Cloris Leachman

Biography

Cloris Leachman was an American actress and comedian whose performing career lasted nine decades. Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, she moved to New York City and trained at the Actors Studio under Elia Kazan. After early film work such as Kiss Me Deadly (1955), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA for her role as a lonely housewife in The Last Picture Show (1971). She became a fixture in Mel Brooks's films, playing Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein (1974), Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety (1977) and Madame Defarge in the comedy History of the World, Part I. On television she collected eight Primetime Emmy Awards, including honors for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and won a Golden Globe for her starring role in the spinoff series Phyllis. Later credits include Spanglish (2004) and the sitcom Raising Hope, where she played the grandmother Maw Maw.

94years old at death

Born April 30, 1926Des Moines
Died January 27, 2021Encinitas
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Cloris Wallace Leachman (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 66
Career span: 66 years1955 to 2021

Genres

Comedy52%, 34 films
Drama44%, 29 films
Family24%, 16 films
Adventure20%, 13 films
Animation17%, 11 films

First and latest

Photos

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Early training
Leachman placed in the top 16 of the Miss America pageant and won a scholarship there. She went on to study acting with Elia Kazan at the Actors Studio in New York City.
First role
Leachman's first feature film was Carnegie Hall in 1947, where she appeared as an extra. Her first real part came in Robert Aldrich's film noir Kiss Me Deadly, which was released in 1955.

Cloris Leachman movies on Netflix

Not To Forget2021IMDb rating 5.2as Donna
The Croods: A New Age2020IMDb rating 6.9as Gran (voice)
I Can Only Imagine2018IMDb rating 7.3as Memaw
Lez Bomb2018IMDb rating 5.3as Josephine
Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?2016IMDb rating 5.0as Maxine
So B. It2016IMDb rating 6.9as Alice Wilinsky
The Bronx Bull2016IMDb rating 4.8as Lillian Forrester
The Comedian2016IMDb rating 5.8as May Connor
Baby, Baby, Baby2015IMDb rating 5.8as Actress
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse2015IMDb rating 6.3as Miss Fielder
The Wedding Ringer2015IMDb rating 6.6as Grandma Palmer
Adult World2014IMDb rating 6.1as Mary Ann
The Croods2013IMDb rating 7.1as Gran (voice)
Foodfight!2012IMDb rating 1.3as Brand X Lunch Lady
Gambit2012IMDb rating 5.7as Grandma Merle
The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure2012IMDb rating 1.6as Dotty Rounder
The Fields2011IMDb rating 4.3as Gladys
Expecting Mary2010IMDb rating 5.7as Annie
American Cowslip2009IMDb rating 4.7as Sandy
Love Takes Wing2009IMDb rating 6.7as Hattie Clarence
Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget2008IMDb rating 7.4as Herself
The Women2008IMDb rating 5.1as Maggie
Lake Placid 22007IMDb rating 3.2as Sadie Bickerman
Beerfest2006IMDb rating 6.3as Great Gam Gam
Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1as Mrs. Norris
Mrs. Harris2005IMDb rating 5.9as Pearl 'Billie' Schwartz - Tarnower's Sister
The Californians2005IMDb rating 4.7as Eileen Boatwright
Spanglish2004IMDb rating 6.4as Evelyn
Alex & Emma2003IMDb rating 5.5as Grandmother
Hanging Up2000IMDb rating 4.9as Pat Mozell
Music of the Heart1999IMDb rating 6.7as Assunta
The Iron Giant1999IMDb rating 8.1as Mrs. Tensedge (voice)
Gen¹³1998IMDb rating 5.9as Helga Kleinman (voice)
Annabelle's Wish1997IMDb rating 7.2as Aunt Agnes
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America1996IMDb rating 6.8as Old Woman on Plane and Bus (voice)
Now and Then1995IMDb rating 6.8as Grandma Albertson
A Troll in Central Park1994IMDb rating 5.4as Gnorga (voice)
Double, Double Toil and Trouble1993IMDb rating 5.9as Aunt Agatha / Aunt Sofia
My Boyfriend's Back1993IMDb rating 5.5as Maggie The Zombie Expert
The Beverly Hillbillies1993IMDb rating 5.1as Granny
Texasville1990IMDb rating 6.0as Ruth Popper
Prancer1989IMDb rating 6.5as Mrs. McFarland
Hansel and Gretel1987IMDb rating 6.5as Griselda The Witch
Castle in the Sky1986IMDb rating 8.0as Dola (voice)
My Little Pony: The Movie1986IMDb rating 6.0as Hydia (voice)
History of the World: Part I1981IMDb rating 6.8as Madame Defarge
Herbie Goes Bananas1980IMDb rating 4.9as Aunt Louise
S.O.S. Titanic1979IMDb rating 6.2as Molly Brown
Scavenger Hunt1979IMDb rating 5.8as Mildred Carruthers
The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6as Lord's Secretary
The North Avenue Irregulars1979IMDb rating 6.7as Claire
High Anxiety1977IMDb rating 6.6as Nurse Diesel
The Mouse and His Child1977IMDb rating 6.8as Euterpe (voice)
Crazy Mama1975IMDb rating 5.4as Melba
Daisy Miller1974IMDb rating 6.2as Mrs. Ezra Miller
Young Frankenstein1974IMDb rating 8.0as Frau Blücher
Charley and the Angel1973IMDb rating 6.0as Nettie Appleby
Dillinger1973IMDb rating 6.9as Anna Sage
The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0as Ruth Popper
Lovers and Other Strangers1970IMDb rating 6.6as Bernice Henderson
The People Next Door1970IMDb rating 6.1as Tina Hoffman
WUSA1970IMDb rating 5.5as Philomene
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid1969IMDb rating 8.0as Agnes
The Chapman Report1962IMDb rating 5.5as Miss Selby
The Rack1956IMDb rating 6.8as Caroline
Kiss Me Deadly1955IMDb rating 7.5as Christina Bailey

