Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman dies aged 94

US actress Cloris Leachman, who won an Oscar for The Last Picture Show and brought her comedic talents to numerous US sitcoms, has died at the age of 94.

Leachman died of natural causes at her home in California, with her daughter by her side, her publicist confirmed.

Her memorable roles included Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Frau Blücher in Young Frankenstein.

Reese Witherspoon said she would be “deeply missed”, while Mel Brooks described her as “insanely talented”.

Leachman enjoyed a long career as a character actress, portraying Ida in Malcolm in the Middle and Timmy’s mother in the Lassie series.

Over her career Leachman, who was once a beauty queen, also starred in films Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and Crazy Mama.