Character actor Cloris Leachman has passed away at the age of 94 at her home in Encinitas, California.

Her publicist Monique Moss confirmed the news that Leachman had died of natural causes on Wednesday, adding that her daughter was at her side.

Leachman's depth of talent brought her an Oscar for the The Last Picture Show and Emmys for her comedy work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and other TV series.

Millions of viewers knew the actor as the self-absorbed neighbour Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She also appeared as Timmy's mother on the Lassie series. She played a sex worker in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a crime spree family member in Crazy Mama, and the infamous Frau Blücher in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.

Born in Iowa in 1926, Leachman began her performing career with plays and beauty pageants during her teenaged years. Later appearing in small television and film roles, she won a place in the 1946 Miss America pageant and studying acting in New York City. Her early career included small parts in the Robert Aldrich film Kiss Me Deadly (1955) and the Paul Newman film The Rack (1956).

Her acting career only majorly took off when Leachman was in her 40s, after nabbing the role of Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. In the early '70s, she was cast as Ruth Popper - wife of the high-school gym teacher - in The Last Picture Show, directed by Peter Bogdanovich and based on Larry McMurtry’s book. The role would bring her the best supporting actress Oscar at the 1971 Academy Awards, a British Academy film award, and cement her burgeoning reputation in the screen industry.

In 1975, Leachman’s character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was given her own spin-off series. Phyllis ran for two seasons, following which Leachman continued to work in television and film for the next 50 years. She amassed close to 300 acting credits over her lifetime, showcasing a prolific work ethic.

Speaking of her role as Phyllis in 1973, she said: "Basically I don't care how I look, ugly or beautiful. I don't think that's what beauty is. On a single day, any of us is ugly or beautiful.

"I'm heartbroken I can't be the witch in The Wizard Of Oz," Leachman added. "I'd also like to be the good witch. Phyllis combines them both. I'm kind of like that in life. I'm magic, and I believe in magic. There's supposed to be a point in life when you aren't supposed to stay believing that. I haven't reached it yet."

She had recurring roles in the early 2000s television series Raising Hope, the 2019 revival of Mad About You, and the adaptation Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods. Her role as Grandma Ida in Malcolm in the Middle from 2001 until 2006 earned her two Emmy awards.

In 1977 she appeared in an episode of The Muppet Show. She also used her voice acting talents in the 1986 My Little Pony movie, the 1994 animation A Troll in Central Park, the English dubbing of Hayao Miyazaki’s 1986 Castle in the Sky, and an episode of The Simpsons.

Mel Brooks, who worked extensively with the actress, paid tribute to Leachman on Wednesday on Twitter, calling her “insanely talented”.

“Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher. She is irreplaceable,” Brooks said.

Leachman holds the record for the most Primetime Emmy acting nominations in history, with 22. She is also tied for the most awarded with eight Primetime Emmys to her name, a record later equalled by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Edgar Wright, Steve Martin, actress Wanda Sykes, actor Adam Sandler, director and composer John Carpenter, Jim Gaffigan and Frozen voice actor and comedian Josh Gad all paid tribute to the Hollywood star.

"Salute to Cloris Leachman, who brought comedy’s mysteries to the big and small screen."

#ClorisLeachman’s perfect performance as Frau Blucher had an enormous impact on my life. She was sublime. “He vas my boyfriend!” RIP Cloris Leachman https://t.co/FCrzxVaesc

— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) January 28, 2021

As a guest star on The Muppet Show, Cloris Leachman kept the show going despite an invasion of pigs and in The Muppet Movie she opened the door to our standard rich and famous contract. A legend and a great friend. Cloris, we will never forget you.

— The Muppets (@TheMuppets) January 27, 2021

Salute to Cloris Leachman, who brought comedy’s mysteries to the big and small screen.

— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) January 27, 2021

Brilliant and memorable though it is, Cloris Leachman's best performance in a 1970's classic shot in B&W is not 'Young Frankenstein' but her role in 'The Last Picture Show'. If you only know her as Frau Blücher, then prepare to be amazed. pic.twitter.com/sHd1vdhrwh

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) January 27, 2021

Heartbroken to hear about the passing of my #WeddingRinger Co-Star, the legend #clorisleachman whose career has given us some of the most iconic performances in the history of comedy on the small screen (Mary Tyler More Show) and the big screen (Young Frankenstein). #RIP Legend🙏 pic.twitter.com/QuK6ifCcWf

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 27, 2021

#ClorisLeachman has been my idol since childhood. Dramatic chops. Comedy gold. Relatable in every way. She made everything interesting. She is #goals for me. What a legend. #RIP

— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) January 27, 2021

Cloris Leachman. A true legend.
One of the funniest of all time.
And such a great lady. Loved her. Will be missed terribly. And such a good family. Sending love to all. RIP pic.twitter.com/whq2qfvxcg

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) January 28, 2021