On Thursday, San Diego county released the cause of death of the late, legendary actress Cloris Leachman.
Leachman passed away on Jan. 28 at the age of 94. Nearly three weeks after her passing, her newly public death certificate has revealed that Leachman died from a cerebrovascular accident, otherwise known as a stroke.
In addition, according to a spokesperson, Leachman’s COVID-19 diagnosis was also a contributing factor to her death.
Despite the serious condition she suffered, COVID-19 did not cause the stroke that killed her.
Her manager Juliet Green released a statement about her passing to ET.
“It’s been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time,” Green wrote. “There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh ’till the tears ran down your face. You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic.”
Leachman was cremated on Feb. 7, and her remains are at her daughter Dinah Englund’s home in California.
“She loved her children and her grandchildren ferociously. A lifelong vegetarian, she was a passionate advocate for animal rights. The family requests that any donations in her name be made to PETA or Last Chance for Animals,” continued Green.
Leachman, an Oscar and Emmy winner, enjoyed a successful and prolific career during her time in Hollywood.
She starred in roles such as The Last Picture Show, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, High Anxiety, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Spanglish.
Fans also remember her for her roles on television shows like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Gunsmoke,” “Lassie,” “Twilight Zone,” “The Facts of Life,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Raising Hope,” and “American Gods.”
Cloris Leachman’s Colleagues Remember Actress For Her Legendary Work
Following her death, Leachman’s former friends and colleagues commemorated her in loving tributes online.
“Such sad news — Cloris was insanely talented. She could make you laugh or cry at the drop of a hat. Always such a pleasure to have on set,” Mel Brooks, who directed Leachman in High Anxiety, History of the World, Part 1 and Young Frankenstein, wrote on Twitter.
“Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher,” he added of her Young Frankenstein role. “She is irreplaceable, and will be greatly missed.”
Ed Asner, who starred alongside Leachman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” acknowledged her as simply “marvelous.”
“I’ll carry my memories to my grave. I loved her. She was a sweet mama,” Asner told ET. “She was a free cat and was just marvelous, a marvelous actress. And she would come up with some wonderful ideas.”
