Cloris Leachman
The Oscar winner dies at home at the age of 94
Actress Cloris Leachman at the Academy Awards in 1972
© imago images / Cinema Publishers Collection
Oscar winner Cloris Leachman died of natural causes on Wednesday at the age of 94. Mel Brooks and many more mourn publicly.
Hollywood mourns Oscar winner Cloris Leachman (1926-2021). The American died of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California on Wednesday, aged 94. Her spokeswoman Juliet Green confirmed this to the "People" magazine, among others. Her marriage (1953-1978) to US filmmaker George Englund (1926-2017) had four sons and a daughter, Dinah Englund (55). The latter is said to have been with her when she died.
Leachman received her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ruth Popper in Peter Bogdanovich's (81, "Paper Moon", "Is' what, Doc?") Influential Hollywood film "The Last Performance" (1971). In addition to the Academy Award, Leachman has collected nine of these trophies from more than 20 Emmy nominations in the course of her career.
The Academy is tweeting
The Academy tweeted in her honor: "Cloris Leachman was a comedy legend. From a groundbreaking role on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' to the films of Mel Brooks to her Oscar-winning role in Peter Bogdanovich's 'The Last Performance', she never had her ability lost to shock, delight and surprise us. She will be missed. "
US stars also express their condolences in public
Director Mel Brooks (94), who shot "Frankenstein Junior" (1974), "Mel Brooks' Höhenkoller" (1977) and "Mel Brooks – The Crazy History of the World" (1981) with her, said on Twitter: "So sad news – Cloris was insanely talented. She could make you laugh or cry in no time. It was always a pleasure to have her on set, ”he wrote. "Every time I hear a horse neigh I will forever think of Cloris' unforgettable wife Blücher," he added, referring to her role in "Frankenstein Junior". "She is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed."
US series star John Stamos (57, "Full House") composed himself in his tweet shorter, but very emotional: "Oh God, I loved you. RIP".
Stand-up comedian Bob Saget (64, "Fuller House") also mourned publicly: "I'm so sad about the loss of the brilliant Cloris Leachman. Apart from her Academy Award, her hilarious role in 'Frankenstein Junior' and her role as 'Phyllis' (1975-1977), I had the pleasure of being toasted by her on television. My condolences to her relatives ", he tweeted.
Besides many others also posted US series star George Takei (83), who became famous for the role of Hikaru Sulu in the "Star Trek" television series "Raumschiff Enterprise", wrote a message on the death of the actress: "Cloris Leachman has passed away. The Oscar- and Emmy-winning comedian stole into our hearts and always made us smile. She was 94 years old, "he sums up again. With "rest in peace and save a laugh for us when the time comes," he concluded his post.
Most recently, Cloris Leachman was seen on television in ten episodes of the series "Crazy About You" in 2019 and in 2020 as the voice of Gran in the English-language version of the movie "The Croods – All at the beginning".