Cloris Leachman, Oscar and Emmy winning actress, has died at the age of 94 from natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California.
Leachman is best known for her award winning performance on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1974-1975 as Moore’s snobbish neighbor Phyllis Lindstrom.
The show and character were so popular, Leachman was spun off into her show “Phyllis” which landed her a Golden Globe award for Best TV Actress.
She won the 1973 Emmy for best leading actress in the TV movie, “A Brand New Life,” playing a first-time mother in middle age — a daring act in the era.
Other Emmy wins included the 1975 best supporting actress in a variety or musical for her work in “Cher,” in 1984 for best variety performance in the “Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration” and in 1988 for best actress in a guest role for “Promised Land.”
In recent years, Leachman starred in the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” playing Malcom’s hilariously scheming grandmother which earned her an Emmy award in 2002 and 2006 for best guest actress in a comedy.
The Hollywood icon passed away with one Oscar statue on her mantle, earning the 1971 award for best supporting actress in “The Last Picture Show.” She played Ruth Popper, the lonely wife of the town’s high school football coach.
Her film career also included a fan-favorite performance as Frau Blücher in Mel Brooks’ comedy classic, “Young Frankenstein.”
With 22 Emmy nominations, she’s the most nominated actress in history, and her 8 wins is the most of all time tied with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Her performance as Frau Blücher in Mel Brooks’ comedy classic, “Young Frankenstein” is a fan favorite among the LGBTQ community.
In 2013 Leachman showed her support for the LGBTQ community by making an appearance at the GLAAD awards and encouraging allies everywhere to speak out in support.
