Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Melissa Chessington Leo

Birth Date: September 14, 1960

Age: 64 years old

Birth Place: New York, New York

Partners: John Heard

Melissa Leo came to the fore as the lone female in the original cast of one of the most lauded shows in television history, "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC, 1993-99). Holding her own amongst the heavyweight cast of actors like Richard Belzer and Andre Braugher, she was a standout in a show unappreciated in its time. She went on to carve an indie film niche with acclaimed turns in a raft of films, most notably "21 Grams" (2003) and "Frozen River" (2008).

The latter film provided the go-to character actress with a career-redefining role which drew nearly universal accolades and earned her the sobriquet of "actor's actor" from The New York Times. Two years later, Leo would once again find herself on the receiving end of universal critical acclaim with her performance as the tough-as-nails mother of a boxer in the lauded biopic, "The Fighter" (2010). Time and again, Leo demonstrated the uncanny ability to render herself nearly unrecognizable as she surrendered herself to the characters she played. While it may not have made her a household name to the average moviegoer, it undoubtedly cemented her reputation as one of the most respected - and sought after - actresses in American film.

She was born Melissa Chessington Leo, on Sept. 14, 1960, in New York City, NY; the daughter of Peggy Leo, a teacher, and Arnold Leo, an editor and later a fisherman. Her parents split when she was nine, with Peggy taking custody of Leo and moving to Putney, VT, before a jaunt to London, where her mother briefly supervised U.S. students in study-abroad programs. There, Leo developed an affinity for theater.

When her mother returned home, she allowed her 16-year-old daughter to remain in the U.K. to pursue her studies. Leo returned to the U.S. two years later, earned her GED and enrolled at the State University of New York at Purchase. She left her junior year in search of acting work, eventually securing a role on the ABC soap "All My Children" (1970- ), for which she won a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1985. She graduated to a diet of TV movies and guest shots, and along the way, entered into a volatile relationship with character actor John Heard, with whom she had a son in 1987.

On an upward swing, Leo scored the female lead opposite A-list stars William Hurt and Timothy Hutton in the under-performing feature "A Time of Destiny" (1988), before spending a season on ABC's ensemble Western, "The Young Riders" (1989-1992). Leo next fell into a slate of indie films - notably two with indie auteur Henry Jaglom - including "Venice/Venice" (1992) and "Last Summer in the Hamptons" (1995), as well as a prominent role in the much ballyhooed television sequel to "Gone with the Wind" (1939), "Scarlett" (CBS, 1994).

But it was in 1993, that she secured regular and trailblazing work by donning frumpy clothes and reading a male character's part to duly impress the producers of the new NBC drama, "Homicide: Life on the Street."

The groundbreaking show debuted with Leo amidst a nonpareil ensemble, including Andre Braugher, Ned Beatty, Richard Belzer and Clark Johnson, which examined distinctive, memorable characters processing the tragic waste of urban America. Leo played the no-nonsense Kay Howard - initially a detective before being promoted to shift sergeant - in a way few women were seen on television.

Without makeup, her red mane seemingly ever-rumpled, Leo was a standout. The harsh realism garnered the show two Emmys and a Peabody award for best television drama in its first season. But with ratings not mirroring the critical groundswell, producers eventually swapped out veteran players for younger, prettier talent and Howard was written out for the 1997-98 season.

Reportedly compounding circumstances behind her departure was escalating acrimony with Heard, who had lost a lawsuit over custody of their son and, beginning in 1996, became increasingly menacing. He at one point physically assaulted Leo's boyfriend and was arrested for stalking the actress. She returned for a 2000 reunion, "Homicide: The Movie," but after a few idle years - made more so, she later said, by casting agents unable to see her as anything other than Kay Howard - she began a prolific indie film regimen.

