Cloris Leachman, TV's 'Phyllis,' dies in Encinitas at 94

ENCINITAS (CNS) - Cloris Leachman, the prolific actress of stage and screen best known for her role as Phyllis Lindstrom on "The Mary Tyler Moore

Show" and its short-lived spinoff "Phyllis,'' died in her sleep of natural causes at the age of 94, her manager said today.

Leachman died Tuesday at her home in Encinitas, her son told TMZ.

"She had the best life beginning to end that you could wish for someone,'' he said. "She left everyone with a lot of love.''

Leachman was born in De Moines, Iowa, on April 30, 1926, and studied drama at Illinois State University, and later at Northwestern Universi...