Melissa Leo
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).
Melissa Leo scene from The Fighter who dedicated her Best Supporting Actress on Oscar (2010)
VideoKnown For
TV
Law & Order
Donna Cheponis
1990
TV
Law & Order
Defense Attorney Alice Sutton
1990
TV
Law & Order
Sherri Quinn
1990
TV
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Sybil Perez
2000
TV
Criminal Minds
Sheriff Georgia Davis
2005
TV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Maureen Curtis
2001
TV
BoJack Horseman
Ma Nguyen (voice)
2014
TV
Cold Case
Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)
2003
TV
Homicide: Life on the Street
Kay Howard
1993
TV
Miami Vice
Kathleen Gilfords
1984
TV
Veronica Mars
Julia Smith
2004
Film
The Equalizer
Susan Plummer
2014
Film
Passenger
Diana Larson
2026
TV
The Equalizer
Irina Dzershinsky
1985
Film
Prisoners
Holly Jones
2013
TV
The L Word
Winnie Mann
2004
Film
The Equalizer 3
Susan Plummer
2023
TV
Wayward Pines
Nurse Pam
2015
Film
The Equalizer 2
Susan Plummer
2018
Film
The Big Short
Georgia Hale
2015
Filmography
2026FilmPassengeras Diana Larson2025FilmThe Knifeas Detective Carlsen2025FilmGuns Upas Michael Temple2025FilmKing Ivoryas Ginger Greene2024FilmAFTER: Poetry Destroys Silence2024FilmThe Clean Up Crewas Siobhan2024FilmLong Gone Heroesas Olivia2023FilmThe Equalizer 3as Susan Plummer2022FilmBonnieas Self2022FilmJaneas Principal Rhodes2022FilmAlone Togetheras Deborah2022FilmCoastas Olivia2022FilmMeasure of Revengeas Lillian2021FilmIda Redas Ida ‘Red’ Walker2021FilmThunder Forceas Allie2021FilmBody Brokersas Dr. White2020TVI Know This Much Is Trueas Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey2019TVDolly Parton's Heartstringsas Amelia Meegers2018FilmUnlovableas Maddie2018FilmThe Equalizer 2as Susan Plummer2018FilmThe Parting Glassas Al2018FilmMabel, Mabel Tiger Traineras Narrator2018FilmFurloughas Joan Anderson2018FilmThe Ashramas Chandra2017FilmThe View from Up Hereas Claire2017FilmNovitiateas Reverend Mother2017TVI'm Dying Up Hereas Goldie2017FilmThe Most Hated Woman in Americaas Madalyn Murray O'Hair2016FilmSnowdenas Laura Poitras2016FilmAll the Wayas Lady Bird Johnson2016FilmBurn Countryas Gloria2016FilmLondon Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan2015FilmThe Big Shortas Georgia Hale2015FilmDamnation: The Flashbackas Noda Marra2015FilmAfter the Spillas Narrator2015FilmThe Butterfly, The Harp, and The Timepieceas Papillon2015TVWayward Pinesas Nurse Pam2015FilmShe's The Best Thing in Itas Self2015FilmThe Ever Afteras Penny2014FilmThe Equalizeras Susan Plummer2014TVBoJack Horsemanas Ma Nguyen (voice)2014FilmThe Angriest Man in Brooklynas Bette Altmann2014FilmDwegons and Leprechaunsas Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald2014TVBroad Cityas Lori2013FilmPrisonersas Holly Jones2013TVThe Arsenio Hall Showas Self2013FilmLetters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedyas Self - Narrator (voice)2013FilmCall Me Crazy: A Five Filmas Robin2013FilmBottled Upas Fay2013FilmOblivionas Sally2013FilmOlympus Has Fallenas Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan2013FilmCharlie Countrymanas Kate2012FilmWhy