Cloris Leachman

Cloris Leachman Headshot

Actress • Comedian

Birth Date: April 30, 1926

Death Date: January 26, 2021

Birth Place: Des Moines, Iowa

With a career that spanned a staggering six decades on stage and screen, actress Cloris Leachman was one of primetime's funniest comediennes and a favorite player in the classic film satires of Mel Brooks. A former beauty pageant winner who began her career on the Broadway stage, Leachman's first high profile achievement was her Academy Award-winning performance in Peter Bogdanovich's stark drama "The Last Picture Show" (1971). From there, the over-40 actress' career kicked into high gear, with award-winning roles as the hilariously self-important Phyllis Lindstrom on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS, 1970-77) and the subsequent spin-off, "Phyllis" (CBS, 1975-77). She forever held a place in film comedy history for her tightly wound, strangely accented characters in Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" (1974) and "History of the World, Part 1" (1981) - a strength she introduced to a new generation of fans in the role of grandma Ida on Fox's quirky "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox, 2000-06). The octogenarian became the reality competition's oldest contestant when she joined the cast of "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ) in 2008, then trotted on to the sitcom "Raising Hope" (Fox, 2010-14), as the semi-lucid grandmother "Maw Maw" Chance. With more than 40 years of film and television work under her belt, Leachman made it clear she was far from ready to retire, and had plenty more laughs to impart to appreciative fans of all ages.

Credits

Not to Forget

Actor
Donna
Movie
2021

The Croods: A New AgeStream

Voice
Gran
Movie
2020
77%

Jump, Darling

Actor
Margaret
Movie
2020

Mad About You

Actor
Mrs. Mandelbaum
Show
2019

When We Last Spoke

Actor
Itasca
Movie
2019

I Can Only Imagine

Actor
Memaw
Movie
2018

Lez Bomb

Actor
Josephine
Movie
2018

American GodsStream

Actor
Zorya Vechernyaya
Series
2017
77%

Elena of AvalorStream

Guest Voice
Hool
Series
2016

To Tell the TruthStream

Guest
Game Show
2016

Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?

Actor
Maxine
Movie
2016

The Comedian

Actor
May Conner
Movie
2016

So B. It

Actor
Alice Wilinsky
Movie
2016

The Wedding Ringer

Actor
Grandma Palmer
Movie
2015

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Actor
Miss Fielder
Movie
2015

Unity

Narrator
Movie
2015

This Is Happening

Actor
Estelle
Movie
2015

The Bronx Bull

Actor
Lilian Forrester
Movie
2015

Girl Meets WorldStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Svorski
Series
2014

ClarenceStream

Guest Voice
Cloris
Series
2014

KirstieStream

Guest Star
Series
2013
35%

The MillersStream

Guest Star
Louise
Series
2013
47%

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

Raising Hope: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

The CroodsStream

Voice
Gran
Movie
2013
71%

Adult World

Actor
Mary Anne
Movie
2013

Celebrity Wife SwapStream

Guest
Reality
2012

Gambit

Actor
Grandma Merle
Movie
2012

The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure

Actor
Dotty Rounder
Movie
2012

Franklin & BashStream

Guest Star
Irina Lottye Kruskal
Series
2011
61%

Bob's BurgersStream

Guest Star
Series
2011

Bob's BurgersStream

Guest Voice
Series
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Raising HopeStream

Actor
Maw Maw
Series
2010
96%

Raising HopeStream

Guest Star
Series
2010
96%

Hawaii Five-0Stream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Hot in ClevelandStream

Guest Star
Peg
Series
2010

Adventure TimeStream

Guest Voice
Old Marceline
Series
2010
100%

The Fields

Actor
Gladys
Movie
2010

Expecting Mary

Actor
Annie
Movie
2010

Lopez Tonight

Guest
Show
2009

HawthoRNe

Guest Star
Show
2009

Royal PainsStream

Guest Star
Annette Bellamy
Series
2009

Love Takes Wing

Actor
Hattie Clarence
Movie
2009

New York, I Love You

Actor
Mitzie
Movie
2009

American Cowslip

Actor
Sandy
Movie
2009

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Show
2008

The Doctors

Guest
Talk
2008

Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored

Actor
Show
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Women

Actor
Maggie
Movie
2008

Ponyo

Voice
Noriko
Movie
2008

Phineas and FerbStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Feyersied
Series
2007

