Cloris Leachman was first seen in the 1947 film ‘Carnegie Hall’ where she made an uncredited appearance as a dancing nightclub patron. In 1950, she became a part of the American detective series ‘Charlie Wild, Private Detective.’ The show aired its final episode in 1952. She next starred as ‘Christina Bailey’ in the 1955 American film ‘Kiss Me Deadly,’ directed by Robert Aldrich. The film received positive response from critics and later came to be known as one of the most important and influential film noirs of all time. She next appeared in ‘The Rack’ (1956), ‘The Chapman Report’ (1962), ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969), The People Next Door’ (1970), and ‘Lovers and Other Strangers’ (1970).
In 1970, she starred as ‘Ruth Popper’ in the coming-of-age drama film ‘The Last Picture Show,’ directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film opened to wide critical acclaim and became a major box office success, grossing over $29.1 million against a budget of $1.3 million. Leachman also won the ‘Academy Award’ for her performance in the film. She played the role of ‘Victoria Douglas’ in the 1973 American made-for-television drama film ‘A Brand New Life’ which earned her a ‘Primetime Emmy Award.’ In 1975, she joined the cast of the American sitcom television series ‘Phyllis.’ She bagged a ‘Golden Globe Award’ for her performance as ‘Phyllis Lindstrom’ in the series. The show ran for 48 episodes and went off-air in 1977.
Leachman went on to star in television series like ‘The Love Boat’ (1976), ‘Backstairs at the White House’ (1979), ‘ABC Afterschool Special’ (1983), ‘The Facts of Life’ (1986-1988), ‘The Nutt House’ (1989), ‘Walter & Emily’ (1991-1992), ‘Promised Land’ (1995), ‘Touched by an Angel’ (1997-2003), ‘Thanks’ (1999-2000), and ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ (2001-2006). In 2005, she starred as ‘Lynette Grey’ in the American sports comedy film ‘The Longest Yard,’ directed by Peter Segal. The film opened to mixed reviews and was a box office success. That same year, she was seen playing the role of ‘Pearl Schwartz’ in the American-British made-for-television drama film ‘Mrs. Harris.’ She earned praise for her performance and went on to become a recipient of the ‘Screen Actors Guild Award.’ The following year, she appeared in the American science fantasy comedy horror film ‘Scary Movie 4,’ directed by David Zucker. The film was a massive box office hit, grossing over $178.3 million against a budget of $40 million.
She next appeared in ‘New York, I Love You’ (2008), ‘American Cowslip’ (2009), ‘Expecting Mary’ (2010), ‘The Fields’ (2011), ‘The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure’ (2012), ‘The Croods’ (2013), ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ (2015), ‘The Comedian’ (2016), and ‘The Croods: A New Age’ (2020). Cloris Leachman’s final big-screen appearance came in the 2021 film ‘Not to Forget’ directed by Valerio Zanoli.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, inherits their family estate in Transylvania where he accidentally comes across his grandfather's journals and decides to resume his experiment. However, things gradually go out of hand after young Frankenstein unknowingly implants an abnormal brain into a corpse and his fiancée Elizabeth shows up in the estate.
The Last Picture Show is a drama film, revolving around few high school friends who are living in a Texas town that is dying culturally as well as economically. As their graduation approaches, they think about their futures. .
The classic Western is based on the true story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy and Harry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid. The movie follows them as they become folk heroes from train robbers to bank robbers, to outlaws, until they meet their end in Bolivia, with guns blazing.
The Muppet Movie is a musical road comedy film, which tells the story of Kermit the Frog, who is told by a talent agent, to try his luck in Hollywood. He soon sets out on a journey to Los Angeles, California, but on the way, he is pursued by an entrepreneur who wants him to be a new spokesperson for his restaurant.
Bart Millard is a ten year old boy who lives with his mother and abusive father Arthur. One day, he finds that his mother has left his father due to his abusive behavior. He confronts his father about this, although the latter denies that she left because of his abusiveness. Years later, Bart begins dating a girl named Shannon, and also begins playing football. But things get ugly when he faces an injury and breaks his ankles, which ends his career. Therefore, he decides to pursue a career in music instead.
Starting from the events of the Old Testament to the Spanish Inquisition to the French Revolution, and lastly the future, this film explains the story of mankind in a comical way.
Capt. Edward Hall Jr., who had been a POW in Korea for 2 years, returns home where he faces court-martial for collaborating with the enemy. His father, a distinguished officer, renounces his son, so a disheartened Hall decides to plead guilty. But his attorney encourages him to recount his experiences. Will he succeed in convincing the court; more specifically, his father?
A series of mysterious events welcome Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke, the newly appointed director of the Psychoneurotic Institute, who suffers from intense acrophobia. He is framed for murder by his colleagues -- including the mustachioed and militaristic Nurse Diesel. He is left with a full blown case of High Anxiety as he struggles to clear his name.