Stop Now?as Penny2012FilmFlightas Ellen Block2012FilmFrancineas Francine2011FilmThe Space Betweenas Montine2011FilmSeven Days in Utopiaas Lily2011FilmRed Stateas Sara2011FilmThe Sea Is All I Knowas Sara2011TVMildred Pierceas Lucy Gessler2010FilmThe Fighteras Alice Ward2010FilmQueen of the Lotas Aunt Bee2010FilmWelcome to the Rileysas Lois Riley2010FilmConvictionas Nancy Taylor2010FilmThe Dry Landas Martha2010TVTremeas Toni Bernette2009FilmEverybody's Fineas Colleen2009FilmAccording to Gretaas Karen2009FilmDear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard2009FilmVeronika Decides to Dieas Mari2009FilmDon McKayas Marie2009FilmTrue Adolescentsas Sharon Mitchell2009FilmStephanie's Imageas Stephanie2008FilmThe Alphabet Killeras Kathy Walsh2008FilmRighteous Killas Cheryl2008FilmFrozen Riveras Ray Eddy2008FilmSanta Mesaas Maggie2008FilmLullabyas Stephanie2007FilmBlack Irishas Margaret McKay2007FilmMr. Woodcockas Sally Jansen2007FilmRacing Daylightas Sadie / Anna2007FilmI Believe in Americaas Soto2007FilmHollywood Dreamsas Aunt Bee2007FilmThe Cake Eatersas Ceci Kimbrough2007FilmDear Lemon Limaas Mrs. Howard2007FilmStephanie Daleyas Miri Daley2007FilmMidnight Sonas Rita2007FilmBomb2007FilmOne Nightas Wendy2006FilmThe House Is Burningas Mrs. Miller2006TVSharkas Elizabeth Rourke2006FilmThe Limbo Roomas KC Collins2005FilmThe Three Burials of Melquiades Estradaas Rachel2005FilmConfessas Agnes Lessor2005TVCriminal Mindsas Sheriff Georgia Davis2005FilmAmerican Gunas Louise2005FilmRunawayas Lisa Adler2005FilmHide and Seekas Laura2004FilmFrom Other Worldsas Miriam2004TVVeronica Marsas Julia Smith2004TVThe L Wordas Winnie Mann2003Film21 Gramsas Marianne Jordan2003TVCold Caseas Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)2001TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Maureen Curtis2000TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Sybil Perez2000FilmFear of Fictionas Sigrid Anderssen2000FilmHomicide: The Movieas Kay Howard1999FilmCode of Ethicsas Jo DeAngelo1999FilmThe 24 Hour Womanas Dr. Suzanne Pincus1998TVLegacyas Emma Bradford1998FilmUnder the bridgeas Kathy1997FilmWho Is Henry Jaglom?as Self1995FilmLast Summer in the Hamptonsas Trish Axelrod1995FilmIn the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justiceas Carol Manning1995FilmGardenas Elizabeth1994TVScarlettas Suellen O'Hara Benteen1993FilmThe Ballad of Little Joas Beatrice Grey1993TVHomicide: Life on the Streetas Kay Howard1992FilmBy a Threadas Helen1992FilmImmaculate Conceptionas Hannah1992FilmVenice/Veniceas Peggy1991FilmCarolina Skeletonsas Cassie1990FilmThe Bride in Blackas Mary Margaret1990TVLaw & Orderas Donna Cheponis1989FilmNasty Boysas Katie Morrissey1989TVThe Young Ridersas Emma Shannon1988FilmA Time of Destinyas Josie Larraneta1986FilmDeadtime Storiesas Judith 'MaMa' Baer1985FilmSilent Witnessas Patti Mullen1985FilmAlways … But Not Foreveras Peggy1985FilmStreetwalkin'as Cookie1985TVSpenser: For Hire1985TVThe Equalizeras Irina Dzershinsky1984TVMiami Viceas Kathleen Gilfords1984FilmI'm Only There...as Maggie—FilmRon Foreveras Hilda—FilmThe Rooster Princeas Elaine—FilmThe Mannequin—FilmSupermax