# Cloris Leachman - Dead at 94 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [January 27, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651 "2021-01-27T22:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/1 "2021-01-27T22:43:10Z")
[Link.](https://www.tmz.com/2021/01/27/cloris-leachman-dead-dies-94/) This is going to take the “Last Surviving Cast Member” thread in a new direction, I’m sure. RIP, Cloris. You were one of the Greats. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/2 "2021-01-27T23:00:46Z")
Do I hear horses whinnying? So long, funny lady! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/3 "2021-01-27T23:02:09Z")
So much talent. Rest in Peace Dear Ms Leachman. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/4 "2021-01-27T23:28:55Z")
I’m not falling for this again. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/5 "2021-01-27T23:32:21Z")
She was still killing it at age 77 in “Bad Santa”. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/6 "2021-01-27T23:43:47Z")
Hell, she was killing it two years ago in American Gods. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/7 "2021-01-28T00:16:44Z")
[Jack Black will be devastated. They made out once.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/the-office-mrs-albert-hannaday-jack-black.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&h=370) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/8 "2021-01-28T00:28:43Z")
Cloris had a very long and successful career I’ll always remember her as Phyllis Lindstrom on the MTM show. She appeared on DWTS and did pretty good. She was in her late 70’s. RIP ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/9 "2021-01-28T00:33:37Z")
_Who charms the crabs at Fisherman’s Wharf right out of their shells?_ _Who lights the lamps of Chinatown just by walking in view? … Who?_ _Phyllis! Phyllis! Phyllis! It sure isn’t you!_ A brilliant actress and a very funny lady. She had a good innings, as they say, and was still doing great work pretty much up to the end. Funnily enough, the _American Gods_ episode featuring her character’s wake aired just this past Friday. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/10 "2021-01-28T00:43:52Z")
Just last weekend I watched [It’s a Good Life](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734580/) - probably the youngest she was that I’ve seen her. Looking at IMDB she got her start in 1947 with 287 acting credits to her name. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/11 "2021-01-28T01:00:28Z")
She was amazing in Malcolm in the Middle, a role that I think people forget about. She’s Lois’ mother and is super racist and mean. The scene where Hal’s black friends get back at her by being “super black” is a hilarious moment. Hal’s friends are actually a bunch of massively nerdy accountants, but he needs Lois’ mother to leave, so he pays them to be “cool black guys” just to scare her off. I wish I could find the clip. [Ah, found it. I haven’t seen it in years.](https://old.reddit.com/r/malcolminthemiddle/comments/bqxicz/the_scene_where_they_try_to_get_ida_to_leave_by/) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/12 "2021-01-28T01:20:41Z")
[sneaks in to thread] Blücher! Will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/13 "2021-01-28T01:25:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > She appeared on DWTS and did pretty good. She was in her late 70’s. She was, in fact, 82 when she competed (and finished in 7th place out of 13, which was quite good, considering that most of her competition was less than half her age). Godspeed, Mrs. Lindstrom. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/14 "2021-01-28T01:30:28Z")
Cloris Leachman was a great talent. I’ve felt bad for several years that popular culture apparently has room for only _one_ Cool Old Lady (and that role was awarded to Betty White). Seriously, there was room for them both. Leachman should have been feted and celebrated more than she was. Here’s an article that attempts to make up for some of that sad deficit. I’d particularly recommend the embedded clip of Leachman absolutely KILLING at the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget. It’s clear from the clips that no one there was prepared for how hilarious she was. > **[Cloris Leachman, Unparalleled Icon, Remembered By Hollywood](https://www.wmagazine.com/story/cloris-leachman-died-celebrity-reactions-tributes)** > > One of the most decorated television actors of all time was beloved by all. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/15 "2021-01-28T01:35:38Z")
I just saw her the other day in Adam 12, which was 1968 - and figured she was just starting out at that point. She’d been working 20 years by that job. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/16 "2021-01-28T02:33:28Z")
Few people would remember her as Ruth Martin, Timmy’s mother on _Lassie_. She played Ruth for one season, but was fired because she feuded with her costars and refused to sign a contract. She was replaced by June Lockhart. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/17 "2021-01-28T13:10:09Z")
She was a constant tv presence in my childhood. Phyllis, of course, but talk shows, games shows . . .she was a household name. I was young enough when I first became aware of her that I thought her name was “Clorox Bleachman”. She was just always . . ._there_. RIP, dear, funny lady. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/18 "2021-01-28T13:35:57Z")
I don’t think anyone has mentioned her stunning performance in [The Last Picture Show.](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zaVjvsaytt4/VxOyvRqWAdI/AAAAAAAABEI/FCawwr7L6VQBEDDSsqrYXWNziwrdjt1dwCLcB/s1600/14063163_ori.jpg) Just heartbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/19 "2021-01-28T13:39:56Z")
It’s a real good thing you mentioned that, **jaycat** \* - I think her role in the Twilight Zone classic has not been mentioned yet ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651/20 "2021-01-28T13:45:37Z")
She was in so many good things. My most recent favorite is Raising Hope. I hope I’ll have my shit together for as long as the great Cloris Leachman. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloris-leachman-dead-at-94/931651.md?page=2)