**Cloris Leachman (1926-2021)** was an American actress with an exceptionally long and versatile career. While also renowned for television, her film career includes memorable roles that earned her accolades and the public's affection.

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her intense portrayal of Ruth Popper in **L'ultimo spettacolo** (The Last Picture Show, 1971), demonstrating her profound dramatic ability in the role of a lonely and unfulfilled woman.

She excelled in comedic roles, particularly in her celebrated collaborations with Mel Brooks. She is unforgettable as the menacing and eccentric Frau Blücher in **Frankenstein Junior** (Young Frankenstein, 1974) and the despotic Nurse Diesel in **Alta Tensione** (High Anxiety, 1977). Her style was characterized by a unique blend of eccentricity, strength, and vulnerability, often embodying witty, bizarre women or those with irresistible physical comedy, making her an icon capable of seamlessly transitioning from drama to farce.