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Iron Giant1999 Action, Adventure, Animationas Mrs. Tensedgevoice
IMDb rating 8.1266K votes
The Croods2013 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Granvoice
IMDb rating 7.1255K votes
Young Frankenstein1974as Frau Blücher
IMDb rating 8.0182K votes
Spanglish2004as Evelyn
IMDb rating 6.493K votes
The Last Picture Show1971as Ruth Popper
IMDb rating 8.058K votes
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid1969as Agnes
IMDb rating 8.0240K votes
Castle in the Sky1986as Dolavoice
IMDb rating 8.0201K votes
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America1996as Old Woman on Plane and Busvoice
IMDb rating 6.863K votes

Most often with

Mel Brooks directed three of these films, Peter Bogdanovich three and Vincent McEveety two. Madeline Kahn appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Madeline Kahn

Cybill Shepherd

Paul Newman

Dom DeLuise

Eileen Brennan

Mel Brooks

Mel BrooksDirector, 3 films

Peter BogdanovichDirector, 3 films Vincent McEveetyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Madeline Kahn5 films together, 1974 to 1986
Madeline Kahn's page
- My Little Pony: The Movie1986IMDb rating 6.0Leachman as HydiavoiceKahn as Dragglevoice
- History of the World: Part I1981IMDb rating 6.8Leachman as Madame DefargeKahn as Empress Nympho
- The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6Leachman as Lord's SecretaryKahn as El Sleezo Patron
- High Anxiety1977IMDb rating 6.6Leachman as Nurse DieselKahn as Victoria Brisbane
- Young Frankenstein1974IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as Frau BlücherKahn as Elizabeth
Cybill Shepherd4 films together, 1971 to 2010
Cybill Shepherd's page
- Expecting Mary2010IMDb rating 5.7Leachman as AnnieShepherd as Meg
- Texasville1990IMDb rating 6.0Leachman as Ruth PopperShepherd as Jacy Farrow
- Daisy Miller1974IMDb rating 6.2Leachman as Mrs. Ezra MillerShepherd as Annie P. 'Daisy' Miller
- The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as Ruth PopperShepherd as Jacy Farrow
Paul Newman3 films together, 1956 to 1970
Paul Newman's page
- WUSA1970IMDb rating 5.5Leachman as PhilomeneNewman as Rheinhardt
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid1969IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as AgnesNewman as Butch Cassidy
- The Rack1956IMDb rating 6.8Leachman as CarolineNewman as Capt. Edward W. Hall, Jr.
Dom DeLuise3 films together, 1979 to 1994
Dom DeLuise's page
- A Troll in Central Park1994IMDb rating 5.4Leachman as GnorgavoiceDeLuise as Stanleyvoice
- History of the World: Part I1981IMDb rating 6.8Leachman as Madame DefargeDeLuise as Emperor Nero
- The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6Leachman as Lord's SecretaryDeLuise as Bernie the Agent
Eileen Brennan3 films together, 1971 to 1990
Eileen Brennan's page
- Texasville1990IMDb rating 6.0Leachman as Ruth PopperBrennan as Genevieve Morgan
- Daisy Miller1974IMDb rating 6.2Leachman as Mrs. Ezra MillerBrennan as Mrs. Walker
- The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as Ruth PopperBrennan as Genevieve
Mel Brooks3 films together, 1977 to 1981
Mel Brooks's page
- History of the World: Part I1981IMDb rating 6.8Leachman as Madame DefargeBrooks as Moses / Comicus / Torquemada / Jacques / King Louis XVI
- The Muppet Movie1979IMDb rating 7.6Leachman as Lord's SecretaryBrooks as Professor Max Krassman
- High Anxiety1977IMDb rating 6.6Leachman as Nurse DieselBrooks as Richard H. Thorndyke
