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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Robert Lantos to Steven Levitan
Cloris Leachman Biography (1930?-)
Born June 30, 1930 (some sources cite April 30, 1926), in Des Moines, IA; daughter of Buck (an owner of a lumber company) and Cloris Leachman; married George England, April 19, 1953 (divorced, 1979); children: Adam, Brian (an actor; deceased), George (a production assistant), Morgan (an actor), Dinah (a singer and songwriter). Addresses: Agent: Metropolitan Talent Agency, 4526 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.; Manager: Steve Vail, Vanguard Talent Management, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 315, Los Angeles, CA 90069.; Publicist: Marleah Leslie, Marleah Leslie and Associates Public Relations, 8370 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 210, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress
- Birth Details
- June 30, 1930?
- Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Christina Bailey, Kiss Me Deadly (also known as Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me Deadly), United Artists, 1955
- Caroline, The Rack, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956
- Miss Selby, The Chapman Report, Warner Bros., 1962
- Agnes, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Twentieth Century-Fox,1969
- Tina Hoffman, The People Next Door, 1970
- Philomene, W.U.S.A., Paramount, 1970
- Bernice, Lovers and Other Strangers, 1970
- Ruth Popper, The Last Picture Show, Columbia, 1971
- Rita Weiss, The Steagle, Avco-Embassy, 1971
- Ronda, Happy Mother's Day, Love George (also known as Run, Stranger, Run), 1973
- The lady in red, Dillinger, American International Pictures, 1973
- Nettie Appleby, Charley and the Angel, Walt Disney, 1973
- Mrs. Ezra Miller, Daisy Miller, Paramount, 1974
- Frau Bluecher, Young Frankenstein (also known as Frankenstein Jr.), Twentieth-Century Fox, 1974
- Melba, Crazy Mama, New World, 1975
- Voice of Euterpe, The Mouse and His Child, Murakami-Wolf Productions, 1977
- Nurse Diesel, High Anxiety, 1977, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979
- Lord's secretary, The Muppet Movie, Associated Film Distributors,1979
- Claire Porter, The North Avenue Irregulars (also known as Hill's Angels), Buena Vista, 1979
- Mildred Carruthers, Scavenger Hunt, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979
- Mrs. Kramer, Yesterday (also known as Gabrielle,
Scoring,
This Time Forever, and The Victory), Cinepix, 1980
- Samantha, Foolin' Around, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
- Aunt Louise, Herbie Goes Bananas, Buena Vista, 1980
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Soggy Bottom, USA (also known as Swamp Rats), 1980
- Madame Lafarge, History of the World, Part I, 1981
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My Strange Uncle, 1981
- Millie Crown, Shadow Play, 1986
- Voice of Hydia, My Little Pony: The Movie, 1986
- Margaret Shand, Walk Like a Man, 1987
- Mrs. McFarland, Prancer, 1989
- Ruth Weaver, Love Hurts, Vestron Pictures, 1991
- Ruth Popper, Texasville, Cine-Source, 1991
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Picture This--The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas, 1991
- Narrator and elder Amy, The Giant of Thunder Mountain, 1991
- Voice of Queen Gnorga, A Troll in Central Park (animated), WarnerEspanola, 1993
- Maggie the Zombie Expert, My Boyfriend's Back (also known as Johnny Zombie), Buena Vista, 1993
- Granny, The Beverly Hillbillies, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993
- Grandma Albertson, Now and Then (also known as The Gaslight Addition), Lider Films, 1995
- Voice of Martha, Beavis and Butt-head Do America (animated), Paramount, 1996
- Olive, Never Too Late, Allegro Distribution, 1997
- Voice of Aunt Agnes, Annabelle's Wish (animated video), 1997
- Voice of Helga, Gen 13 (animated), Hollywood Pictures, 1998
- Voice of Mrs. Lynley Tensedge, The Iron Giant (animated), Warner Bros., 1999
- Assunta Guaspari, Music of the Heart (also known as 50 Violins), Miramax, 1999
