Leachman, the eldest of three sisters, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Cloris and Buck Leachman, who owned a lumber company. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1944. She later majored in drama at Northwestern University, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta and a classmate of future comic actor Paul Lynde. Leachman began appearing on television and in films shortly after competing in Miss America as Miss Chicago 1946. Before that she was very active at the Des Moines Playhouse starring in many productions.
From 1953 to 1979, Leachman was married to Hollywood impresario George Englund. The marriage produced five children, most of whom are in show business. A son George Englund, Jr., was once married to actress Sharon Stone. Leachman was predeceased by her son, Bryan, who died from a drug overdose in 1986. Some reports state that it was an overdose of ulcer medication, while others, such as in the Lifetime television program Intimate Portrait: Cloris Leachman (in which Leachman participated), state that it was from cocaine.
Leachman's former mother-in-law was character actress Mabel Albertson, best known for playing Samantha's mother-in-law on the ABC sitcom Bewitched. Mabel's brother, actor Jack Albertson, won his Academy Award three years before Leachman did.
Cloris posed "au naturel" on the cover of "Alternative Medicine Digest" (issue 15, 1997) body-painted with images of fruit. This was a parody, or imitation, of the famous Demi Moore Vanity Fair magazine cover photo.
Leachman was a friend of Marlon Brando, whom she met while studying under Elia Kazan in the 1950s. She introduced him to her husband, who became close to Brando as well, directing him in The Ugly American and writing a memoir about their friendship called Marlon Brando: The Way It's Never Been Done Before (2005).
Leachman is a long-time vegetarian. Currently, she is at work on a one-woman show about her life and career.
From 1953 to 1979, Leachman was married to Hollywood impresario George Englund. The marriage produced five children, most of whom are in show business. A son George Englund, Jr., was once married to actress Sharon Stone. Leachman was predeceased by her son, Bryan, who died from a drug overdose in 1986. Some reports state that it was an overdose of ulcer medication, while others, such as in the Lifetime television program Intimate Portrait: Cloris Leachman (in which Leachman participated), state that it was from cocaine.
Leachman's former mother-in-law was character actress Mabel Albertson, best known for playing Samantha's mother-in-law on the ABC sitcom Bewitched. Mabel's brother, actor Jack Albertson, won his Academy Award three years before Leachman did.
Cloris posed "au naturel" on the cover of "Alternative Medicine Digest" (issue 15, 1997) body-painted with images of fruit. This was a parody, or imitation, of the famous Demi Moore Vanity Fair magazine cover photo.
Leachman was a friend of Marlon Brando, whom she met while studying under Elia Kazan in the 1950s. She introduced him to her husband, who became close to Brando as well, directing him in The Ugly American and writing a memoir about their friendship called Marlon Brando: The Way It's Never Been Done Before (2005).
Leachman is a long-time vegetarian. Currently, she is at work on a one-woman show about her life and career.
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