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Melissa Leo

Actress / Film Actress / Television Actress / Voice Actress | * 09/14/1960 (63) | New York City, New York (United States of America (USA))
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Melissa Chessington Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Critics' Choice Awards. After appearing on several television shows and films in the 1980s, Leo became a regular on the television shows All My Children, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, and The Young Riders. Her breakthrough role came in 1993 as detective and later sergeant Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1997). In 2008, Leo received critical acclaim for her performance as Ray Eddy in the crime drama film Frozen River, earning her several nominations and awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 2010, Leo earned widespread acclaim and won several awards for her performance as Alice Eklund-Ward in the biographical sports drama film The Fighter<... ()
Photo of Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She made her acting debut in 1985, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in the Drama Series “All My Children”. Her most notable role as was as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on “Homicide: Life on the Street” for the show's first five seasons from 1993–1997.Following several films, Leo received critical acclaim and national attention in earning several nominations and awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Leo earned several awards for her role as Alice Ward in the critically acclaimed film, “The Fighter” (2010). For this role Leo won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Leo currently appears on the television series Treme.Leo currently resides in Stone Ridge, New York and two sons John Matthew Heard (born 1987), and Adam (adopted - born 1984).

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Crime | Thriller

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Melissa Leo

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Academy Award for Best Actress Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
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Movies with Melissa Leo as Actress(100)

as Ginger Greene2024 King Ivory
as Susan Plummer2023 The Equalizer 3
2023 Returns
as herself2022 Bonnie
as Principal Rhodes2022 Jane
as Lillian2022 Measure of Revenge
as Olivia2022 Coast
as Deborah2022 Alone Together
as Allie2021 Thunder Force
as Dr. White2021 Body Brokers
as Ida ‘Red’ Walker2021 Ida Red
as Joan Anderson2018 Furlough
as Maddie2018 Unlovable
as Chandra2018 The Ashram
as Susan Plummer2018 The Equalizer 2
as Reverend Mother2017 Novitiate
as Madalyn Murray O'Hair2017 The Most Hated Woman in America
as Laura Poitras2016 Snowden
as Lady Bird Johnson2016 All the Way
as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan2016 London Has Fallen
as Gloria2016 Burn Country
as Noda Marra2015 Damnation: The Flashback
as Georgia Hale2015 The Big Short
as Narrator2015 After the Spill
as Penny2015 The Ever After
as Bette Altmann2014 The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
as Susan Plummer2014 The Equalizer
as Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald2014 Dwegons and Leprechauns
as Fay2013 Bottled Up
as Kate2013 Charlie Countryman
as Holly Jones2013 Prisoners
as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan2013 Olympus Has Fallen
as Sally2013 Oblivion
as Ellen Block2012 Flight
as Francine2012 Francine
as Penny2012 Why Stop Now?
as Sara2011 Red State
as Montine2011 The Space Between
as Lois Riley2010 Welcome to the Rileys
as Martha2010 The Dry Land
as Aunt Bee2010 Queen of the Lot
as Alice Ward2010 The Fighter
as Nancy Taylor2010 Conviction
as Sharon Mitchell2009 True Adolescents
as Mrs. Howard2009 Dear Lemon Lima
as Marie2009 Don McKay
as Stephanie2009 Stephanie's Image
as Karen2009 According to Greta
as Colleen2009 Everybody's Fine
as Kathy Walsh2008 The Alphabet Killer
as Stephanie2008 Lullaby
as Maggie2008 Santa Mesa
as Ray Eddy2008 Frozen River
as Cheryl2008 Righteous Kill
as Margaret McKay2007 Black Irish
2007 Bomb
as Mrs. Howard2007 Dear Lemon Lima
as Miri Daley2007 Stephanie Daley
as Ceci Kimbrough2007 The Cake Eaters
as Sally Jansen2007 Mr. Woodcock
as Wendy2007 One Night
as Rita2007 Midnight Son
as Sadie / Anna2007 Racing Daylight
as Aunt Bee2007 Hollywood Dreams
as Mrs. Miller2006 The House Is Burning
as KC Collins2006 The Limbo Room
as Lisa Adler2005 Runaway
as Louise2005 American Gun
as Laura2005 Hide and Seek
as Agnes Lessor2005 Confess
as Miriam2004 From Other Worlds
as Marianne Jordan2003 21 Grams
as Kay Howard2000 Homicide: The Movie
as Jo DeAngelo1999 Code of Ethics
as Dr. Suzanne Pincus1999 The 24 Hour Woman
as herself1997 Who Is Henry Jaglom?
as Trish Axelrod1995 Last Summer in the Hamptons
as Beatrice Grey1993 The Ballad of Little Jo
as Peggy1992 Venice/Venice
as Hannah1992 Immaculate Conception
as Cassie1991 Carolina Skeletons
as Mary Margaret1990 The Bride in Black
as Katie Morrissey1989 Nasty Boys
as Josie Larraneta1988 A Time of Destiny
as Judith 'MaMa' Baer1986 Deadtime Stories
as Peggy1985 Always
as Cookie1985 Streetwalkin'
as Patti Mullen1985 Silent Witness

TV Shows/Series with Melissa Leo as Actress(26)

as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey2020 I Know This Much Is True
as Amelia Meegers2019 Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
as Goldie2017 I'm Dying Up Here
as Nurse Pam2015 Wayward Pines
as Ma Nguyen (voice)2014 BoJack Horseman
as Toni Bernette2010 Treme
2010 Treme
2006 Shark
as Sheriff Georgia Davis2005 Criminal Minds
as Julia Smith2004 Veronica Mars
as Winnie Mann2004 The L Word
as Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)2003 Cold Case
as Maureen Curtis2001 Law & Order: Criminal Intent
1998 Legacy
as Alice Sutton1990 Law & Order
as Defense Attorney Alice Sutton1990 Law & Order
as Sherri Quinn1990 Law & Order
as Emma Shannon1989 The Young Riders
as Katie Morrissey1989 Nasty Boys
as Irina Dzershinsky1985 The Equalizer

Movies with Melissa Leo as Crew(2)

Production/Producer2018 Furlough
Production/Producer2013 Bottled Up

Additional Information

Official websites:
Full Name: Melissa Leo
Born: Wednesday, 09/14 1960 (September) in New York City, New York (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 63 years + 197 days)
Zodiac sign: Virgo (Chinese zodiac sign: Rat)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: State University of New York at Purchase
Other names for Melissa Leo (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Margaret May"
"Melissa Chessington Leo"
"멜리사 레오"
Melissa Leo frequently works together with these people:
Henry Jaglom (19x, Crew)
Dick Wolf (14x, Crew)
Patton Oswalt (11x, Actor)
Edward D. Murphy (11x, Actor)
Adam Conover (11x, Actor)
Bill Cwikowski (11x, Actor)
Zach Grenier (10x, Actor)
Paul Schulze (10x, Actor)
Socorro Santiago (10x, Actress)
Bruce MacVittie (10x, Actor)
William H. Burns (10x, Actor)
David Leary (10x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:537, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 03/12/2024