Named SoonerOld Mam Hawes
1975Crazy MamaMelba
1975Someone I TouchedLaura Hyatt
1975CherSelf
1974Young FrankensteinFrau Blücher
1974Dinah!Self
1974Death SentenceSusan Davies
1974Rhoda
1974Daisy MillerMrs. Ezra Miller
1974Thursday's GameLois Ellison
1974Hitchhike!Claire Stevens
1974The MigrantsViola Barlow
1973Dying Room OnlyJean Mitchell
1973Happy Mother's Day, Love GeorgeRonda
1973DillingerAnna Sage
1973Charley and the AngelNettie Appleby
1973Crime ClubHilary Kelton
1973A Brand New LifeVictoria Douglas
1973The Bobby Darin Show
1972Of Thee I SingMary Turner
1972Haunts of the Very RichEllen Blunt
1972The Sixth Sense
1971Suddenly SingleJoanne Hackett
1971The Last Picture ShowRuth Popper
1971The SteagleRita Weiss
1970Night GalleryMrs. Fulton
1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowPhyllis Lindstrom
1970The People Next DoorTina Hoffman
1970WUSAPhilomene
1970Lovers and Other StrangersBernice Henderson
1969Silent Night, Lonely NightGinny
1969Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidAgnes
1969Marcus Welby, M.D.Jean Cullen
1968LancerAngel Day
1968Adam-12Judy
1968The Name of the GameVera Walker
1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
1967MannixBarker's Ex-Wife
1967Judd, for the Defense
1967The Guns of Will Sonnett
1967IronsideMolly Strong
1966That Girl
1965Run for Your LifeDeborah Wilson
1963Mr. NovakDorothy Hummer
1962The Chapman ReportMiss Selby
1962Going My Way
1962Stoney Burke
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
1962The VirginianClara
1962Saints and SinnersHelen Graham
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host
1961The New BreedElsie Condon
1961Target: The Corruptors!
1961Dr. KildareRhoda Kirsh
1961Cain's HundredKatie Cortner
1961The DefendersAngela Simms
1960Route 66Lydia Manning
1960Outlaws
1960ThrillerBeatrice Stafford
1959Hawaiian Eye
1959The Twilight ZoneMrs. Fremont
1959Laramie
1959Johnny Staccato
1959One Step BeyondRita Wallace
195877 Sunset Strip
1958The Donna Reed Show
1958Wanted: Dead or AliveAnn Barchester
1957Perry MasonGloria Shine
1957Wagon TrainLoretta
1956The RackCaroline
1956Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreMartha Jessop
1956Telephone Time
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter
1955Life of Vernon HathawayIrma
1955Matinee Theater
1955Screen Director's PlayhouseIrma
1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSusan Stanger
1955GunsmokeFlory Tibbs
1955Kiss Me DeadlyChristina Bailey
1954Climax!Mrs. Sullivan
1954LassieRuth Martin
1953Letter to LorettaElla
1953The OscarsSelf
1953General Electric TheaterLeah Beth
1952Forgotten ChildrenMartha Berry
1951Hallmark Hall of FameMartha Berry
1951Tales of Tomorrow
1950Lux Video TheatreDottie
1949Suspense
1948Studio OneMrs. Adams
1948The Philco Television PlayhouseJenny Blanchard
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee

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