As Mike Vecchio and Susan Henderson prepare for their marriage, their close family members gather together with their own relationship issues. Susan's father is secretly seeing her spinster aunt and her sister is trying to revive passion in her marriage, while Mike's devout parents are struggling to accept that his brother Richie is heading for a divorce.
The People Next Door is an American drama film which revolves around Arthur and Gerrie Mason, who learn that their seemingly innocent daughter is actually a drug addict. They are eventually forced to commit her to a mental ward.
A mother wishes that her son grows up to be a pianist who is skilled enough to perform at Carnegie Hall, but things don’t go as per her plan because when her son grows up, he decides to play with Vaughan Monroe’s orchestra.
Alcoholic Willie T. Soke and his dwarf partner Marcus Skidmore are professional con-men who take jobs as Santa and his elf assistant in shopping malls during Christmas before robbing them at night. However, this year takes an unusual turn after he befriends a dimwitted and gullible young boy and raises the suspicion of the mall guard.
This romantic drama war film revolves around Matthew, an American student studying in Canada, who meets and falls in love with Gabrielle, a French-Canadian girl. However, he loses his scholarship, which is why he is forced to return to America, and be drafted for the Vietnam War. During the war, Matthew loses both his legs and gets confined to a wheelchair. Unable to face Gabrielle again, he lets her know that he is dead. However, Gabrielle had also hidden the fact that she is pregnant with his child.
Now and Then is a comedy drama film which tells the story of four women who reunite after several years as one of them is giving birth to a baby. They also remember their childhoods and how different their lives were when they were only twelve, as compared to their lives today.
Roberta starts afresh after being abandoned by her husband. She starts teaching violin to underprivileged children in New York. Though, initially principal Janet and the students resist the learning, yet the program becomes a hit and gets recognition from the public. However, after a decade the program is suddenly shut due to budget crunch and Roberta along with Janet and her former pupils work towards holding a concert in order to raise funds.
Committed to his job, a workaholic hardware store owner has little bonding with his family. Although his frugal ways has saved them from poverty during the Depression, they are all dissatisfied. Then one day, an angel appears before him to tell him that his time is up. The revelation sets him thinking and he decides to sell his store.
Two weeks before his wedding to the girl of his dreams, a socially awkward guy finds himself in a problem, as he doesn’t have any groomsmen for the occasion. He ends up hiring the owner of a company that provides best man services for grooms in need.
Disgraced former NFL quarterback Paul Crewe lands in prison and is coerced by corrupt Warden Rudolf Hazen to form a beatable football team consisting of inmates. Crewe must unite the inmates if they are to survive brutality at the hands of the guards and win a game against Hazen’s own team of prison guards.
Although he is a naïve Oklahoma boy from working class background and she belongs to a wealthy and sophisticated family they are instantly drawn towards each other. But to win her over, he must not only compete with her snobby fiancée, but must also deal with her status conscious family, especially her mother.
Single mother and Mexican immigrant Flor Moreno takes up a job of housekeeping for John and Deborah Clasky and is later asked to move in when she expresses a desire to leave to take care of her daughter Cristina. As cultures clash and Flor learns to speak English, family bonds are tested.
A teenager who was adopted, decides to find his biological parents. His search for his roots takes him to a village in New England, but he soon learns that the place has seen a significant number of mysterious disappearances.
Two brothers travel to Munich to spread their German born grandfather’s ashes at the Theresienwiese during the Oktoberfest. There they join the centuries-old beer-games competition; but are humiliatingly defeated. On their return to USA, they assemble an American Beerfest team and also discover their grandfather’s beer recipe.
This action comedy film tells us the story of three women who begin a crime spree, after their family farm was taken off them by corrupt authorities.
New York, I Love You is a romantic comedy-drama film, which revolves around the love life of several residents living in New York, the most loved and the most hated city in the World.
Set in a universe where superheroes are a common part of society, the film tells us the story of a teenager named William Stronghold, who is the son of two of the world’s most famous superheroes. After being enrolled in Sky High, a school for the children of superheroes, he discovers his true powers as well as the value of trust and friendship.
Dr. Chapman and his assistant Paul Radford are conducting a nationwide anonymous sex survey on American women, who they believe have too little knowledge about this crucial accept of their life. Adapted from Irving Wallace’s eponymous novel, the film follows the sexual life of four suburban women, focusing on Radford’s involvement with one of them.
Adult World is a comedy drama film which tells the story of a young girl, Amy, a recent college graduate who dreams of becoming a great poet. She takes up a job as a clerk at an adult bookshop, and soon meets her idol Rat Billings. She tries to convince him to take her on as his protégé.
A self-centered young man’s life takes a turn when his grandmother is affected with Alzheimer’s, and he is forced to take care of her. However, when he realizes about her immense wealth, he decides to get closer to her.
