Melissa Leo Bio | Wiki
Melissa Leo ( Full Name: Melissa Chessington Leo) is a preeminent American actress. She is the recipient of various accolades including two Critics’ Choice Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an Academy Award. Melissa became a regular on the television shows All My Children and The Young Riders after appearing on various television shows and films in the 1980s.
In the year 1993, her breakthrough role came as a detective and later sergeant Kay Howard on Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1997). In the 2008 film Frozen River, she received critical acclaim for her performance as Ray Eddy. Melissa won several awards for her performance in the film The Fighter as Alice Eklund-Ward including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2013 for her guest role on the television series Louie. In the 2015 Fox event series Wayward Pines, Melissa starred as Nurse Pam. She then starred as American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O’Hair in the 2017 Netflix film The Most Hated Woman in America.
Melissa Leo Age
She was born on September 14, 1960, in New York City, United States. Melissa is 62 years old.
Melissa Leo Height
She is a woman of average stature. Melissa stands at a height of 5 ft 4 in (Approx 1.63m).
Melissa Leo Family | Young
She was born to Arnold Leo III and Margaret (née Chessington) in New York City, United States, and grew up on the Lower East Side. Arnold was a fisherman, editor at Grove Press, and former spokesman for the East Hampton Baymen’s Association. On the other hand, Margaret was a California-born teacher.
Besides, Melissa has an older brother named Erik Leo. Christine Leo Roussel is her paternal aunt. She is an art historian. Unfortunately, her parents divorced, and her mother relocated them to Red Clover Commune located in Putney, Vermont. In addition, as a child, Melissa started performing with the Bread and Puppet Theater Company.
Melissa Leo Husband
She had a son, John Matthew “Jack” Heard, in 1987, with John Heard, her former boyfriend. John was an actor by profession prior to his demise on July 21, 2017, at age 71. Currently, Melissa lives in Stone Ridge, New York.
Melissa Leo Education
She went to Bellows Falls High School located in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Later, Melissa matriculated at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and SUNY Purchase to pursue acting. However, she did not graduate. Melissa chose to leave school and relocate to New York City to start auditioning for acting jobs.
Actress Melissa Leo
In the year 1984, her acting debut came for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy at the 12th Daytime Emmy Awards. Melissa was nominated for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series for All My Children. She in several films following this including Venice/Venice, Last Summer in the Hamptons, A Time of Destiny, and Streetwalkin’. Furthermore, Melissa also had several appearances on television, most notably her role on Homicide: Life on the Street as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard until 1997.
She reprised her role three years later in the television movie, Homicide: The Movie. Melissa’s breakthrough came three years later in the Alejandro González Iñárritu film, 21 Grams released to critical acclaim after a brief hiatus from acting. She appeared in a supporting role alongside Clea DuVall, Benicio del Toro, Naomi Watts, and Sean Penn. In the year 2003, Melissa shared a Best Ensemble Acting award from the Phoenix Film Critics Society and the runner-up for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout the 2000s, she appeared in supporting roles including a minor role in the comedy Mr. Woodcock, the independent film American Gun, both in 2005, and the film Hide and Seek. Melissa won the Bronze Wrangler in 2006 at the Western Heritage Awards for Outstanding Theatrical Motion Picture for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada shared with Tommy Lee Jones. She also won the Maverick Actor Award in 2008 and the Best Actress award at the Method Fest for Lullaby (2008). Melissa earned critical praise that same year for her performance in the film Frozen River.
Melissa Leo The Fighter
She portrayed and starred as Alice Eklund-Ward in David O. Russell’s The Fighter. For her role in 2010, Melissa received fame. On December 17, 2010, the 2010 American biographical sports drama film was released in theaters by Paramount Pictures. Furthermore, it grossed $129 million globally as well as received largely positive reviews. The Fighter also stars Amy Adams, Christian Bale, and Mark Wahlberg who also produced. In addition, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won the awards for Best Supporting Actress (Melissa) and Best Supporting Actor (Christian).
Melissa Leo Prisoners
She played the supporting role of Holly Jones in the 2013 American thriller film Prisoners written by Aaron Guzikowski and directed by Denis Villeneuve. Furthermore, Prisoners also has an ensemble cast including Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hugh Jackman. It was chosen as one of the top ten films of 2013 by the National Board of Review. In addition, Prisoners was a critical and financial success. It grossed US$122 million globally.
Melissa Leo Oscar | Oscars
Her role as Alice Ward in The Fighter won her an Oscar award. She had created some controversy prior to her win by attempting to self-promote her Oscar campaign rather than rely on the marketing department of the studio. Melissa then appeared in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce following her Oscar win. Here, she appeared alongside Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood, and Kate Winslet.
Melissa Leo Movies
Filmography
Film
- Always (1985) as Peggy
- Streetwalkin’ (1985) as ‘Cookie’
- Deadtime Stories (1986) as Judith ‘Mama’ Baer
- A Time of Destiny (1988) as Josie Larraneta
- Immaculate Conception (1992) as Hannah
- Jane (2022) as Principal Rhodes
- Measure of Revenge (2022) as Lillian
- Coast (2021) as Olivia
- Ida Red (2021) as Ida ‘Red’ Walker
- Body Brokers (2021) as Dr. White
- The Equalizer 2 (2018) as Susan Plummer
Melissa Leo Net Worth
Having been working as an actress for nearly four decades now, she has managed to garner good affluence in her career thus far. Online resources estimate Melissa’s net worth to be $31,113,331.
Who Is Melissa Leo
She is a 62-year-old preeminent American actress who is the recipient of various accolades including two Critics’ Choice Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an Academy Award. Melissa became a regular on the television shows All My Children and The Young Riders after appearing on various television shows and films in the 1980s.
How Old Is Melissa Leo
She is 62 years old. Melissa was born on September 14, 1960, in New York City, United States. Thus, she relishes and commemorates her birthday on September 14 each and every year.