Cloris Leachman, 1926-2021
January 27, 2021 8:55 PM Subscribe
Actress Cloris Leachman, Who Played Both Silly And Serious, Dies At 94 (NPR) Cloris Leachman, the Miss America contestant who won an Oscar for her work in The Last Picture Show, then collected two of her record nine Emmys for playing the quirky Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, has died. Leachman, the bawdy Iowa native also known for her hilarious turns in the Mel Brooks-Gene Wilder classic Young Frankenstein (1974) and on the TV shows Malcolm in the Middle and Raising Hope, died of natural causes Wednesday in Encinitas, California, according to her manager, Juliet Green. (The Hollywood Reporter) (Variety obituary)
A few career highlights:
Phyllis Lindstrom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1975) & the short-lived Phyllis spin-off (1975- 1977) [2008 MTMS reunion on Oprah]
Ruth Popper in 1971's The Last Picture Show [Cloris Leachman’s Heartbreaking ‘Last Picture Show’ Performance Is an Acting Masterclass (Variety, Jan. 27, 2021); final scene; Oscar acceptance speech clip]
Miss Tracy, The Muppet Movie (1979)
Frau Blücher, Young Frankenstein (1974)
Beverly Ann Stickle / Mrs. Krebs, The Facts of Life (1986-1988) [Decades earlier, Leachman was Charlotte Rae's roommate at Northwestern, and Rae recommended her to TFOL producers]
Mrs. Tensedge (voice) in The Iron Giant (1999)
Ida in Malcolm in the Middle (2001-2006)
2008 Dancing with the Stars Season 7 tango performance w/Corky Ballas [Leachman was the 6th elimination of the season]
Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget (2008) uncensored clips: 1 2 3
Norma June ["Maw-Maw"] in Raising Hope (2010-2014)
Zorya Vechernyaya in American Gods (2017-2019)
Margaret in Jump, Darling (2020) [Cloris Leachman To Star In LGBTQ Family Drama ‘Jump, Darling’ (Deadline, June 3, 2019)]
Mel Brooks, Ed Asner, Steve Martin and More Pay Tribute to Cloris Leachman: "She Was a Comedic Genius" (The Hollywood Reporter)
Previously on MetaFilter: 2016's "I'm having an amazing life, and it isn't over yet."
A few career highlights:
Phyllis Lindstrom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1975) & the short-lived Phyllis spin-off (1975- 1977) [2008 MTMS reunion on Oprah]
Ruth Popper in 1971's The Last Picture Show [Cloris Leachman’s Heartbreaking ‘Last Picture Show’ Performance Is an Acting Masterclass (Variety, Jan. 27, 2021); final scene; Oscar acceptance speech clip]
Miss Tracy, The Muppet Movie (1979)
Frau Blücher, Young Frankenstein (1974)
Beverly Ann Stickle / Mrs. Krebs, The Facts of Life (1986-1988) [Decades earlier, Leachman was Charlotte Rae's roommate at Northwestern, and Rae recommended her to TFOL producers]
Mrs. Tensedge (voice) in The Iron Giant (1999)
Ida in Malcolm in the Middle (2001-2006)
2008 Dancing with the Stars Season 7 tango performance w/Corky Ballas [Leachman was the 6th elimination of the season]
Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget (2008) uncensored clips: 1 2 3
Norma June ["Maw-Maw"] in Raising Hope (2010-2014)
Zorya Vechernyaya in American Gods (2017-2019)
Margaret in Jump, Darling (2020) [Cloris Leachman To Star In LGBTQ Family Drama ‘Jump, Darling’ (Deadline, June 3, 2019)]
Mel Brooks, Ed Asner, Steve Martin and More Pay Tribute to Cloris Leachman: "She Was a Comedic Genius" (The Hollywood Reporter)
Previously on MetaFilter: 2016's "I'm having an amazing life, and it isn't over yet."
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posted by oneswellfoop at 9:02 PM on January 27, 2021
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:02 PM on January 27, 2021
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posted by NotTheRedBaron at 9:09 PM on January 27, 2021
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 9:09 PM on January 27, 2021
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posted by ChutneyFerret at 9:28 PM on January 27, 2021
posted by ChutneyFerret at 9:28 PM on January 27, 2021
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posted by quazichimp at 9:30 PM on January 27, 2021
posted by quazichimp at 9:30 PM on January 27, 2021
Oh goodness. She was so good in so many things in so many different ways... 94 is a good run. I'm glad she was around.