Phineas and FerbStream

Guest Voice
Series
2007

The Wedding Bells

Guest Star
Show
2007

Beerfest

Actor
Great Gam Gam
Movie
2006

Dancing With the StarsStream

Contestant
Reality
2005

Dancing With the StarsStream

Guest Star
Reality
2005

The OfficeStream

Guest Star
Lily Hanaday
Series
2005
81%

Mrs. Harris

Actor
Pearl Schwartz
Movie
2005

The Longest YardStream

Actor
Lynette
Movie
2005
31%

Sky High

Actor
Nurse Spex
Movie
2005

The Californians

Actor
Boatwright
Movie
2005

Spanglish

Actor
Evelyn Wright
Movie
2004

Joan of Arcadia

Guest Star
Series
2003
96%

Two and a Half MenStream

Guest Star
Norma
Series
2003
65%

Happy Family

Guest Star
Show
2003

Comedy Central RoastStream

Actor
Series
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Alex & Emma

Actor
Grandmother
Movie
2003

Bad SantaStream

Actor
Grandmother
Movie
2003
78%

The Twilight ZoneStream

Actor
Series
2002

The Ellen Show

Actor
Dot Richmond
Show
2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

The Amati Girls

Actor
Dolly
Movie
2001

Manna From Heaven

Actor
Helen Madden
Movie
2001

Gen 13

Voice
Show
2000

Malcolm in the MiddleStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Hanging Up

Actor
Pat
Movie
2000

Twice in a Lifetime

Guest Star
Show
1999

Thanks

Actor
Show
1999

Norm

Guest Star
Series
1999
67%

Family Guy

Guest Voice
Herself
Show
1999

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Herself
Series
1999

The Iron GiantStream

Voice
Mrs. Lynley Tensedge
Movie
1999
96%

Music of the HeartStream

Actor
Assunta Guaspari
Movie
1999
63%

Annabelle's Wish

Voice
Show
1997

The ViewStream

Guest
Talk
1997

Promised Land

Guest Star
Series
1996

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Beavis and Butt-Head Do AmericaStream

Voice
Old Woman on Plane and Bus
Movie
1996
71%

Never Too Late

Actor
Olive
Movie
1996

Maybe This Time

Guest Star
Show
1995

Between Love and Honor

Actor
Anna Collura
Movie
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Extra

Guest
News
1994

A Troll in Central Park

Voice
Queen Gnorga
Movie
1994

The NannyStream

Actor
Clara Mueller
Series
1993

Diagnosis MurderStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Fade to Black

Actor
Ruth
Movie
1993

Spies

Actor
Pamela Beale
Movie
1993

Without a Kiss Goodbye

Actor
Mrs. Samuels
Movie
1993

My Boyfriend's Back

Actor
Maggie
Movie
1993

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Actor
Aunt Agatha/Aunt Sofia
Movie
1993

The Beverly Hillbillies

Actor
Daisy Mae 'Granny' Moses
Movie
1993

Miracle Child

Actor
Doc Betty
Movie
1993

Doble Doble Hechizo

Actor
Movie
1993

Mad About YouStream

Actor
Series
1992

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Sunday Dinner

Guest Star
Show
1991

In Broad Daylight

Actor
Ruth Westerman
Movie
1991

A Little Piece of Heaven

Actor
Edwina "Ed" McKevin
Movie
1991

Un Pedacito de Cielo

Actor
Movie
1991

Fine Things

Actor
Ruth Fine
Movie
1990

Love Hurts

Actor
Ruth Weaver
Movie
1990

Sueño de Amor

Actor
Movie
1990

Texasville

Actor
Ruth Popper
Movie
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Mrs. Glick
Series
1989
85%

