Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres lead stars paying tribute to Cloris Leachman

Hollywood is currently in mourning over the sudden passing of Cloris Leachman, who died of natural causes on Tuesday, January 26 at the age of 94.

And some of Leachman’s comrades, such as Reese Witherspoon and Ellen DeGeneres, used social media to pay tribute to the Academy Award-winning actress and her lasting impact on the industry.

‘Truly original and larger than life in every unique performance. An incredibly talented actress who will be deeply missed,’ wrote Witherspoon, 44, who shared her homage to Twitter.

Ellen DeGeneres had the opportunity to work alongside Leachman on her short-lived sitcom The Ellen Show in 2001, where the pair played a mother-daughter duo.

And in wake of Cloris’ passing, the 63-year-old talk show host gushed about how ‘lucky’ she felt to have been in the comedy icon’s presence. 

‘Cloris Leachman played my mother on my second sitcom,’ she began. ‘I always considered myself lucky for having the chance to work with her. She will be missed.’ 

‘A one-of-a-kind actor, she could do everything!’ declared actor Mark Hamill, 69, who uploaded a stunning throwback snapshot of Leachman to Instagram.

He continued: ‘She made anything she appeared in much better & her versatility was astonishing. Thank you for a lifetime of unforgettable performances. #ripClorisLeachman’

Viola Davis gushed over how much she ‘LOVED’ Cloris’ work, specifically her performance in the 1970s spin-off sitcom Phyllis, which aired on CBS for two seasons.

‘I loved your work!!! Just LOVED!! I grew up watching Phyllis and The Last Picture Show,’ wrote the fellow Academy Award-winner, 55, via Twitter.

‘Your consistent excellence, ability to morph, and bravery will be sorely missed. RIP Cloris Leachman! Godspeed,’ concluded Davis. 

Recalling his first meeting with Leachman, Jesse Tyler Ferguson aimed to display the actress’ genuine kindness and the respect she displayed towards her peers. 

‘The 1st time I met #ClorisLeachman was at a fundraiser. Without even saying hello, she came over to our table & started clearing our plates while we were mid bite,’ wrote the Modern Family. star, 45.

He continued: ‘She took them & stacked them on a neighboring table. She did this until everything was gone, then walked away. RIP.’

Mel Brooks, choosing to pay homage to Cloris via Twitter on Wednesday, famously featured the star in his classic comedy Young Frankenstein, which hit theaters in 1974. 

‘Such sad news—Cloris was insanely talented. She could make you laugh or cry at the drop of a hat,’ began the acclaimed director, who added that Cloris was ‘always such a pleasure to have on set.’

Referencing to her character in Young Frankenstein, Brooks noted that ‘every time [he] hear a horse whinny [he] will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher.’

‘She is irreplaceable, and will be greatly missed,’ Mel concluded.

Ed Asner paid tribute to his longtime friend and the Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star by uploading a sweet snapshot from ‘the last time [he] saw [Cloris].’

In the photo, the 91-year-old Lou Grant star can be seen placing a kiss on Cloris’ head as she playfully gasped in horror. 

He continued: ‘Always beautiful. Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you. Until we meet again darling.’

Rosie O’Donnell labeled Leachman as the ‘funniest’ and as someone who got an ‘applause on every entrance and exit.’

The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Ted Knight, Gavin Macleod, Valerie Harper & Cloris Leachman pictured on set of the Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1974