Melissa Leo
Known for
Acting
Life
Born 1960 (age 65)
Born in
Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Credits
View on IMDb133 acting credits
Biography
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.
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).
Known For
Prisoners
19 Sep 2013
Oblivion
10 Apr 2013
The Equalizer
24 Sep 2014
The Big Short
11 Dec 2015
Olympus Has Fallen
20 Mar 2013
Flight
22 Feb 2012
The Equalizer 2
19 Jul 2018
London Has Fallen
02 Mar 2016
Photos
Filmography
2026
- Passengeras Diana Larson
2025
- The Knifeas Detective Carlsen
- Guns Upas Michael Temple
- King Ivoryas Ginger Greene
2024
- AFTER: Poetry Destroys Silence
- The Clean Up Crewas Siobhan
- Long Gone Heroesas Olivia
2023
- The Equalizer 3as Susan Plummer
2022
- Janeas Principal Rhodes
- Alone Togetheras Deborah
- Coastas Olivia
- Measure of Revengeas Lillian
2021
- Ida Redas Ida ‘Red’ Walker
- Thunder Forceas Allie
- Body Brokersas Dr. White
2020
- I Know This Much Is Trueas Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey6 episodes
2019
- Dolly Parton's Heartstringsas Amelia Meegers1 episode
2018
- Unlovableas Maddie
- The Equalizer 2as Susan Plummer
- The Parting Glassas Al
- Mabel, Mabel Tiger Traineras Narrator
- Furloughas Joan Anderson
- The Ashramas Chandra
2017
- The View from Up Hereas Claire
- Novitiateas Reverend Mother
- I'm Dying Up Hereas Goldie20 episodes
- The Most Hated Woman in Americaas Madalyn Murray O'Hair
2016
- Snowdenas Laura Poitras
- All the Wayas Lady Bird Johnson
- Burn Countryas Gloria
- London Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
2015
- The Big Shortas Georgia Hale
- Damnation: The Flashbackas Noda Marra
- After the Spillas Narrator
- The Butterfly, The Harp, and The Timepieceas Papillon
- Wayward Pinesas Nurse Pam11 episodes
- The Ever Afteras Penny
2014
- The Equalizeras Susan Plummer
- BoJack Horsemanas Ma Nguyen (voice)2 episodes
- The Angriest Man in Brooklynas Bette Altmann
- Dwegons and Leprechaunsas Grandma Fitz
- Broad Cityas Lori1 episode
2013
- Prisonersas Holly Jones
- Call Me Crazy: A Five Filmas Robin
- Bottled Upas Fay
- Oblivionas Sally
- Olympus Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
- Charlie Countrymanas Kate
2012
- Why Stop Now?as Penny
- Flightas Ellen Block
- Francineas Francine
2011
- The Space Betweenas Montine
- Seven Days in Utopiaas Lily
- Red Stateas Sara
- The Sea Is All I Knowas Sara
- Mildred Pierceas Lucy Gessler5 episodes
2010
- The Fighteras Alice Ward
- Queen of the Lotas Aunt Bee
- Welcome to the Rileysas Lois Riley
- Convictionas Nancy Taylor
- The Dry Landas Martha
- Tremeas Toni Bernette36 episodes
2009
- Everybody's Fineas Colleen
- According to Gretaas Karen
- Dear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard
- Veronika Decides to Dieas Mari
- Don McKayas Marie
- True Adolescentsas Sharon Mitchell
- Stephanie's Imageas Stephanie
2008
- The Alphabet Killeras Kathy Walsh
- Righteous Killas Cheryl
- Frozen Riveras Ray Eddy
- Santa Mesaas Maggie
- Lullabyas Stephanie
2007
- Black Irishas Margaret McKay
- Mr. Woodcockas Sally Jansen
- Racing Daylightas Sadie
- I Believe in Americaas Soto
- Hollywood Dreamsas Aunt Bee
- The Cake Eatersas Ceci Kimbrough
- Dear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard
- Stephanie Daleyas Miri Daley
- Midnight Sonas Rita
- Bomb
- One Nightas Wendy
2006
- The House Is Burningas Mrs. Miller
- Sharkas Elizabeth Rourke1 episode
- The Limbo Roomas KC Collins
2005
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estradaas Rachel
- Confessas Agnes Lessor
- Criminal Mindsas Sheriff Georgia Davis1 episode
- American Gunas Louise
- Runawayas Lisa Adler
- Hide and Seekas Laura
2004
- From Other Worldsas Miriam
- Veronica Marsas Julia Smith1 episode
- The L Wordas Winnie Mann3 episodes
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intentas Maureen Curtis1 episode
2000
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Sybil Perez1 episode
- Fear of Fictionas Sigrid Anderssen
- Homicide: The Movieas Kay Howard
1999
- Code of Ethicsas Jo DeAngelo
- The 24 Hour Womanas Dr. Suzanne Pincus
1998
- Legacyas Emma Bradford2 episodes
1995
- Last Summer in the Hamptonsas Trish Axelrod
- In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justiceas Carol Manning
- Gardenas Elizabeth
1994
- Scarlettas Suellen O'Hara Benteen2 episodes
1993
- The Ballad of Little Joas Beatrice Grey
- Homicide: Life on the Streetas Kay Howard77 episodes
1992
- By a Threadas Helen
- Immaculate Conceptionas Hannah
- Venice/Veniceas Peggy
1991
- Carolina Skeletonsas Cassie
1990
- The Bride in Blackas Mary Margaret
- Law & Orderas Sherri Quinn1 episode
1989
- Nasty Boysas Katie Morrissey
- The Young Ridersas Emma Shannon24 episodes
1988
- A Time of Destinyas Josie Larraneta
1986
- Deadtime Storiesas Judith 'MaMa' Baer
1985
- Silent Witnessas Patti Mullen
- Always … But Not Foreveras Peggy
- Streetwalkin'as Cookie
- Spenser: For Hire1 episode
- The Equalizeras Irina Dzershinsky1 episode
1984
- Miami Viceas Kathleen Gilfords1 episode
- I'm Only There...as Maggie