The Nutt House

Actor
Ms. Frick
Show
1989

Prancer

Actor
Mrs. McFarland
Movie
1989

Wedding Day Blues

Actor
Mrs. Haldane
Movie
1988

Sparky's Magic Piano

Voice
Movie
1988

Instinto de Lobo

Actor
Movie
1987

The Little Troll Prince

Voice
Queen Sirena
Movie
1987

The Facts of Life Down Under

Actor
Beverly Ann Stickle
Movie
1987

Hansel and Gretel

Actor
The Witch
Movie
1987

Walk Like a Man

Actor
Margaret Shand
Movie
1987

Our House

Guest Star
Show
1986

The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1986

My Little PonyStream

Voice
Hydia
Series
1986

Castle in the SkyStream

Voice
Dola
Movie
1986
96%

Shadow Play

Actor
Millie Crown
Movie
1986

Le Mystère Crown

Actor
Movie
1986

Deadly Intentions

Actor
Charlotte Raynor
Movie
1985

Love Is Never Silent

Actor
Mrs. Anglin
Movie
1985

Donald Duck's 50th Birthday

Guest
Show
1984

Ernie Kovacs

Actor
Movie
1984

Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter

Actor
Mary Kovacs
Movie
1984

Gorąca linia

Actor
Pat
Show
1983

Dixie: Changing Habits

Actor
Sister Eugenio
Movie
1983

The Demon Murder Case

Actor
Joan Greenway
Movie
1983

Miss All-American Beauty

Actor
Agatha Blaine
Movie
1982

L'Hymne d'amour

Actor
Movie
1981

History of the World: Part IStream

Actor
Madame Defarge
Movie
1981
61%

My Strange Uncle IMAX

Actor
Movie
1981

Advice to the Lovelorn

Actor
Maggie Dale
Movie
1981

The Acorn People

Actor
Nurse Betty Nelson
Movie
1981

Siempre Te Amaré

Actor
Movie
1980

Foolin' Around

Actor
Samantha
Movie
1980

Herbie Goes Bananas

Actor
Aunt Louise
Movie
1980

The Oldest Living Graduate

Actor
Maureen
Movie
1980

The Associates

Guest Star
Series
1979

The Facts of LifeStream

Actor
Series
1979

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

The North Avenue Irregulars

Actor
Claire
Movie
1979

The Muppet MovieStream

Actor
Lord's Secretary
Movie
1979
88%

Willa

Actor
Darla Jean
Movie
1979

S.O.S. Titanic

Actor
Molly Brown
Movie
1979

Mrs. R's Daughter

Actor
Ruth Randell
Movie
1979

Scavenger Hunt

Actor
Mildred Carruthers
Movie
1979

La Course à l'héritage

Actor
Movie
1979

Long Journey Back

Actor
Laura Casella
Movie
1978

The Mouse and His Child

Voice
Euterpe
Movie
1977

High AnxietyStream

Actor
Nurse Diesel
Movie
1977
73%

It Happened One Christmas

Actor
Clara Oddbody
Movie
1977

Wonder WomanStream

Guest Star
Series
1976

The Love Boat

Actor
Iris Havlicek
Movie
1976

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Phyllis

Actor
Phyllis Lindstrom
Series
1975

Alguien Quien Acaricié

Actor
Movie
1975

Death Scream

Actor
Mrs. Singleton
Movie
1975

Someone I Touched

Actor
Laura Hyatt
Movie
1975

A Girl Named Sooner

Actor
Old Mam Hawes
Movie
1975

The New, Original Wonder Woman

Actor
Queen Hippolyta
Movie
1975

Crazy Mama

Actor
Melba
Movie
1975

Rhoda

Guest Star
Series
1974

Thursday's Game

Actor
Lois Ellison
Movie
1974

Death Sentence

Actor
Susan Davies
Movie
1974

Hitchhike!

