A-LISTS community spotlight Acclaimed actress, Cloris Leachman, and founder of the Harvey Milk Foun-
dation and human-rights activist Stuart Milk are serving as the San Diego Pride Parade Grand Marshals this year. Cloris Leachman has performed in shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Malcom in the Middle and classic cinema comedic turns in Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. After a busy day at her granddaughter’s graduation from nursery school, Leachman spent a few minutes talking over the phone with The Rage Monthly about gay marriage, her very early acting roles and turning down a date with actor Marlon Brando.
The Rage Monthly: You better bring your sunscreen while you’re riding in the parade. Cloris Leachman: What about a parasol?
Rage: Oh, that would be nice. Just like the drag queens do. CL: (Laughter) I could wear a mustache.
Rage: What is your philosophy on gay and lesbian rights, right now? CL: For marriage?
Rage: Yes. CL: Absolutely. It’s unconscionable to even have a discussion about it. It’s the stupid-
est thing I ever heard of. Stupid. How long does it take people to get to the point? What’s the point of not allowing gays to marry?
Rage: When did you first realize that there were gays and lesbians in the world? CL: I don’t know. But, I remember when I was around six-years old, my mother put
a little blue-knitted sweater and pants and a beret on my head. I was outside taking a drink of water in school and I thought, “I don’t know if I’m a boy or a girl.” Because I thought girls wear dresses. So, I was confused.
Rage: Yeah. It was that simple back then. Pink or blue. CL: Yeah…a dress or pants. They were little tight short pants and a sweater.
Rage: So, Marlon Brando asked you out for a date back in the early 1950s, huh? CL: I wouldn’t date him. He asked me out and I wouldn’t go with him. I knew he’d break my heart, so I said, “No. Not this one.”
Rage: You’ve played some very humorous villains in your career in films such as Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. What is one of your earliest memories of acting? CL:I was very upset when I was eleven. I hitched a ride on a coal truck from outside of
RIDES INTO SAN DIEGO AS THE PRIDE PARADE’S 2010 CELEBRITY GRAND MARSHAL by bill biss
CLORIS LEACHMAN
14 RAGE monthly | JULY 2010
Des Moines on the east side all the way into town to Drake University. I got the lead in a little radio show there for a year. I was playing the little princess. Then, when I went to Drake University the next summer, in the little children’s theatre, I thought I’d get the part of the princess in The Birthday of the Infanta. But, I got cast as the ugly little dwarf! I was very shocked. I was very hurt (laughter).
Rage: You have received so many awards for your work. Eight Primetime Emmy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Last Picture Show. CL: No one ever mentions the Golden Globe Award for Phyllis I have or the Academy Award from England (laughter).
Rage: Of course, your career is quite remarkable. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? CL: I play the piano…classical music. I don’t do that as much as I love being with my children and grandchildren and going out to dinner and lunch sometimes.
Rage: Do you have any final thoughts on being our Pride Grand Marshal? CL: I’m very pleased. If you feed me…I’ll be there!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92