Born in Des Moines, IA; educated at Northwestern University (drama). Capable comic and dramatic actress who started in television in the late 1940s and made her film debut as the seductive lead in KISS ME DEADLY (1955). Leachman was acclaimed for her performance as the lonely housewife in THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971) and has adorned several Mel Brooks films, notably YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974). Probably best known, from 1970 to 1975, as the daffy Phyllis on TV's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77); Leachman also starred in the spin-off series, "Phyllis" (1975-77) and was a regular on "The Facts of Life" (1986-1988). She has appeared extensively on television in made-for-TV movies and guest appearances on TV series. Her other notable film credits include BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), LOVERS AND OTHER STANGERS and WUSA (both 1970), DILLINGER (1973), DAISY MILLER (1974), HIGH ANXIETY (1978), THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979), HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART I (1981), PRANCER (1989), TEXASVILLE (1990), LOVE HURTS (1991), THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1993), NEVER TOO LATE (1997), MUSIC OF THE HEART (1999), BAD SANTA (2003), SPANGLISH (2004), THE LONGEST YARD, SKY HIGH and THE CALIFORNIANS (all 2005), and SCARY MOVIE 4 and BEERFEST (both 2006).  Supporting Actress 1971: THE LAST PICTURE SHOW 1 nomination, 1 Award