A sad day. Our dear sweet Beverly Ann is now reunited with her sister, Edna.
Cloris Leachman. What a career. What a legend. And by all accounts, what a force of nature.
Many articles are now online about her life & career, but I would like to share this tribute from my ‘close personal friend’ Diana Eden, costumer for “The Facts Of Life” during the 2 seasons that Ms. Leachman was a regular cast member:
“How to describe the late great Cloris Leachman? The word "irrepressible immediately comes to mind. The dictionary says "not able to be controlled or restrained," like "a great shout of irrepressible laughter."
“Yes, to both. Cloris was bursting with energy, an all-encompassing joyful, creative, and sometimes infuriating energy that certainly made her larger than life.
“I first encountered her when Bob Mackie, my boss, asked me, a very new costume assistant, to call her and tell her that he would not be able to make her a gown for the Oscars that year. She was not rude to me but forceful and insistent. She could not take no for an answer and was ready to run right over and rifle through Bob's costume closets, sure that she would find something spectacular to wear or that he would relent. Saying no was never harder!
“A few years later, I heard that Cloris was joining The Facts of Life as a new full-time character, replacing Mrs. Garrett. In our initial phone call, she asked me how I thought her character should be dressed. I gave her a brief description of my ideas, at the end of which she said, "that is exactly the opposite of everything I have in mind"! Again, not rude. Just a woman sure of her opinions. I think she even laughed as she said it.
“Over the next two years, I had the joy of working with her every week for two entire seasons, plus a movie. Her instincts were always right on, and I found myself learning so much from her. She was funny, creative, painfully sorrowful after the death of her son, smart, and oh-so-stylish.”
(reprinted with permission, photo below from Diana’s personal collection)
^ “Cloris Leachman filming on location at Venice Beach, surrounded by fans” ^
(this pic can also be found in Diana’s awesome memoir, Stars In Their Underwear)