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.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
British Academy Film Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Known For
The Croods: A New Age
(2020)
Gran Crood (voice)
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
(2015)
Miss Fielder
The Croods
(2013)
Gran Crood (voice)
The Longest Yard
(2005)
Lynette
The Iron Giant
(1999)
Mrs. Lynley Tensedge (voice)
Scary Movie 4
(2006)
Mrs. Norris
Sky High
(2005)
Nurse Spex
The Wedding Ringer
(2015)
Grandma Palmer
Bad Santa
(2003)
Grandma (uncredited)
Young Frankenstein
(1974)
Frau Blücher
Crazy Mama
(1975)
Melba
The Animal
(2001)
Cat Lady (uncredited)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(1969)
Agnes
History of the World: Part I
(1981)
Madame Defarge
The Beverly Hillbillies
(1993)
Granny
Spanglish
(2004)
Evelyn Wright
Full Filmography
Acting
Kiss Me Deadly
(1955)
Christina Bailey
The Rack
(1956)
Caroline
The Chapman Report
(1962)
Miss Selby
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(1969)
Agnes
Silent Night, Lonely Night
(1969)
Ginny
WUSA
(1970)
Philomene
The People Next Door
(1970)
Tina Hoffman
Lovers and Other Strangers
(1970)
Bernice Henderson
The Last Picture Show
(1971)
Ruth Popper
Suddenly Single
(1971)
Joanne Hackett
The Steagle
(1971)
Rita Weiss
Haunts of the Very Rich
(1972)
Ellen Blunt
Of Thee I Sing
(1972)
Mary Turner
Dillinger
(1973)
Anna Sage
Dying Room Only
(1973)
Jean Mitchell
Charley and the Angel
(1973)
Nettie Appleby
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
(1973)
Ronda
A Brand New Life
(1973)
Victoria Douglas
Crime Club
(1973)
Hilary Kelton
Young Frankenstein
(1974)
Frau Blücher
Daisy Miller
(1974)
Mrs. Ezra Miller
Death Sentence
(1974)
Susan Davies
Thursday's Game
(1974)
Lois Ellison
The Migrants
(1974)
Viola Barlow
Hitchhike!
(1974)
Claire Stevens
Crazy Mama
(1975)
Melba
Someone I Touched
(1975)
Laura Hyatt
A Girl Named Sooner
(1975)
Old Mam Hawes
Death Scream
(1975)
Mrs. Singleton
Telly...Who Loves Ya, Baby?
(1976)
Self
High Anxiety
(1977)
Nurse Charlotte Diesel
The Mouse and His Child
(1977)
Euterpe (voice)
It Happened One Christmas
(1977)
Clara Oddbody
Yabba Dabba Doo! The Happy World of Hanna-Barbera
(1977)
Self
Long Journey Back
(1978)
Laura Casella
Scavenger Hunt
(1979)
Mildred Carruthers
The North Avenue Irregulars
(1979)
Claire
The Muppet Movie
(1979)
Lord's Secretary
Mrs. R's Daughter
(1979)
Ruth Rendell
Willa
(1979)
Darla Jean
Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980)
Louise Trends
S.O.S. Titanic
(1980)
Molly Brown
Foolin' Around
(1980)
Samantha
The Oldest Living Graduate
(1980)
Maureen
History of the World: Part I
(1981)
Madame Defarge
The Acorn People
(1981)
Nurse Betty Nelson
Advice to the Lovelorn
(1981)
Maggie Dale
Yesterday
(1981)
Mrs Kramer
Perfectly Frank: Frank Loesser Revued
(1981)
Performer
Miss All-American Beauty
(1982)
Agatha Blaine
The Demon Murder Case
(1983)
Joan Greenway
Dixie: Changing Habits
(1983)
Sister Eugenio
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
(1983)
May Lemke
Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter
(1984)
Mary Kovacs
Donald Duck's 50th Birthday
(1984)
Self
Deadly Intentions
(1985)
Charlotte Raynor
Love Is Never Silent
(1985)
Mrs. Anglin
My Little Pony: The Movie
(1986)
Hydia (voice)
Shadow Play
(1986)
Millie Crown
Walk Like a Man
(1987)
Margaret Shand
The Facts of Life Down Under
(1987)
Beverly Ann Stickle
Sparky's Magic Piano
(1987)
The Little Troll Prince
(1987)
Hansel and Gretel
(1988)
Griselda The Witch
Going to the Chapel
(1988)
Mrs. Haldane
