Award-winning character actor Cloris Leachman has died at the age of 94. Widely loved for her comedy roles such as neighbour Phyllis in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein, Leachman also won an Oscar for her role in the coming of age drama The Last Picture Show in whcih she played Ruth Popper, a lonely woman married to a closeted gay man.
Young Frankenstein director Mel Brooks tweeted: “Such sad news—Cloris was insanely talented. She could make you laugh or cry at the drop of a hat. Always such a pleasure to have on set. Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher. She is irreplaceable, and will be greatly missed.”
Leachman’s portrayal of Phyllis Lindstrom in The Mary Tyler Moore Show won her a spin off series called Phyllis. She was the most nominated and (alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus) most awarded actress in Emmy history.