In 2003, she gave a powerful performance as the unflappable wife of an addict in "21 Grams" - earning her a nomination as Best Supporting Actress from the L.A. Film Critics Association. She raised critical eyebrows again in the Tommy Lee Jones-helmed "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" (2005) and worked for Jaglom again on "Hollywood Dreams" (2006) - one of five films that year, followed by seven in 2007, including the indie favorite, "Black Irish" (2007).

The following year, however, she graduated from mostly supporting roles to major indie limelight as the critically lauded lead in "Frozen River" (2008). Directed by first-time filmmaker Courtney Hunt, the film showcased Leo as a near-destitute single mother in upstate New York who teams up with a Mohawk woman to smuggle illegal aliens across the frozen St. Lawrence River. The stark, heart-rending film won the prestigious top prize at January 2008's Sundance Film Festival.

Leo won the Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and netted Golden Satellite, Independent Spirit and SAG award nominations for Best Actress. Most significantly, Leo earned her first ever nod at the Academy Awards. The New York Times called Leo's performance a "magnificent portrayal of a woman of indomitable grit and not an iota of self pity."

A few months later, Leo's turn as a mother coping with the abduction of her drug-addict son by a third world vice-lord in "Lullaby" (2008) won her honors at Method Fest.

Leo next joined the all-star ensemble for the family dramedy "Everybody's Fine" (2009), alongside Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale.

Her career shifted into high gear yet again the following year, as Leo appeared in a myriad of projects, not the least of which was the lauded cable drama "Treme" (HBO, 2010- ). She joined the cast of the series as Toni Bernette, one of the denizens of a post-Katrina New Orleans ward struggling to put their lives back together.

The chameleon-like actress next appeared as the emotionally stagnant wife of James Gandolfini in the exceptionally well acted melodrama "Welcome to the Rileys" (2010), directed by Jake Scott (son of Ridley). She followed with a small, but pivotal, role in the fact-based "Conviction" (2010), starring Hilary Swank as a woman who, over the course of 18 years, earned a law degree in order to exonerate her brother (Sam Rockwell), who was falsely accused of murder by a small-town cop (Leo).

However, it was with her turn as Alice Ward, the indomitable mother of boxing underdog Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) in "The Fighter" (2010), that Leo drew the most critical praise in an already-stunning year. Directed by David O. Russell and co-starring Christian Bale, the inspiring biopic earned the much-deserving Leo Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award wins for Best Supporting Actress.

The following year, she found herself in awards contention again - this time at the Emmys - for her performance in the cable miniseries "Mildred Pierce" (HBO, 2011), which earned her a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress. The rest of the year was relatively quiet for Leo, but, in 2012, she returned with a number of projects, including the little-seen character study "Francine," a supporting role in the Denzel Washington drama "Flight" and a guest spot on the cult-favorite comedy "Louie" (FX, 2010-15).

She subsequently mixed appearances in big-budget fare such as the sci-fi film "Oblivion" (2013) with more intimate work in the tense drama "Prisoners" (2013), starring Hugh Jackman. During the fall of 2013, Leo hit another career high point in an Emmy win for her "Louie" appearance.

