Cloris Leachman's Life in Photos
Rachel Davis
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the world lost a beloved star when Cloris Leachman died at the age of 94. Her manager confirmed to People that she died of natural causes. Among many other roles, Leachman was known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show; its spinoff on her character, Phyllis; and for the movie The Last Picture Show, for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Leachman had a lengthy career in Hollywood that began in the late 1940s and continued up until her death. In just the past couple of years, she had appeared on the revival of the TV series Mad About You and voiced a character in The Croods: A New Age. She also has two movies that are still in production, as well—a comedy called High Holiday and a drama called Not to Forget.
There is a lot to remember Leachman for, so let's take a look back at her life through photos. And for more iconic women in Hollywood, check out The Biggest Female Icon Every Year Since You Were Born.
1970
In 1970, Leachman appeared in the romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers, which was based on the play of the same name. In this scene, she's shown having dinner with actor Gig Young. The film also starred Diane Keaton, Richard S. Castellano, and Bea Arthur.
For more on recent beloved movies, This Is the Best Movie of 2020, According to Critics.
1971
One of Leachman's most memorable roles is that of Ruth in 1971's The Last Picture Show. She played the wife of a closeted gay high school coach (Bill Thurman) in the 1950s. For her performance in the film, Leachman won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as the BAFTA in the same category.
1974
The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered in 1970 and ran for seven seasons. Leachman was a regular for the first five seasons and played lead character Mary Richards' (Mary Tyler Moore) landlady and friend Phyllis Lindstrom. Here, she's pictured with co-stars Moore and Ted Knight at the International Broadcasting Awards in 1974.
And if you loved shows of the '70s, check out the 50 TV Theme Songs Every 50-Something Knows By Heart.
1974
At the 1974 Tony Awards, Leachman presented along with fellow actor David Carradine. Here they are photographed at a rehearsal for the ceremony.
1978
This casual photo shows Leachman in 1978 when she was seen at the Los Angeles restaurant La Scala.
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1980
In 1980, the actor attended the 1st Annual Actors Studio Awards. Leachman had been a student at the Actors Studio in New York City at the beginning of her career.
1982
This fabulous portrait of Leachman was taken in 1982. At this point in her career, she was appearing in a number of TV movies.
1984
At the 36th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1984, Leachman won the award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for her appearance in the Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration. That same year, she was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special for Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter.
And for more Emmy facts, check out these Photos From the 2000 Emmys That Will Throw You Back in Time.
1985
Here is one of Leachman's headshots from her career. This one was taken in 1985.
1991
At the Hollywood premiere of Point Break in 1991, Leachman posed in a casual outfit of overalls with sneakers.
2002
Leachman won eight Primetime Emmy Awards during her career and was nominated for 22, making her the most nominated actor ever and tying for the most wins for an actor with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Here, she is seen with her 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on Malcolm in the Middle.
2004
In 2004, Leachman played Evelyn in the Adam Sandler movie Spanglish. The actor is seen here at a press conference for the film, which also starred Paz Vega and Téa Leoni.
2010
In 2010, Leachman returned to the small screen full time with her recurring role on the Fox sitcom Raising Hope. Here she is promoting the show with co-star Martha Plimpton. It earned her another Emmy nomination in 2011, for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
2011
In the early 2010s, Leachman toured with her one-woman show aptly called Cloris: A One-Woman Show, in which she humorously reflected on her life and performed a couple songs. Here she is during a show in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011.
2016
Pictured here in 2016, Leachman attended the American Film Institute Life Achievement Awards, which honored composer John Williams.
2019
Lastly, this photo from 2019 shows Leachman at a roast in celebration of Ed Asner's 90th birthday. Leachman and Asner starred together on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
And if you want to relive those memories, you can rewatch the show along with some other iconic ones. Check out these 15 Classic TV Shows You Didn't Know You Could Stream Right Now.
Lia Beck Lia Beck is a writer living in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to Best Life, she has written for Refinery29, Bustle, Hello Giggles, InStyle, and more. Read more Filed UnderActors • Celebrities • News Read This Next
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