Mel BrooksDirector, 3 films, 1974 to 1981
All films by Mel Brooks
- History of the World: Part I1981IMDb rating 6.8Leachman as Madame Defarge
- High Anxiety1977IMDb rating 6.6Leachman as Nurse Diesel
- Young Frankenstein1974IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as Frau Blücher
Peter BogdanovichDirector, 3 films, 1971 to 1990
All films by Peter Bogdanovich
- Texasville1990IMDb rating 6.0Leachman as Ruth Popper
- Daisy Miller1974IMDb rating 6.2Leachman as Mrs. Ezra Miller
- The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0Leachman as Ruth Popper
Vincent McEveetyDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1980
All films by Vincent McEveety
- Herbie Goes Bananas1980IMDb rating 4.9Leachman as Aunt Louise
- Charley and the Angel1973IMDb rating 6.0Leachman as Nettie Appleby
Also three films together1 more actor
- Harvey KormanHistory of the World: Part I (1981), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) and High Anxiety (1977)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Cloris Leachman's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.9 billion

33 of the 66 films have a worldwide figure.

33Worldwide figure
8US gross only
7Never in cinemas
18Figure not found

Top grosser

The Croods2013Gran$587 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 73% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Croods2013as Gran (voice)
$587M30.4% of the total
2
The Croods: A New Age2020as Gran (voice)
$216M11.2% of the total
3
Scary Movie 42006as Mrs. Norris
$179M9.3% of the total
4
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid1969as Agnes
$102M5.3% of the total
5
Young Frankenstein1974as Frau Blücher
$86M4.5% of the total
6
I Can Only Imagine2018as Memaw
$86M4.5% of the total
7
The Wedding Ringer2015as Grandma Palmer
$80M4.1% of the total
8
The Muppet Movie1979as Lord's Secretary
$76M4.0% of the total

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996), $63.1 million

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), $57.4 million

History of the World: Part I (1981), $31.7 million

The Last Picture Show (1971), $29.1 million

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), $18.0 million

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015), $14.9 million

Music of the Heart (1999), $14.9 million

$519 millionfrom the other 25 films with a worldwide figure, 27% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1951 to 2006, nine of them major.

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Cloris Leachman's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1972	Best Supporting Actress	The Last Picture Show	Won
BAFTA
1973	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	The Last Picture Show	Won
Emmy Awards
2006	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Malcolm in the Middle	Won
2002	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Malcolm in the Middle	Won
1998	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series	Promised Land	Won
1983	Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming	The Woman Who Willed a Miracle	Won
1975	Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program	Cher	Won
1975	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	Won
1974	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	Won
Other honors
1970	Golden Plate Award		Won
1951	Theatre World Award		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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