- Pat, Hanging Up, Columbia, 2000
- Helen, Manna from Heaven, Five Sisters Productions, 2001
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Television Appearances
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Movies
- Ginny, Silent Night, Lonely Night, 1969
- Joanne Hackett, Suddenly Single, 1971
- Ellen Blunt, Haunts of the Very Rich, 1972
- Victoria Douglas, A Brand New Life, 1973
- Hilary Keaton, Crime Club, 1973
- Jean Mitchell, Dying Room Only, 1973
- Viola Barlow, The Migrants, 1974
- Lois Ellison, Thursday's Game, 1974
- Claire Stevens, Hitchhike!, 1974
- Susan Davies, Death Sentence (also known as Murder One), 1974
- Laura Hyatt, Someone I Touched, 1975
- Mrs. Singleton, Death Scream (also known as Streetkill andThe Woman Who Cried Murder), 1975
- Clara Oddbody, It Happened One Christmas, ABC, 1975
- Old Mam Hawes, A Girl Named Sooner, 1975
- Laura Casella, Long Journey Back, 1978
- Margaret "Molly" "Maggie" Brown, S.O.S. Titanic, 1979
- Ruth Randell, Mrs. R.'s Daughter, 1979
- Darla Jean, Willa, 1979
- Maureen, The Oldest Living Graduate, 1980
- Maggie Dale, Advice to the Lovelorn, 1981
- Nurse Betty Nelson, The Acorn People, 1981
- Agatha Blaine, Miss All-American Beauty, 1982
- Sister Eugenio, Dixie: Changing Habits, 1983
- Joan Greenway, The Demon Murder Case (also known as The Rhode Island Murders), 1983
- Mary Kovacs, Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter, 1984
- Mrs. Anglin, Love Is Never Silent, 1985
- Charlotte Raynor, Deadly Intentions, ABC, 1985
- The witch Grizelda, Hansel and Gretel (also known as Cannon Movie Tales: Hansel and Gretel), 1987
- Beverly Ann Stickle, The Facts of Life Down Under, NBC, 1987
- Mrs. Haldane, Going to the Chapel (Wedding Day and Wedding Day Blues), NBC, 1988
- Ruth Fine, Danielle Steel's "Fine Things" (also known as Fine Things), NBC, 1990
- Ruth Westerman, In Broad Daylight, NBC, 1991
- Edwina "Ed" McKevitt (some sources cite surname McKevin), A Little Piece of Heaven, NBC, 1991
- Ruth Weinstaub, Fade to Black, USA Network, 1993
- Mrs. Beale, Spies, The Disney Channel, 1993
- Mrs. Samuels, Without a Kiss Goodbye (also known as Falsely Accused and The Laurie Samuels Story), CBS, 1993
- Doc Betty, Miracle Child, NBC, 1993
- Aunt Agatha/Aunt Sofia, Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, ABC, 1993
- Anna Collura, Between Love & Honor, CBS, 1995
- Dolly, The Amati Girls, Fox, 2000
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Specials
- Mary, Of Thee I Sing, CBS, 1972
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Ladies of the Corridor, 1975
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Screen Actors' Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration, CBS, 1984
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Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show, CBS, 1991
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Miss America: Their Untold Stories (also known as Miss Americas... Where are They Now? and There She Was ... Miss America), NBC,1993
- Laura Evans, Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West, PBS, 1994
- Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Cybill Shepherd, Lifetime, 1998
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True Stories from Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998
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Series
- Panelist, Hold It Please, CBS, 1949
- Effie Perrine, Charlie Wild, Private Detective, CBS, then ABC, then DuMont, 1951-1952
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The Bob and Ray Show (also known as Bob and Ray), NBC, 1952
- Ruth Martin, Lassie (also known as Timmy and Lassie), CBS,1957-1958
- Phyllis Lindstrom, Mary Tyler Moore Show, CBS, 1970-1975
- Title role, Phyllis, CBS, 1975-1977
- Cohost, The Book of Lists, CBS, 1982
- Beverly Ann Stickle, The Facts of Life, NBC, 1986-1988
- Ms. Frick/Mrs. Nutt, The Nutt House, NBC, 1989
- Emily Collins, Walter & Emily, NBC, 1991
- Dot Richmond, The Ellen Show, 2001
- Appeared as Grammy Winthrop, Thanks, CBS; appeared as Sandi Hollinger, a recurring role, That Girl, 1960s.