Actor
Claire Stevens
Movie
1974

The Migrants

Actor
Viola Barlow
Movie
1974

Young FrankensteinStream

Actor
Frau Blücher
Movie
1974
94%

Daisy Miller

Actor
Mrs. Ezra Miller
Movie
1974

The Bobby Darin Show

Guest
Show
1973

DillingerStream

Actor
Anna Sage
Movie
1973
93%

Happy Mother's Day, Love George

Actor
Ronda
Movie
1973

Crime Club

Actor
Hilary Kelton
Movie
1973

La Disparition

Actor
Movie
1973

Dying Room Only

Actor
Jean Mitchell
Movie
1973

A Brand New Life

Actor
Victoria Douglas
Movie
1973

Charley and the Angel

Actor
Nettie Appleby
Movie
1973

Charlie et l'ange

Actor
Movie
1973

The Sixth Sense

Guest Star
Show
1972

Of Thee I Sing

Actor
Mary Turner
Movie
1972

Haunts of the Very Rich

Actor
Ellen Blunt
Movie
1972

Au-delà de la fortune

Actor
Movie
1972

The Steagle

Actor
Rita Weiss
Movie
1971

Suddenly Single

Actor
Joanne Hackett
Movie
1971

The Last Picture ShowStream

Actor
Ruth Popper
Movie
1971
100%

Night Gallery

Guest Star
Series
1970

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Actor
Phyllis Lindstrom
Series
1970

Lovers and Other Strangers

Actor
Bernice Henderson
Movie
1970

WUSA

Actor
Philomene
Movie
1970

The People Next Door

Actor
Tina Hoffman
Movie
1970

Marcus Welby, M.D.Stream

Guest Star
Jean Cullen
Series
1969

Silent Night, Lonely Night

Actor
Ginny
Movie
1969

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidStream

Actor
Agnes
Movie
1969
89%

The Name of the Game

Guest Star
Series
1968

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1968

MannixStream

Guest Star
Barker's Ex-Wife
Series
1967

The Guns of Will Sonnett

Guest Star
Show
1967

Judd for the Defense

Guest Star
Show
1967

That GirlStream

Guest Star
Series
1966

The Big ValleyStream

Guest Star
Series
1965

A Man Called Shenandoah

Guest Star
Show
1965

Mr. Novak

Guest Star
Show
1963

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream

Actor
Talk
1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream

Guest
Talk
1962

The Chapman Report

Actor
Miss Selby
Movie
1962

Target: The Corruptors

Guest Star
Show
1961

Dr. Kildare

Guest Star
Rhoda Kirsh
Series
1961

Route 66Stream

Guest Star
Series
1960

ThrillerStream

Actor
Series
1960

The Man in the Moon

Actor
Show
1960

The Untouchables

Guest Star
Series
1959

The Twilight ZoneStream

Actor
Mrs. Fremont
Series
1959
91%

LaramieStream

Guest Star
Sarah
Series
1959

Johnny Staccato

Guest Star
Series
1959

One Step BeyondStream

Actor
Series
1959

RawhideStream

Guest Star
Series
1959

77 Sunset Strip

Guest Star
Vicki Franklin
Series
1958

The Donna Reed ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1958

Timmy & Lassie

Actor
Show
1957

Perry MasonStream

Guest Star
Gloria Shine
Series
1957

Wagon TrainStream

Guest Star
Loretta
Series
1957

Zane Grey TheaterStream

Actor
Series
1956

The Rack

Actor
Caroline
Movie
1956

Screen Directors Playhouse

Actor
Show
1955

Alfred Hitchcock PresentsStream

Actor
Susan Stanger
Series
1955

GunsmokeStream

Guest Star
Boni
Series
1955

Marshal Dillon

Guest Star
Show
1955

Star Stage

Actor
Show
1955

Kiss Me Deadly

Actor
Christina Bailey
Movie
1955
98%

Climax!Stream

Actor
Series
1954

Lassie

Actor
Ruth Martin
Series
1954

Jeff's Collie

Actor
Show
1954

TodayStream

Guest
News
1952

The Bob and Ray Show

Self
regular
Show
1951

Tales of TomorrowStream

Actor
Series
1951

SuspenseStream

Actor
Series
1949

News about
Cloris Leachman