The Steagle is an American comedy film which takes us to the time of the Cuban missile crisis. The story revolves around a mild-mannered professor, who finally decides to live out the life of his dreams. He sets out to travel across the country, and in each city, he adopts a different persona.
This children’s musical adventure comedy film tells us the story of three friends Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie, who are planning a secret surprise party for their friend. However, things take a turn when their magical balloons get lost.
Rheinhardt, an alcoholic wanderer, accepts an announcer’s job at WUSA, a New Orleans right-wing radio station, although he doesn’t agree with the station’s political views. When friend Geraldine and activist neighbor Rainey question him about WUSA’s involvement in hate propaganda and conspiracy to instigate a riot at a planned rally, Rheinhardt realizes that he can’t insulate himself, and needs to take a stand.
A successful woman, Marni, realizes that her brother is going to marry the same girl who bullied her in high school. Therefore, she attempts to expose his fiancee's true colors, but things don’t go as planned.
Gambit is a comedy crime film which tells the story of an art curator who decide to teach his abusive boss a lesson. He plans to con his boss into buying a fake painting. In order to execute the plan, however, he needs the help of an eccentric rodeo queen from Texas.
Alex Sheldon is a struggling writer who finds himself in a complicated situation. Although he is heavily in debt, and suffering from writer’s block, he needs to repay a significant sum of money to Cuban loan sharks. Since his publisher will give him the money when he finishes the novel, he is given 30 days to finish his novel and return the sum, or else he would be killed. He decides to seek the help of a stenographer named Emma.
Following her husband's death, broke and lonely, Cindy Campbell, takes job in a haunted house and falls for her divorced neighbor Tom Ryan. However, when her future plans are disrupted by an alien invasion, she is instructed by the ghost of a Japanese boy to travel to a hidden village to learn how to stop the aliens.
Mary Haines, a successful designer and happily married woman, is shocked to learn about husband Stephen’s affair with a Saks salesgirl. Her close friends, though having their own romantic or professional issues, rally around in support. Realizing that at sometime or the other, everyone has faced a similar rough patch, she finds strength to figure out how to achieve what she wants in life.
This comedy film tells the story of a farming family that becomes rich after finding oil, and they make their way to Beverley Hills.
Hanging Up is a comedy drama film which revolves around three sisters Georgia, Eve, and Maddy, who are all doing quite well in their careers. They are forced to unite when their father falls ill all of a sudden.
Also known as Castle in the Sky, the movie follows the young girl Sheeta who has been kidnapped by Colonel Muska. When Sheeta escapes and becomes friends with Pazu, a young boy, they are pursued by Muska and Captain Dola and her pirates who want to reach the mysterious floating city of Laputa and plunder its riches.
Based on the eponymous novel by Ted Hughes, The Iron Giant is an animated film that revolves around a docile 50-foot robot from outer space and a small boy who tries to save him from the clutches of a paranoid federal agent. Set in the Cold War era, it shows how a suspected Russian robot sacrifices himself to save the earth.
Five-year-old Sōsuke rescues a goldfish princess trapped into a bottle and names her Ponyo. As they develop a bond, she is brought back under the ocean by her father, powerful wizard Fujimoto, who imprisons her after learning that she wants to become human. She frees herself and becomes human using Fujimoto's potent magic, upsetting the balance of the world.
The Mouse and His Child is an animated film, which tells the story of a mechanical mouse and his son, who attempts to achieve their dream of becoming self-winding.
The animated classic revolves around the prehistoric family the Croods. Fearful patriarch Grug keeps the family safe with his over-protective nature. Things take a turn when his daughter Eep falls for Guy, a more evolved human and Grug has to trust him to save his family from the end of the world.
This animated adventure comedy film tells us the story of the prehistoric Crood family, who is searching for a safer habitat, meeting their requirements. Meanwhile, they are also challenged by the Bettermans, a family which claims to be better and more evolved than them.
This animated comedy film tells the story of two dim-witted teenagers who set out on a journey when their beloved TV gets stolen. However, they get into deeper trouble when they get involved in a arms-smuggling scheme.
Stanley, a troll is banished by an evil Queen, and he is to serve his exile in New York City. His vessel lands in Central Park, where he meets and befriends two siblings.
When Lady X, the evil icon of Brand X, tries to take over the world, Dex Dogtective along with Daredevil Dan and Sunshine Goodness and other residents of a supermarket city, band together to stop her.
Cloris Leachman Awards
| The Last Picture Show | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | 1972 |
| Phyllis | Best Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | 1976 |
| Malcolm in the Middle | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | 2006 |
| Malcolm in the Middle | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | 2002 |
| Promised Land | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | 1998 |
| Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | 1984 |
| Mary Tyler Moore | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series | 1975 |
| Cher | Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music | 1975 |
| Mary Tyler Moore | Best Supporting Actress in Comedy | 1974 |
| A Brand New Life | Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | 1973 |
| The Last Picture Show | Best Supporting Actress | 1973 |
