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Melissa Leo

Actor

Melissa Leo

Born September 14, 1960 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA108 films

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.

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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).

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The best way into Melissa Leo's work
Prisoners posterFirst watchPrisoners20138.1as Holly JonesAfter his six-year-old daughter is abducted, a desperate father takes justice into his own hands when he loses faith in the detective leading the investigation, setting both men on a…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Big Short poster7.4The Big Short2015The Equalizer poster7.3The Equalizer2014Oblivion poster6.7Oblivion2013The Fighter poster7.4The Fighter2010Flight poster6.9Flight2012The Equalizer 3 poster7.3The Equalizer 32023Snowden poster7.1Snowden201621 Grams poster7.321 Grams2003

Filmography

108 films as actor
  1. TBARon ForeverHilda
  2. TBAThe Rooster PrinceElaine
  3. TBAThe Mannequin
  4. TBASupermax
  5. 2026PassengerDiana Larson
  6. 2025The KnifeDetective Carlsen
  7. 2025Guns UpMichael Temple
  8. 2025King IvoryGinger Greene
  9. 2024The Clean Up CrewSiobhan
  10. 2024Long Gone HeroesOlivia
  11. 2023The Equalizer 3Susan Plummer
  12. 2022JanePrincipal Rhodes
  13. 2022Alone TogetherDeborah
  14. 2022CoastOlivia
  15. 2022Measure of RevengeLillian
  16. 2021Ida RedIda ‘Red’ Walker
  17. 2021Thunder ForceAllie
  18. 2021Body BrokersDr. White
  19. 2018UnlovableMaddie
  20. 2018The Equalizer 2Susan Plummer
  21. 2018The Parting GlassAl
  22. 2018FurloughJoan Anderson
  23. 2018The AshramChandra
  24. 2017The View from Up HereClaire
  25. 2017NovitiateReverend Mother
  26. 2017The Most Hated Woman in AmericaMadalyn Murray O'Hair
  27. 2016SnowdenLaura Poitras
  28. 2016All the WayLady Bird Johnson
  29. 2016Burn CountryGloria
  30. 2016London Has FallenSecretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
  31. 2015The Big ShortGeorgia Hale
  32. 2015Damnation: The FlashbackNoda Marra
  33. 2015The Butterfly, The Harp, and The TimepiecePapillon
  34. 2015The Ever AfterPenny
  35. 2014The EqualizerSusan Plummer
  36. 2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynBette Altmann
  37. 2014Dwegons and LeprechaunsGrandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald
  38. 2013PrisonersHolly Jones
  39. 2013Call Me Crazy: A Five FilmRobin
  40. 2013Bottled UpFay
  41. 2013OblivionSally
  42. 2013Olympus Has FallenSecretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
  43. 2013Charlie CountrymanKate
  44. 2012Why Stop Now?Penny
  45. 2012FlightEllen Block
  46. 2012FrancineFrancine
  47. 2011The Space BetweenMontine
  48. 2011Seven Days in UtopiaLily
  49. 2011Red StateSara
  50. 2011The Sea Is All I KnowSara
  51. 2010The FighterAlice Ward
  52. 2010Queen of the LotAunt Bee
  53. 2010Welcome to the RileysLois Riley
  54. 2010ConvictionNancy Taylor
  55. 2010The Dry LandMartha
  56. 2009Everybody's FineColleen
  57. 2009According to GretaKaren
  58. 2009Dear Lemon LimaMrs. Howard
  59. 2009Veronika Decides to DieMari
  60. 2009Don McKayMarie
  61. 2009True AdolescentsSharon Mitchell
  62. 2009Stephanie's ImageStephanie
  63. 2008The Alphabet KillerKathy Walsh
  64. 2008Righteous KillCheryl
  65. 2008Frozen RiverRay Eddy
  66. 2008Santa MesaMaggie
  67. 2008LullabyStephanie
  68. 2007Black IrishMargaret McKay
  69. 2007Mr. WoodcockSally Jansen
  70. 2007Racing DaylightSadie / Anna
  71. 2007I Believe in AmericaSoto
  72. 2007Hollywood DreamsAunt Bee
  73. 2007The Cake EatersCeci Kimbrough
  74. 2007Dear Lemon LimaMrs. Howard
  75. 2007Stephanie DaleyMiri Daley
  76. 2007Midnight SonRita
  77. 2007Bomb
  78. 2007One NightWendy
  79. 2006The House Is BurningMrs. Miller
  80. 2006The Limbo RoomKC Collins
  81. 2005The Three Burials of Melquiades EstradaRachel
  82. 2005ConfessAgnes Lessor
  83. 2005American GunLouise
  84. 2005RunawayLisa Adler
  85. 2005Hide and SeekLaura
  86. 2004From Other WorldsMiriam
  87. 200321 GramsMarianne Jordan
  88. 2000Fear of FictionSigrid Anderssen
  89. 2000Homicide: The MovieKay Howard
  90. 1999Code of EthicsJo DeAngelo
  91. 1999The 24 Hour WomanDr. Suzanne Pincus
  92. 1998Under the bridgeKathy
  93. 1995Last Summer in the HamptonsTrish Axelrod
  94. 1995In the Line of Duty: Hunt for JusticeCarol Manning
  95. 1995GardenElizabeth
  96. 1993The Ballad of Little JoBeatrice Grey
  97. 1992By a ThreadHelen
  98. 1992Immaculate ConceptionHannah
  99. 1992Venice/VenicePeggy
  100. 1991Carolina SkeletonsCassie
  101. 1990The Bride in BlackMary Margaret
  102. 1989Nasty BoysKatie Morrissey
  103. 1988A Time of DestinyJosie Larraneta
  104. 1986Deadtime StoriesJudith 'MaMa' Baer
  105. 1985Silent WitnessPatti Mullen
  106. 1985Always … But Not ForeverPeggy
  107. 1985Streetwalkin'Cookie
  108. 1984I'm Only There...Maggie