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posted by hippybear at 9:33 PM on January 27, 2021 [5 favorites]
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posted by hippybear at 9:33 PM on January 27, 2021 [5 favorites]
Aw, another Mary Tyler Moore vet gone. Now there are only three left.
posted by tavella at 9:43 PM on January 27, 2021
posted by tavella at 9:43 PM on January 27, 2021
Missed a link, History of the World Part 1's Madame Defarge: Fellow wretches...
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:11 PM on January 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:11 PM on January 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
I ABSOLUTELY fell in love with her when I was a youth and saw her in the comedy film The North Avenue Irregulars back in 1979. I will never forget when she, as “Phantom Fox” got her fingernails broken by the bad guys!
Also, her first name means “green”, but I’ve never been able to think of her name without also thinking “Clorox Bleachman”, which I can only imagine she probably heard a lot in life.
What an awesome personality.
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posted by darkstar at 10:47 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
Also, her first name means “green”, but I’ve never been able to think of her name without also thinking “Clorox Bleachman”, which I can only imagine she probably heard a lot in life.
What an awesome personality.
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posted by darkstar at 10:47 PM on January 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
Despite the ever popular horses-rearing-at-her-name moments, my favorite Young Frankenstein Frau Blücher* bit was her spreading her arms in a paroxysm of emotion and shouting "He vas...my...BOYFRIEND!!" - something about that specific word choice and delivery speaks of absolute comic genius to me. Second favorite is the more subtly humorous "Ovaltine" scene.
*insert obligatory SFX here
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:49 PM on January 27, 2021 [17 favorites]
*insert obligatory SFX here
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:49 PM on January 27, 2021 [17 favorites]
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In the mid 90s, I was working at a movie theater when Cloris Leachman came to watch The Beverly Hillbillies, which had just opened. She had been shooting another movie in my small town at the time and I guess wanted to see if The Beverly Hillbillies was any good (it wasn't, but that's not important).
It was a matinee show, a very slow afternoon, and she was alone. I recognized her and started talking with her, and my manager came down and started talking with her, too. We let her in for free! She was easily the nicest celebrity I've ever encountered, very warm and friendly.
posted by zardoz at 11:02 PM on January 27, 2021 [20 favorites]
In the mid 90s, I was working at a movie theater when Cloris Leachman came to watch The Beverly Hillbillies, which had just opened. She had been shooting another movie in my small town at the time and I guess wanted to see if The Beverly Hillbillies was any good (it wasn't, but that's not important).
It was a matinee show, a very slow afternoon, and she was alone. I recognized her and started talking with her, and my manager came down and started talking with her, too. We let her in for free! She was easily the nicest celebrity I've ever encountered, very warm and friendly.
posted by zardoz at 11:02 PM on January 27, 2021 [20 favorites]
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posted by equalpants at 12:53 AM on January 28, 2021
posted by equalpants at 12:53 AM on January 28, 2021
This is sad news. She seemed eternal: she was famous ever day of my life and I’m not gonna see fifty again.
Aw, another Mary Tyler Moore vet gone. Now there are only three left.
Among them is Gavin MacLeod, who went directly from this to The Love Boat, and every single one of that cast is still alive. Contrast this with another ensemble show from some two decades later, Babylon 5, which has seemingly seen most of its main cast perish.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:17 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
Aw, another Mary Tyler Moore vet gone. Now there are only three left.
Among them is Gavin MacLeod, who went directly from this to The Love Boat, and every single one of that cast is still alive. Contrast this with another ensemble show from some two decades later, Babylon 5, which has seemingly seen most of its main cast perish.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:17 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
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posted by fourpotatoes at 3:07 AM on January 28, 2021
posted by fourpotatoes at 3:07 AM on January 28, 2021
Second favorite is the more subtly humorous "Ovaltine" scene.
Apparently improvised by Cloris Leachman herself.
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posted by daveje at 4:26 AM on January 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
Apparently improvised by Cloris Leachman herself.
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posted by daveje at 4:26 AM on January 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
Oh my gosh she was just so good in everything.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:43 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:43 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
She had such charm, and her sharp wit was obvious in every performance of hers that I saw. A loss to us all.
