You can count Reese Witherspoon on the list of fans who are mourning the passing of beloved comedic actress Cloris Leachman.
Witherspoon, an Oscar-award winning actress, publicly mourned comedian Leachman via Twitter on Wednesday (Jan. 27).
“Truly original and larger than life in every unique performance,” Witherspoon said about Leachman on Twitter. “An incredibly talented actress who will be deeply missed.”
Witherspoon shared a news report about Leachman’s death alongside her comment.
Reese Witherspoon’s Twitter followers shared her positive feelings about Cloris Leachman.
“She was always funny. Grew up watching her for 50 years! RIP,” one user said.
“Even her stage name made us smile. Such an authentic artisan,” another posted.
“Beautiful tribute Reese. Cloris will be missed by so many,” another user said.
Reese Witherspoon Mourns Oscar-Winning Actress Cloris Leachman
So many people remember Cloris Leachman for her role as Phyllis on the wildly popular “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” She was often the butt of jokes, but it always seemed like Leachman was in on the joke. She had humor and class and a great smile. She won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Leachman was 94 at the time of her death. She holds the record for the most Emmy nominations by an actress.
According to a report by TMZ, Leachman’s son said she “passed away of natural causes Tuesday night at her home in Encinitas, California, with her daughter, Dinah, by her side.”
Her son goes on to say that Cloris Leachman “had the best life beginning to end that you could wish for someone.” The legendary actress also “left everyone with a lot of love.”
What many fans of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” or of other shows on which Leachman appeared might not know is that Leachman got her start thanks to the 1946 Miss America Pageant. As a result, she appeared on television on the “Actors Studio.”
Consequently, it was on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” where Cloris Leachman got her big break. Her character, Phyllis, even got a spinoff show. Leachman won two Emmy awards and a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Phyllis.
Cloris Leachman Honored for Work
Leachman won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in the “Last Picture Show” in 1971. She also appeared in two very popular Mel Brooks comedies – “Young Frankenstein” in 1974 and “History of the World, Part 1” in 1981.
Additionally, as her career continued, Cloris Leachman continued to earn Emmy nominations and Emmy wins. She was recognized for her work on “A Brand New Life,” “Cher”, “The Woman Who Willed a Miracle,” “Promised Land” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”
The actress would be nominated for a staggering 22 Emmys during her life. Overall, that makes her the most nominated actress in history. She won eight Emmys. Only the legendary Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won as many Emmys as Leachman.
