Cloris Leachman, nine-time Emmy winner, dies at 94

The Hollywood Reporter

The legendary Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress died of natural causes Tuesday night, her son tells TMZ. Best known for playing Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Leachman had a long and varied TV career that included an Emmy-winning guest-starring role on Malcolm in the Middle and competing on Dancing with the Stars. After competing in the 1946 Miss America pageant, Leachman studied at the Actors Studio. From 1970 to 1975, she played Mary Richards' delusional, self-centered landlady Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, earning two Emmys for best supporting actress in a comedy series in four nominations. She was also nominated for an Emmy for her role as Phyllis in the two-season spinoff Phyllis. Leachman went on to star in The Facts of Life, effectively replacing her former Northwestern classmate Charlotte Rae. She also recurred on The Ellen Show as Ellen's eccentric mom. Leachman went on to have a recurring role as Grandma Ida on Malcolm in the Middle, winning two Emmys. Her eight Primetime Emmys and one Daytime Emmy is the most ever awarded to any actor. Leachman earned her final Emmy nomination for starring in Fox's Raising Hope from 2010 to 2014. "Very sad to find out we lost an absolute legend today, Cloris Leachman," tweeted Raising Hope creator Greg Garcia. "I can’t squeeze into a tweet all the fun times I had with this woman and how much I loved her so I’ll just say she’ll be extremely missed. She was the definition of one of a kind." In 2019, Leachman joined the Mad About You as Mrs. Mandelbaum, one of Jamie’s therapy patients. In 2008 at age 82, Leachman made headlines by competing on Dancing with the Stars, becoming the oldest contestant to date and placing seventh out of 13 contestants. "A picture from the last time I saw you," tweeted her Mary Tyler Moore co-star Ed Asner. "Always beautiful. Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you. Until we meet again darling." Raising Hope creator