Prancer
(1989)
Mrs. McFarland
Texasville
(1990)
Ruth Popper
The Giant of Thunder Mountain
(1990)
Narrator / The Elder Amy
Love Hurts
(1990)
Ruth Weaver
Fine Things
(1990)
Ruth Fine
In Broad Daylight
(1991)
Ruth Westerman
A Little Piece of Heaven
(1991)
Edwina 'Ed' McKevin
Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show
(1991)
Herself
Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas
(1991)
Self
The Beverly Hillbillies
(1993)
Granny
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
(1993)
Aunt Agatha / Aunt Sofia
Without a Kiss Goodbye
(1993)
Mrs. Samuels
Fade to Black
(1993)
Ruth
Spies
(1993)
Pamela Beale
My Boyfriend's Back
(1993)
Maggie The Zombie Expert
Miracle Child
(1993)
Doc Betty
A Troll in Central Park
(1994)
Queen Gnorga (voice)
Now and Then
(1995)
Grandma Albertson
Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West
(1995)
Laura Evans
Between Love and Honor
(1995)
Anna Collura
Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein
(1996)
Frau Blücher (archive footage)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
(1996)
Old Woman On Plane And Bus (voice)
Never Too Late
(1996)
Olive
Annabelle's Wish
(1997)
Aunt Agnes (voice)
The Iron Giant
(1999)
Mrs. Lynley Tensedge (voice)
Music of the Heart
(1999)
Assunta
The Last Picture Show: A Look Back
(1999)
Self
Gen 13
(2000)
Helga (voice)
Hanging Up
(2000)
Pat Mozell
The Amati Girls
(2001)
Dolly Amati
The Animal
(2001)
Cat Lady (uncredited)
Manna from Heaven
(2002)
Helen
The Mary Tyler Moore Reunion
(2002)
Self
Bad Santa
(2003)
Grandma (uncredited)
Alex & Emma
(2003)
Grandmother
Spanglish
(2004)
Evelyn Wright
Sky High
(2005)
Nurse Spex
The Longest Yard
(2005)
Lynette
The Californians
(2005)
Eileen Boatwright
Buzz
(2005)
Beerfest
(2006)
Great Gam Gam
Scary Movie 4
(2006)
Mrs. Norris
Mrs. Harris
(2006)
Pearl "Billie" Schwartz
Lake Placid 2
(2007)
Sadie
The Women
(2008)
Maggie
Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget
(2008)
Self
New York, I Love You
(2008)
Mitzie
Love Takes Wing
(2009)
Hattie Clarence
American Cowslip
(2009)
Sandy
Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of Suspense
(2009)
Self
Expecting Mary
(2010)
Annie
You Again
(2010)
Helen (uncredited)
The Fields
(2011)
Gladys
Gambit
(2012)
Grandma Merle
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
(2012)
Dotty Rounder
Foodfight!
(2012)
Brand X Lunch Lady (voice)
The Croods
(2013)
Gran Crood (voice)
Adult World
(2013)
Mary Ann
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
(2013)
Self (archive footage)
Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists
(2014)
Mrs. Feyersied (voice)
The Wedding Ringer
(2015)
Grandma Palmer
Unity
(2015)
Narrator (voice)
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
(2015)
Miss Fielder
This Is Happening
(2015)
Estelle (Grandmother)
Baby, Baby, Baby
(2015)
Actress
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
(2015)
Self / Phyllis Lindstrom
Enzian: When the Lights Go Up
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
So B. It
(2016)
Alice Wilinsky
Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?
(2016)
Maxine
The Bronx Bull
(2016)
Lilian Forrester
The Comedian
(2016)
May Conner
A Wig and a Prayer: The Peaches Christ Story
(2016)
Self
I Can Only Imagine
(2018)
Memaw
Lez Bomb
(2018)
Josephine
It's Who You Know
(2018)
Liz
Being and Nothingness
(2019)
Ivy
The Croods: A New Age
(2020)
Gran Crood (voice)
When We Last Spoke
(2020)
Itasca
High Holiday
(2021)
Nana
Dear Diary: World's First Pranks
(2021)
Gran (voice)
Not to Forget
(2021)
Donna
Jump, Darling
(2022)
Margaret
Crew