RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: April 30, 1926

Background: Leachman is an American actress who was born in Des Moines, Iowa. She was very active in the Des Moines Playhouse from an early age and went on to major in drama at Illinois State University and Northwestern University. She competed in the Miss America pageant in 1946. Using her scholarship money, she moved to New York City to study acting with famed director Elia Kazan.

Filmography: She started her career by working in off-Broadway productions but quickly moved into many guest starring roles on television. Some of her earliest jobs were on "Gunsmoke," "Lassie," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Twilight Zone," "The Virginian," and "Adam-12." She also appeared in the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" before landing a supporting role as Phyllis Lindstrom on the long-running CBS comedy series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1970. While working on that show, she also won an Oscar for her role as Ruth Popper in the film "The Last Picture Show." Other films that followed were "Young Frankenstein," "High Anxiety," "The Muppet Movie," "Texasville," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Music of the Heart," "Bad Santa," and "Spanglish." While continuing her film work, she also starred in an MTM spin-off series "Phyllis" and had other TV work on "Backstairs at the White House," "The Facts of Life," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Mrs. Harris," "Two and a Half Men," "Dancing with the Stars," "The Office," and "Raising Hope," among many projects over her career. She is the most honored performer in TV history with a record eight primetime Emmy Awards..
 

Academy Awards: Win - Best Supporting Actress ("The Last Picture Show," 1972)

Emmy Awards: Wins - Best Comedy Guest Actress ("Malcolm in the Middle," 2006); Best Comedy Guest Actress ("Malcolm in the Middle," 2002); Best Drama Guest Actress ("Promised Land," 1998); Best Performance in a Variety Program ("Screen Actors Guild 50th Annniversary Celebration," 1984); Best Variety Supporting Actress ("Cher," 1975); Best Supporting Actress ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," 1975); Best Comedy Supporting Actress ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," 1974); Best TV Movie Actress ("A Brand New Life," 1973); TV Academy Hall of Fame

Best Comedy Actress Nomination
"Phyllis" (1976); lost to Mary Tyler Moore ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show")

Best TV Movie Actress Nomination
"The Migrants" (1974); lost to Cicely Tyson ("The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman")

Best Comedy Supporting Actress Nominations
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1973); lost to Valerie Harper ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show")
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1972); lost to Valerie Harper ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and Sally Struthers ("All in the Family")

Best Comedy Guest Actress Nominations
"Raising Hope" (2011) - episode "Don't Vote for This Episode"; lost to Gwyneth Paltrow ("Glee")
"Malcolm in the Middle" (2005); lost to Kathryn Joosten ("Desperate Housewives")
"Malcolm in the Middle" (2004); lost to Laura Linney ("Frasier")
"Malcolm in the Middle" (2003); lost to Christina Applegate ("Friends")
"Malcolm in the Middle" (2001); lost to Jean Smart ("Frasier")

Best Drama Guest Acting Nomination
"Joan of Arcadia" (2005); lost to Amanda Plummer ("Law and Order: Special Victims Unit")

Best TV Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress Nominations
"Mrs. Harris" (2006); lost to Kelly Macdonald ("The Girl in the Cafe")
"Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter" (1984); lost to Roxana Zal ("Something About Amelia")
"It Happened One Christmas" (1978); lost to Eva Le Gallienne ("The Royal Family")

Best Variety Supporting Actress Nomination
"Telly...Who Loves Ya Baby?" (1976); lost to Vicki Lawrence ("The Carol Burnett Show")

Golden Globe Awards: Win - Best TV Comedy Actress ("Phyllis," 1976)

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"The Last Picture Show" (1972); lost to Ann-Margret ("Carnal Knowledge")

Best Comedy/Musical Actress Nominations
"Young Frankenstein" (1975); lost to Raquel Welch ("The Three Musketeers")
"Charley and the Angel" (1974); lost to Glenda Jackson ("A Touch of Class")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Spanglish" (2005); lost to Cate Blanchett ("The Aviator")

Best TV Movie/Miniseries Actress Nomination
"Mrs. Harris" (2007); lost to Helen Mirren ("Elizabeth I")