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Miniseries
- Mrs. Jaffrey, Backstairs at the White House, NBC, 1979
- Multiple roles, Twigs, The Entertainment Channel, 1982
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Episodic
- "Night Must Fall," The Ford Theatre Hour, 1948
- "Here Comes Spring," The Actors' Studio, ABC, 1949
- "You're Breaking My Heart," The Actors' Studio, ABC, 1949
- "The Frame-Up," The Actors' Studio, ABC, 1949
- "O'Halloran's Luck," The Actors' Studio, ABC, 1949
- "We'll Never Have a Nickel," The Actors' Studio, ABC, 1949
- "Joe McSween's Atomic Machine," The Actors' Studio, ABC, c. 1949
- "Payment Deferred," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1949
- "Pink Strings and Sealing Wax," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1949
- "Accidentally Yours," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1949
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Danger, CBS, 1950
- "Nocturne," The Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1950
- "Sense and Sensibility," The Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1950
- "Moon over Miami," The Billy Rose Show, 1950
- "A Matter of Life and Death," The Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1951
- "The Foggy Night Visitor," Suspense, CBS, 1951
- "A Play for Mary," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1951
- Mrs. Adams, "Screwball," Studio One, 1951
- "The Bride the Sun Shines On," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1952
- "The Escape Artist," Danger, 1952
- "A Date at Midnight," Danger, 1952
- "The Patsy," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1953
- "The Catamaran," The Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1954
- "Kitty Foyle," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1954
- Susan Stanger, "Premonition," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS, 1955
- "The Life of Vernon Hathaway," Screen Director's Playhouse, NBC and ABC, 1955
- "You Only Run Once," Zane Grey Theatre, CBS, 1956
- Flory Tibbs, "Legal Revenge," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1956
- "The Hanging Tree," Zane Grey Theatre, CBS, 1957
- Mrs. Templeton, "Don't Interrupt," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS,1958
- Rita Wallace, "The Dark Room," Alcoa Presents, 1959
- Mary Ann Belden, "Incident of the Arana Sacar," Rawhide, 1960
- Beatrice, "Girl with a Secret," Thriller, NBC, 1960
- "Night Panic," Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, 1960
- "The Medicine Man," Wanted: Dead or Alive, CBS, 1960
- "Starfall: Parts 1 & 2," Outlaws, 1960
- Boni Van Deman, "The Love of Money," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1961
- Mrs. Fremont, "It's a Good Life," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1961
- Ginny Whittier, "Man in a Rage," Hawaiian Eye, 1961
- "The Hunter and the Hunted," Frontier Circus, 1961
- "Love Is a Skinny Kid," Route 66, CBS, 1962
- Julie Lima, "Man in the Middle," The Untouchables, ABC, 1962
- Loretta, "The Nancy Davis Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1962
- Caroline Hardy, "Where Beauty Lies," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS, 1962
- Betty, "The Wrecker," Target: The Corruptors, 1962
- Zoie Carter, "Trial by Fire," Laramie, NBC, 1962
- "A Night of Horns and Bells," Saints and Sinners, 1962
- "Cousin Eunice," Stoney Burke, 1962
- "Conflict of Interests," The Defenders, 1964
- "The Caller," A Man Called Shenandoah, 1965
- Rhoda Kirsh, "The Life Machine," Dr. Kildare, 1965
- Rhoda Kirsh, "Toast the Golden Couple," Dr. Kildare, 1965
- Rhoda Kirsh, "Wives and Losers," Dr. Kildare, 1965
- Rhoda Kirsh, "Aftermath," Dr. Kildare, 1965
- Gloria Shine, "The Case of the Crafty Kidnapper," Perry Mason, CBS, 1966
- Fay, "Plunder!" The Big Valley, ABC, 1967
- "Requiem for a Country Doctor," The Virginian, 1967