Credits

Long Gone Heroes

Actor
Olivia Peterson
Movie
2024

The Clean Up Crew

Actor
Siobhan
Movie
2024

After: Poetry Destroys Silence

Self
Movie
2024

Alone Together

Actor
Movie
2022

Measure of Revenge

Actor
Lillian
Movie
2022

JaneStream

Actor
Principal Rhodes
Movie
2022
75%

Body Brokers

Actor
Dr. White
Movie
2021

Thunder ForceStream

Actor
Allie
Movie
2021
22%

Ida RedStream

Actor
Ida "Red" Walker
Movie
2021
33%

Coast

Actor
Olivia
Movie
2021

I Know This Much Is TrueStream

Actor
Ma
Series
2020
74%

Dolly Parton's HeartstringsStream

Actor
Amelia Meegers
Series
2019
54%

FREE Showtime I'm Dying up Here: S2 Ep1

Actor
Goldie Herschlag
Show
2018

FREE Showtime About I'm Dying up Here S2

Actor
Goldie Herschlag
Show
2018

The Equalizer 2Stream

Actor
Susan Plummer
Movie
2018
52%

Furlough

Actor
Joan Anderson
Movie
2018

Furlough

Producer
Movie
2018

The Ashram

Actor
Chandra
Movie
2018

Unlovable

Actor
Maddie
Movie
2018

The Parting Glass

Actor
Al
Movie
2018

Mother's Day

Actor
Mary
Show
2017

Mother's Day

Director
Show
2017

I'm Dying Up HereStream

Actor
Goldie Herschlag
Series
2017
51%

The Most Hated Woman in America

Actor
Madalyn Murray O'Hair
Movie
2017

NovitiateStream

Actor
Reverend Mother
Movie
2017
86%

The View From Up Here

Actor
Claire
Movie
2017

All the Way

Actor
Lady Bird Johnson
Show
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

London Has FallenStream

Actor
Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Movie
2016
27%

SnowdenStream

Actor
Laura Poitras
Movie
2016
61%

All the WayStream

Actor
Lady Bird Johnson
Movie
2016
87%

Burn Country

Actor
Gloria
Movie
2016

The Butterfly, the Harp and the Timepiece

Actor
Show
2015

Wayward PinesStream

Actor
Nurse Pam
Series
2015
60%

Wayward PinesStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
60%

LFE

Actor
Julie
Show
2015

She's the Best Thing In It

Self
Movie
2015

The Big ShortStream

Actor
Georgia Hale
Movie
2015
89%

After the Spill

Voice
Movie
2015

Mother's Day

Actor
Mary
Movie
2015

Oklada stoljeća

Actor
Movie
2015

Wayward Pines: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Broad CityStream

Guest Star
Lori
Series
2014
99%

The EqualizerStream

Actor
Susan Plummer
Movie
2014
61%

The Angriest Man in BrooklynStream

Actor
Bette Altmann
Movie
2014
9%

Dwegons and Leprechauns

Voice
Grandma Fitz/Butterfly McDweg/Mrs. Fitzgerald
Movie
2014

The Ever After

Actor
Penny
Movie
2014

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman

Actor
Katie
Movie
2013

A Single Shot

Actor
Florence
Movie
2013

The Only Real Game

Narrator
Movie
2013

OblivionStream

Actor
Sally
Movie
2013
54%

Olympus Has FallenStream

Actor
Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Movie
2013
50%

Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

Actor
Grace
Movie
2013

PrisonersStream

Actor
Holly Jones
Movie
2013
81%

Bottled Up

Actor
Fay
Movie
2013

Bottled Up

Producer
Movie
2013

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Persephone

Actor
Demeter
Movie
2012

Francine

Actor
Francine
Movie
2012

FlightStream

Actor
Ellen Block
Movie
2012
77%

Why Stop Now?

Actor
Penny Bloom
Movie
2012

Mildred PierceStream

Actor
Lucy Gessler
Miniseries
2011
81%

The Sea is All I Know

Actor
Sara
Movie
2011

Red State

Actor
Sara
Movie
2011

Seven Days in Utopia

Actor
Lily
Movie
2011

The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best

Actor
Sarah
Movie
2011

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

LouieStream

Guest Star
Laurie
Series
2010
93%

TremeStream

Actor
Toni Bernette
Series
2010
97%

Dobro Pozhalovat k Rayli

Actor
Movie
2010

Welcome to the Rileys

Actor
Lois Riley
Movie
2010

The Dry Land

Actor
Martha
Movie
2010

ConvictionStream

Actor
Nancy Taylor
Movie
2010
68%

The FighterStream

Actor
Alice Ward
Movie
2010
91%

The Space Between

Actor
Montine
Movie
2010

Svi smo dobro

Actor
Movie
2009

Everybody's Fine

Actor
Colleen
Movie
2009

True Adolescents

Actor
Sharon
Movie
2009

According to GretaStream

Actor
Karen
Movie
2009
60%

Don McKay

Actor
Marie
Movie
2009

Dear Lemon Lima

Actor
Mrs. Howard
Movie
2009

Stephanie's Image

Actor
Stephanie
Movie
2009

Veronika Decides to Die

Actor
Mari
Movie
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Righteous KillStream

