Sad news to report today as it's been announced that Cloris Leachman, the Oscar and Emmy winning actress best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94. In a statement, Leachman's longtime manager Juliet Green said, "It’s been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time. There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh ’till the tears ran down your face. You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic."
Cloris Leachman played the recurring role of Phyllis Lindstrom in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary's snobbish, neurotic neighbour who would eventually receive her own spin-off series in Phyllis. Leachman is also known for appearing in movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Muppet Movie, Prancer, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Iron Giant, Bad Santa, Sky High, and The Croods, as well as TV shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Lassie, Rawhide, The Twilight Zone, Dr. Kildare, Night Gallery, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, The Facts of Life, The Simpsons, The Nanny, Touched by an Angel, Malcolm in the Middle, The Ellen Show, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, The Office, Hot in Cleveland, Girl Meets World, Bob's Burgers, Raising Hope, and much more. Leachman also memorably worked with Mel Brooks on several occasions, including High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I, and Young Frankenstein, in which she played Frau Blücher, the delightfully frightening housekeeper whose mere mention of her name sent shivers down the backs of many a horse. The role was one of Leachman's favourites and she recalled just how much fun she had with Gene Wilder on set as they kept cracking up again and again while shooting one particular scene.
I remember when we were shooting Young Frankenstein there was a scene where I had to get the group up the stairs immediately. I had to say, ‘Shtay close to zee candles’ and turn toward him. As I turned around I could see his face was in two pieces. We had to do our scene 14 times over because he’d be laughing so hard.
Cloris Leachman is also best known for starring in Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting actress. She also earned eight Emmy Awards over the decades in addition to fourteen nominations, which has her tied with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most Emmy wins for a performer. Throughout her career, Cloris Leachman proved that she could juggle drama, comedy, horror, and just about everything else with equal brilliance. You will be greatly missed.