- "The Eight-seven Dollar Bride," The Road West, 1967
- "And a Killing Rode in Town," The Guns of Will Sonnett, 1967
- Judy, "Log 141: The Color TV Bandit," Adam-12, 1968
- "Nightmare," The Name of the Game, 1968
- Barker's ex-wife, "In Need of a Friend," Mannix, 1968
- "Angel Day and Her Sunshine Girls," Lancer, 1969
- "Little Darling of the Sierras," Lancer, 1969
- "The Land Dreamer," The Virginian, NBC, 1969
- Jean Cullen, "A Very Special Sailfish," Marcus Welby, M.D., ABC, 1970
- Marcy Yates, "The Truth, the Whole Truth--and Anything Else That Works,"Storefront Lawyers, CBS, 1971
- Mrs. Fulton, "You Can't Get Help Like That Anymore," Night Gallery, NBC, 1972
- Judith Eaton, "Witch, Witch, Burning Bright," The Sixth Sense, ABC, 1972
- Guest, Front Page Challenge, 1973
- Phyllis Lindstrom, "Rhoda's Wedding: Parts 1 & 2," Rhoda, 1974
- Queen Mother, "The New Original Wonder Woman," Wonder Woman, ABC,1975
- Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1977
- Mary Nicholson, "Mr. Marshall's Love Affair," The Associates, 1979
- Karen Cooper, "Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985
- Bess Dischinger, "Breakfast with Les and Bess," American Playhouse Theatre, PBS, 1985
- Mrs. Krebbs, "62 Pick Up," The Facts of Life, 1987
- Grandma Margaret, Ferris Bueller, 1990
- Voice of Mrs. Glick, "Three Men and a Comic Book," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1991
- Enid Powers, "Bill's Dead ... Not," The Powers that Be, CBS, 1992
- Enid Powers, "Grandma's Big Decision," The Powers that Be, NBC, 1993
- Clara Mueller, "The Nanny-In-Law," The Nanny, CBS, 1994
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Storytime, PBS, 1994
- Beasy, "Beasy Body," Maybe This Time, ABC, 1995
- Aunt Ethel Mooster, "The Hostage," Promised Land, CBS, 1996
- Ruth, "Clipped Wings," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
- Ruth, "Inherit the Wind," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
- Ruth, "Nothing but Net," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
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The Pet Shop, Animal Planet, 1997
- Aunt Ethel Mooster, "Mooster's Revenge," Promised Land, CBS, 1997
- Beverly Lapeer, "The Step Mommy," Love & Money, c. 1999
- Mrs. Beaumont, "Norm vs. the Oldest Profession," The Norm Show, 2000
- Ruth, "Grandma's Shoes," Twice in a Lifetime, PAX, 2000
- Grandma Ida, "The Grandparents," Malcolm in the Middle, 2001
- Sudie, "Deadly Mirage: Parts 1 & 2," Diagnosis Murder, 2001
- Grandma Ida, "Christmas," Malcolm in the Middle, 2001
- Also appeared in episodes of Telephone Time, ABC; and Trials ofO'Brien, CBS.
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Other
- Iris Havlicek, The Love Boat, 1976
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The Woman Who Willed a Miracle, 1983
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Stage Appearances
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A Fatal Weakness, Monaco, 1985
- Appeared in As You Like It and Come Back, Little Sheba, both Broadway productions.
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Major Tours
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Grandma Moses: An American Primitive (solo show), U.S. cities, beginning 1989
- Appeared as Parthy in a touring production of Show Boat, 1990s.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Periodicals
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Empire, Issue 77, 1995, p. 56
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Entertainment Weekly, October 22, 1993, p. 52
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Film Comment, November/December, 1997, p.16
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People Weekly, February 13, 1995, p. 25; August 9, 1999, p. 131
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