Personal Info
Known ForActing
Born1960-09-14
BirthplaceManhattan, New York City, New York, USA
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).
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Melissa Leo
Filmography
Acting (115)
2026
Passengeras Diana Larson
7.3
2025
The Knifeas Detective Carlsen
7.2
2025
Guns Upas Michael Temple
6.5
2025
King Ivoryas Ginger Greene
7.0
2024
The Clean Up Crewas Siobhan
5.5
2024
Long Gone Heroesas Olivia
5.4
2023
The Equalizer 3as Susan Plummer
7.3
2022
Bonnieas Self
5.3
2022
Janeas Principal Rhodes
5.3
2022
Alone Togetheras Deborah
5.1
2022
Coastas Olivia
4.6
2022
Measure of Revengeas Lillian
4.6
2021
Ida Redas Ida ‘Red’ Walker
5.7
2021
Thunder Forceas Allie
5.5
2021
Body Brokersas Dr. White
6.2
2018
Unlovableas Maddie
5.6
2018
The Equalizer 2as Susan Plummer
6.8
2018
The Parting Glassas Al
5.4
2018
Mabel, Mabel Tiger Traineras Narrator
2018
Furloughas Joan Anderson
5.7
2018
The Ashramas Chandra
5.5
2017
The View from Up Hereas Claire
6.0
2017
Novitiateas Reverend Mother
6.5
2017
The Most Hated Woman in Americaas Madalyn Murray O'Hair
6.2
2016
Snowdenas Laura Poitras
7.1
2016
All the Wayas Lady Bird Johnson
6.7
2016
Burn Countryas Gloria
5.0
2016
London Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
6.2
2015
The Big Shortas Georgia Hale
7.4
2015
Damnation: The Flashbackas Noda Marra
1.0
2015
After the Spillas Narrator
7.0
2015
The Butterfly, The Harp, and The Timepieceas Papillon
2015
She's The Best Thing in Itas Self
1.0
2015
The Ever Afteras Penny
5.7
2014
The Equalizeras Susan Plummer
7.3
2014
The Angriest Man in Brooklynas Bette Altmann
5.6
2014
Dwegons and Leprechaunsas Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald
1.4
2013
Prisonersas Holly Jones
8.1
2013
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedyas Self - Narrator (voice)
6.6
2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Filmas Robin
7.0
2013
Bottled Upas Fay
5.7
2013
Oblivionas Sally
6.7
2013
Olympus Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
6.4
2013
Charlie Countrymanas Kate
6.4
2012
Why Stop Now?as Penny
5.4
2012
Flightas Ellen Block
6.9
2012
Francineas Francine
4.8
2011
The Space Betweenas Montine
6.6
2011
Seven Days in Utopiaas Lily
5.7
2011
Red Stateas Sara
6.0
2011
The Sea Is All I Knowas Sara
2010
The Fighteras Alice Ward
7.4
2010
Queen of the Lotas Aunt Bee
2.6
2010
Welcome to the Rileysas Lois Riley
6.6
2010
Convictionas Nancy Taylor
7.1
2010
The Dry Landas Martha
4.5
2009
Everybody's Fineas Colleen
6.8
2009
According to Gretaas Karen
6.0
2009
Dear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard
5.6
2009
Veronika Decides to Dieas Mari
5.8
2009
Don McKayas Marie
4.9
2009
True Adolescentsas Sharon Mitchell
5.7
2009
Stephanie's Imageas Stephanie
8.0
2008
The Alphabet Killeras Kathy Walsh
5.1
2008
Righteous Killas Cheryl
5.9
2008
Frozen Riveras Ray Eddy
6.6
2008
Santa Mesaas Maggie
5.0
2008
Lullabyas Stephanie
10.0
2007
Black Irishas Margaret McKay
6.5
2007
Mr. Woodcockas Sally Jansen
5.1
2007
Racing Daylightas Sadie / Anna
3.3
2007
I Believe in Americaas Soto
10.0
2007
Hollywood Dreamsas Aunt Bee
3.1
2007
The Cake Eatersas Ceci Kimbrough
5.5
2007
Dear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard
2007
Stephanie Daleyas Miri Daley
5.8
2007
Midnight Sonas Rita
1.0
2007
2007
One Nightas Wendy
6.4
2006
The House Is Burningas Mrs. Miller
6.5
2006
The Limbo Roomas KC Collins
2005
7.0
2005
Confessas Agnes Lessor
4.3
2005
American Gunas Louise
5.7
2005
Runawayas Lisa Adler
6.5
2005
Hide and Seekas Laura
6.3
2004
From Other Worldsas Miriam
3.9
2003
21 Gramsas Marianne Jordan
7.3
2000
Fear of Fictionas Sigrid Anderssen
8.0
2000
Homicide: The Movieas Kay Howard
6.9
1999
Code of Ethicsas Jo DeAngelo
7.0
1999
The 24 Hour Womanas Dr. Suzanne Pincus
5.8
1998
Under the bridgeas Kathy
1997
Who Is Henry Jaglom?as Self
6.8
1995
Last Summer in the Hamptonsas Trish Axelrod
5.8
1995
In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justiceas Carol Manning
4.8
1995
Gardenas Elizabeth
1993
The Ballad of Little Joas Beatrice Grey
6.1
1992
By a Threadas Helen
10.0
1992
Immaculate Conceptionas Hannah
5.4
1992
Venice/Veniceas Peggy
7.0
1991
Carolina Skeletonsas Cassie
7.2
1990
The Bride in Blackas Mary Margaret
8.0
1989
Nasty Boysas Katie Morrissey
7.3
1988
A Time of Destinyas Josie Larraneta
5.4
1986
Deadtime Storiesas Judith 'MaMa' Baer
4.9
1985
Silent Witnessas Patti Mullen
4.7
1985
Always … But Not Foreveras Peggy
4.4
1985
Streetwalkin'as Cookie
4.9
1984
I'm Only There...as Maggie
—
Ron Foreveras Hilda
—
The Rooster Princeas Elaine