Actor
Cheryl Brooks
Movie
2008
18%

Frozen RiverStream

Actor
Ray Eddy
Movie
2008
88%

Santa Mesa

Actor
Maggie
Movie
2008

Ball Don't Lie

Actor
Georgia
Movie
2008

Lullaby

Actor
Stephanie
Movie
2008

Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk

Guest
Show
2007

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

The Cake Eaters

Actor
Ceci Kimbrough
Movie
2007

One Night

Actor
Wendy
Movie
2007

Racing Daylight

Actor
Sadie Stokes / Anna Stokes
Movie
2007

SharkStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
52%

Dear Lemon Lima

Actor
Show
2006

Hollywood DreamsStream

Actor
Aunt Bee
Movie
2006
39%

Stephanie Daley

Actor
Miri
Movie
2006

Black Irish

Actor
Margaret
Movie
2006

The Limbo Room

Actor
KC Collins
Movie
2006

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

Criminal MindsStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

No Shoulder

Actor
Ruth
Show
2005

American Gun

Actor
Louise
Movie
2005

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Actor
Rachel
Movie
2005

Runaway

Actor
Lisa Adler
Movie
2005

Confess

Actor
Agnes Lessor
Movie
2005

Hide and SeekStream

Actor
Laura
Movie
2005
12%

Veronica MarsStream

Guest Star
Series
2004
91%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

21 GramsStream

Actor
Marianne Jordan
Movie
2003
81%

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Homicide: The Movie

Actor
Sgt. Kay Howard
Movie
2000
86%

The 24-Hour Woman

Actor
Dr. Suzanne Pincus
Movie
1999

Fear of Fiction

Actor
Sigrid Anderssen
Movie
1999

LegacyStream

Guest Star
Series
1998
57%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Code of Ethics

Actor
Jo DeAngelo
Movie
1997

In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice

Actor
Carol Manning
Movie
1995

Last Summer in the Hamptons

Actor
Trish Axelrod
Movie
1995

ScarlettStream

Actor
Suellen O'Hara Benteen
Miniseries
1994

Homicide: Life on the StreetStream

Actor
Series
1993
91%

Venice/Venice

Actor
Peggy
Movie
1992

Immaculate Conception

Actor
Hannah
Movie
1992

Carolina Skeletons

Actor
Cassie
Movie
1991

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

By a Thread

Actor
Movie
1990

The Young RidersStream

Guest Star
Emma Shannon
Series
1989

Gideon Oliver: Kennonite

Actor
Rebecca Hecht
Movie
1989

Gidéon Oliver: le onzième commandement

Actor
Movie
1989

A Time of Destiny

Actor
Josie Larraneta
Movie
1988

The Oprah Winfrey ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1986

Ladykiller

Actor
Movie
1986

Spenser For HireStream

Actor
Series
1985

The Equalizer

Guest Star
Irina Dzershinsky
Series
1985

Historias de Vampiros

Actor
Movie
1985

City Streets

Actor
Cookie
Movie
1985

AlwaysStream

Actor
Peggy
Movie
1985

Silent Witness

Actor
Patti Mullen
Movie
1985

Le Témoin silencieux

Actor
Movie
1985

Miami ViceStream

Guest Star
Kathleen Gilfords
Series
1984
71%

I'm Only There...

Actor
Maggie
Movie
1984

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

All My ChildrenStream

Actor
Linda Warner
Soap
1970

News aboutMelissa Leo