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posted by kwaller at 5:49 AM on January 28, 2021
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posted by kwaller at 5:49 AM on January 28, 2021
I grew up watching MTM and Phyllis and loved her—but god, she was amazing as Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show.
posted by marimeko at 6:15 AM on January 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by marimeko at 6:15 AM on January 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by LobsterMitten at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2021
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2021
(looks left and right)
...BLUCHER!
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
...BLUCHER!
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
Loved her as Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety. "Those who are tardy do not get fruit cup" is a standard phrase in my family.
NSFW:
@EliasToufexis
"On set once, my wife @michelleboback was texting me and it started to get on Cloris Leachman’s nerves. So she sent this message"
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:29 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
NSFW:
@EliasToufexis
"On set once, my wife @michelleboback was texting me and it started to get on Cloris Leachman’s nerves. So she sent this message"
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:29 AM on January 28, 2021 [6 favorites]
Oh my, I had forgotten about her acting in Malcom in the Middle - a role which was basically the identical evil twin of my grandmother who also spoke with a german-accent, who was also named Ida. Down to the hairstyle, clothing choices and everything.
They both were gems!
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posted by rozcakj at 7:57 AM on January 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
They both were gems!
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posted by rozcakj at 7:57 AM on January 28, 2021 [2 favorites]
She was wonderful, and I'm so glad I got to be here while she was here too.
One of my terrible guilty pleasures is liking the film Bad Santa (it has...issues...) and part of that guilt is also the frustration that Cloris and Bernie Mac don't have much much larger parts.
posted by winesong at 9:21 AM on January 28, 2021
One of my terrible guilty pleasures is liking the film Bad Santa (it has...issues...) and part of that guilt is also the frustration that Cloris and Bernie Mac don't have much much larger parts.
posted by winesong at 9:21 AM on January 28, 2021
A great, great comedic actor. A Phyllis fan from her MTM Show days. I was delighted and surprised to see her as "Maw Maw" in the underrated TV comedy Raising Hope.
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posted by the sobsister at 9:35 AM on January 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
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posted by the sobsister at 9:35 AM on January 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
all of the above, plus a tiny role in "Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid" that still prompted me to check the credits to find out who played that part.
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posted by martin q blank at 9:38 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by martin q blank at 9:38 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2021
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2021
I first knew her from Young Frankenstein, and loved her for it, but I was absolutely blown away by her in Last Picture Show. I had that disconnect that I have with all the greatest actors -- they look exactly alike, but how is this the same person?
Last Picture Show, her performance was as good as anyone's anywhere. One for the ages. Even in 'smaller' things like Raising Hope, she was absolutely fearless.
That she seems like a good person, funny and a bit raunchy, well, she was one of my all-time favourites.
Godspeed, lady.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:55 AM on January 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
Last Picture Show, her performance was as good as anyone's anywhere. One for the ages. Even in 'smaller' things like Raising Hope, she was absolutely fearless.
That she seems like a good person, funny and a bit raunchy, well, she was one of my all-time favourites.
Godspeed, lady.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:55 AM on January 28, 2021 [4 favorites]
Omg lalochezia, I love that bit! I didn’t know that was Cloris doing the voice.
Here’s the longer excerpt of Bart and Mrs. Glick.
posted by darkstar at 11:16 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
Here’s the longer excerpt of Bart and Mrs. Glick.
posted by darkstar at 11:16 AM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
(looks left and right)
...BLUCHER!
Neiiiiigh!
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 12:51 PM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
...BLUCHER!
Neiiiiigh!
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 12:51 PM on January 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
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While I never saw it, her first big movie role was in Kiss Me Deadly, as the hitchhiker Christina Bailey, to whom Mike Hammer gives a lift, enmeshing him in a conspiracy involving Communist spies and nuclear secrets.
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:36 PM on January 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
While I never saw it, her first big movie role was in Kiss Me Deadly, as the hitchhiker Christina Bailey, to whom Mike Hammer gives a lift, enmeshing him in a conspiracy involving Communist spies and nuclear secrets.
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:36 PM on January 28, 2021 [3 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2021
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2021
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posted by dannyboybell at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2021
posted by dannyboybell at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2021
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she will be missed. what an amazing person she was
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:29 AM on January 29, 2021
she will be missed. what an amazing person she was
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:29 AM on January 29, 2021
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