PORT TOWNSEND — Oscar and Emmy winner Cloris Leachman will be the celebrity guest at this year’s 10th annual Port Townsend Film Festival, festival organizers announced Tuesday.
A series of clues disguised as limericks alluded to the actress’ work in TV’s “Malcolm in the Middle,” cinema’s “History of the World, Part 1” and the movie version of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
But it’s Leachman’s role as Ruth Popper in 1971’s “The Last Picture Show” that will be celebrated at this year’s festival.
“That’s her Oscar-winning role,” said festival director Terry Tennesen.
“And it’s our feature movie this year as well.”
The Mel Brooks’ comedy-thriller “High Anxiety” (1977), which features Leachman as Nurse Diesel, will also be played as one of the free outdoor movies during the festival, which takes place Sept. 24-27.
Last year’s festival
The 83-year-old Leachman was to be the special guest at last year’s festival but canceled to take part in the reality television show, “Dancing with the Stars.”
Leachman has worked in film and television for more than 60 years.
According to her personal Web site, she has won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, one Daytime Emmy Award and eight Primetime Emmy Awards — a record for a female performer in television.
“It should be absolutely great to have her here,” Tennesen said.
“I hear she is quite the spitfire, so this should be fun.
“Cloris is willing to take part in all of the events, from speaking with the high school students to the actor panels.”
Pageant contestant
Leachman’s site says she began her career in television and films shortly after competing in the Miss America Pageant as Miss Chicago in 1946.
Before that, she was active in theater, starring in many productions at the Des Moines playhouse.
She made her feature film debut in Robert Aldrich’s 1955 film, “Kiss Me Deadly,” and one year later appeared opposite Paul Newman and Lee Marvin in “The Rack.”
She continued her career in television on shows such as “The Twilight Zone,” “Rawhide,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “Lassie.”
Throughout the 1970s, Leachman played her most notable TV character, nosy neighbor Phyllis Lindstrom on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
The character was a fixture on the program for five years and inspired a spinoff series, “Phyllis,” for which Leachman won a Golden Globe.
Grandma roles
Some of her more recent work includes the role of Grandma Ida on TV’s “Malcolm in the Middle” and Evelyn in the feature film “Spanglish” (2004), opposite Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni.
She earned another Emmy nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her performance in the HBO special, “Mrs. Harris.”
Leachman also was this year’s grand marshal at the Pasadena, Calif., Tournament of Roses Parade and did the coin toss at the Rose Bowl game between Penn State and University of Southern California.
Leachman’s current film is Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” to be released Aug. 21.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
