Portrait of Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo

Acting

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).

Born: September 14, 1960

Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Filmography

2025
The Knife

as Detective Carlsen

2025
Guns Up

as Michael Temple

2025
King Ivory

as Ginger Greene

2024
2024
2023
The Equalizer 3

as Susan Plummer

2022
Bonnie

as Self

2022
Jane

as Principal Rhodes

2022
Alone Together

as Deborah

2022
Coast

as Olivia

2022
2021
Ida Red

as Ida ‘Red’ Walker

2021
2021
Body Brokers

as Dr. White

2020
I Know This Much Is True

as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey

2019
2018
Unlovable

as Maddie

2018
The Equalizer 2

as Susan Plummer

2018
Furlough

as Joan Anderson

2018
The Ashram

as Chandra

2017
Novitiate

as Reverend Mother

2017
2017
The Most Hated Woman in America

as Madalyn Murray O'Hair

2016
Snowden

as Laura Poitras

2016
All the Way

as Lady Bird Johnson

2016
Burn Country

as Gloria

2016
London Has Fallen

as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan

2015
The Big Short

as Georgia Hale

2015
After the Spill

as Narrator

2015
Wayward Pines

as Nurse Pam

2015
2014
The Equalizer

as Susan Plummer

2014
BoJack Horseman

as Ma Nguyen (voice)

2014
2014
Dwegons and Leprechauns

as Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald

2014
Broad City

as Lori

2013
Prisoners

as Holly Jones

2013
2013
Oblivion

as Sally

2013
Olympus Has Fallen

as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan

2012
Francine

as Francine

2012
2012
Flight

as Ellen Block

2011
2011
Red State

as Sara

2011
Mildred Pierce

as Lucy Gessler

2010
The Fighter

as Alice Ward

2010
Queen of the Lot

as Aunt Bee

2010
2010
Conviction

as Nancy Taylor

2010
The Dry Land

as Martha

2010
2010
Treme

as Toni Bernette

2009
2009
2009
Dear Lemon Lima

as Mrs. Howard

2009
Don McKay

as Marie

2009
True Adolescents

as Sharon Mitchell

2009
Stephanie's Image

as Stephanie

2008
The Alphabet Killer

as Kathy Walsh

2008
2008
Frozen River

as Ray Eddy

2008
Santa Mesa

as Maggie

2008
Lullaby

as Stephanie

2007
Black Irish

as Margaret McKay

2007
Mr. Woodcock

as Sally Jansen

2007
Racing Daylight

as Sadie / Anna

2007
Hollywood Dreams

as Aunt Bee

2007
The Cake Eaters

as Ceci Kimbrough

2007
Dear Lemon Lima

as Mrs. Howard

2007
Stephanie Daley

as Miri Daley

2007
2006
The House Is Burning

as Mrs. Miller

2006
Shark

as Elizabeth Rourke

2006
The Limbo Room

as KC Collins

2005
Criminal Minds

as Sheriff Georgia Davis

2005
American Gun

as Louise

2005
Runaway

as Lisa Adler

2005
2005
Confess

as Agnes Lessor

2004
2004
Veronica Mars

as Julia Smith

2004
The L Word

as Winnie Mann

2003
Cold Case

as Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)

2003
21 Grams

as Marianne Jordan

2001
2000
Homicide: The Movie

as Kay Howard

1999
The 24 Hour Woman

as Dr. Suzanne Pincus

1998
1995
1993
The Ballad of Little Jo

as Beatrice Grey

1992
1991
1990
The Bride in Black

as Mary Margaret

1990
Law & Order

as Donna Cheponis

1990
Law & Order

as Defense Attorney Alice Sutton

1990
Law & Order

as Sherri Quinn

1989
Nasty Boys

as Katie Morrissey

1989
Nasty Boys

as Katie Morrissey

1989
The Young Riders

as Emma Shannon

1988
A Time of Destiny

as Josie Larraneta

1986
Deadtime Stories

as Judith 'MaMa' Baer

1985
Silent Witness

as Patti Mullen

1985
Streetwalkin'

as Cookie

1985
The Equalizer

as Irina Dzershinsky

1984
Miami Vice

as Kathleen Gilfords

1984
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Ron Forever

as Hilda