Acting credits
131
Prolific
Very extensive acting filmography.
Actor
Melissa Leo
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
2.6
Moderate attention
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Movies: 107Series: 24Crew credits: 2
TMDB ID: 6832
IMDb ID: nm0502425
Known for: Acting
Born: September 14, 1960
Age: 65
Place of birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Gender: Female
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1984 - 2026
Years active: 43
Average TMDB rating: 6.48
Wikidata: Q229410
Also known as
Margaret May • Melissa Chessington Leo
Other jobs
Producer (2)
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).
Photos
Movies
Movies
Movie credits linked with Melissa Leo.
as Diana Larson
Passenger
2026 • Movie
as Detective Carlsen
The Knife
2025 • Movie
as Michael Temple
Guns Up
2025 • Movie
as Ginger Greene
King Ivory
2025 • Movie
AFTER: Poetry Destroys Silence
2024 • Movie
as Olivia
Long Gone Heroes
2024 • Movie
as Siobhan
The Clean Up Crew
2024 • Movie
as Susan Plummer
The Equalizer 3
2023 • Movie
as Self
Bonnie
2022 • Movie
as Principal Rhodes
Jane
2022 • Movie
as Deborah
Alone Together
2022 • Movie
as Olivia
Coast
2022 • Movie
as Lillian
Measure of Revenge
2022 • Movie
as Ida ‘Red’ Walker
Ida Red
2021 • Movie
as Allie
Thunder Force
2021 • Movie
as Dr. White
Body Brokers
2021 • Movie
as Maddie
Unlovable
2018 • Movie
as Susan Plummer
The Equalizer 2
2018 • Movie
as Al
The Parting Glass
2018 • Movie
as Narrator
Mabel, Mabel Tiger Trainer
2018 • Movie
as Joan Anderson
Furlough
2018 • Movie
as Chandra
The Ashram
2018 • Movie
as Reverend Mother
Novitiate
2017 • Movie
as Claire
The View from Up Here
2017 • Movie
Series
Series
Series credits linked with Melissa Leo.
as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey • 6 eps
I Know This Much Is True
2020 • Series
as Amelia Meegers • 1 eps
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
2019 • Series
as Goldie • 20 eps
I'm Dying Up Here
2017 • Series
as Nurse Pam • 11 eps
Wayward Pines
2015 • Series
as Ma Nguyen (voice) • 2 eps
BoJack Horseman
2014 • Series
as Lori • 1 eps
Broad City
2014 • Series
as Self • 1 eps
The Arsenio Hall Show
2013 • Series
as Lucy Gessler • 5 eps
Mildred Pierce
2011 • Series
as Toni Bernette • 36 eps
Treme
2010 • Series
as Elizabeth Rourke • 1 eps
Shark
2006 • Series
as Sheriff Georgia Davis • 1 eps
Criminal Minds
2005 • Series
as Julia Smith • 1 eps
Veronica Mars
2004 • Series
as Winnie Mann • 3 eps
The L Word
2004 • Series
as Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007) • 1 eps
Cold Case
2003 • Series
as Maureen Curtis • 1 eps
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001 • Series
as Sybil Perez • 1 eps
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000 • Series
as Emma Bradford • 2 eps
Legacy
1998 • Series
as Suellen O'Hara Benteen • 2 eps
Scarlett
1994 • Series
as Kay Howard • 77 eps
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993 • Series
as Donna Cheponis • 1 eps
Law & Order
1990 • Series
as Emma Shannon • 24 eps
The Young Riders
1989 • Series
1 eps
Spenser: For Hire
1985 • Series
as Irina Dzershinsky • 1 eps
The Equalizer
1985 • Series
as Kathleen Gilfords • 1 eps
Miami Vice
1984 • Series