Cloris Leachman: An appreciation

 My first Cloris Leachman experience occurred on Christmas Eve, 1962. This wonderful actress, who died this week at age 94, appeared on an episode of the TV series “Stoney Burke.”

Leachman played a character named Eunice Stocker, the cousin of a character played by Bruce Dern — a regular on the series that helped launch the careers of Dern, Warren Oates and series star Jack Lord. 

Eunice was a tomboyish, not terribly pretty woman who aspired to be a rodeo trick rider but whose lack of glamour was holding her back. Lord’s Stoney, a top-notch saddle bronc rider and a close friend of Dern’s character E.J. Stocker, helped Eunice achieve the necessary makeover.

Problem was, Eunice had a massive crush on Stoney that, even after the makeover, was not requited. It seems Stoney only had eyes for pretty trick rider Francie Adams — or, as Eunice scornfully called her, “Fancy pantsy Francie.”

How do I remember all this, more than 58 years later? The internet certainly helped. Still, having done no research,  that “Stoney Burke” episode came to mind unbidden as I pondered Leachman’s death. And I remembered that she was absolutely terrific as “Cousin Eunice.”

Since then, and no doubt before— she’d been working as an actress since 1947 — she’s rarely been anything but terrific.

Heart-wrenching as Ruth Popper in “The Last Picture Show,” the role that won her an Oscar. Uproarious as Frau Blucher in “Young Frankenstein.” Roll-your-eyes insufferable as Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Indefatigable as herself on “Dancing With the Stars.” 

And so, so, so, so, so much more. Her resume on IMDb.com contained almost 300 entries.

So, Cloris, this is farewell but not goodbye. I’ll be watching you very soon, perhaps tonight, on Netflix, Amazon Prime or wherever I can find you.

Blucher!