# Melissa Leo

> American actress

**Wikidata**: [Q229410](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229410)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Leo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/melissa-leo

## Summary
Melissa Leo is an American actress and voice actor whose professional career began in 1984. She is recognized for her work in dramatic and comic productions across film, television, and radio, and has received major industry accolades including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. A graduate of the State University of New York at Purchase, she has also won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performances.

## Biography
- **Born:** September 14, 1960
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** State University of New York at Purchase
- **Known for:** Acting in dramatic or comic productions and works in film, television, theatre, or radio
- **Field(s):** Acting (Film, Television, Voice)
- **Work Period:** Started in 1984

## Contributions
Melissa Leo has contributed to the entertainment industry through a diverse body of work spanning film, television, and voice acting. Her career, which commenced in 1984, includes performances as a film actor, television actor, and voice actor. She has achieved critical recognition for her roles, receiving the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.

## FAQs
**What awards has Melissa Leo won?**
Melissa Leo has won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.

**Where did Melissa Leo go to college?**
She attended the State University of New York at Purchase, a public college founded in 1967 that is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

**What are Melissa Leo's primary occupations?**
She works as an actor, specifically as a film actor, television actor, and voice actor, performing in dramatic or comic productions.

**When was Melissa Leo born?**
Melissa Leo was born on September 14, 1960.

**When did Melissa Leo start her professional career?**
Her work period began in 1984.

## Why They Matter
Melissa Leo matters as an accomplished American actress who has achieved the highest honors in her field, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Her success highlights the impact of arts education, having graduated from the State University of New York at Purchase, an institution known for its focus on arts and sciences. By maintaining a career that spans film, television, and voice acting since 1984, she demonstrates versatility and longevity in the competitive entertainment industry.

## Notable For
- **Academy Award Winner:** Recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (inception 1936).
- **Emmy Award Winner:** Recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (inception 1986).
- **Golden Globe Winner:** Recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (inception 1944).
- **Career Longevity:** Professional work period began in 1984.
- **Education:** Alumna of the State University of New York at Purchase.
- **Full Name:** Melissa Chessington Leo.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Melissa Chessington Leo was born on September 14, 1960, in the United States. She pursued higher education at the State University of New York at Purchase, a public college located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1967, the institution is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and is classified as a "baccalaureate college: arts and sciences focus." The university, which enrolls approximately 3,685 students, provided Leo with an academic foundation focused on arts and sciences.

### Professional Career
Melissa Leo is a person who acts in a dramatic or comic production and works in various media including film, television, theatre, or radio. Her professional work period began in 1984. She is defined by several specific acting occupations:
- **Film Actor:** An actor who appears in films.
- **Television Actor:** An actor who performs on television.
- **Voice Actor:** A person who provides voice-overs for a character in films, animation, video games, or in other media.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Melissa Leo has received significant recognition for her performances. She is the recipient of the **Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress**, an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an inception date of 1936. Additionally, she won the **Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series**, an award for actresses with an inception date of 1986. She also received the **Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture**, a film award category of the American film and television award which began in 1944.

### Affiliations and Nationality
Melissa Leo holds citizenship in the United States, a sovereign federal republic located primarily in North America. She maintains an official website at http://www.melissaleo.com/. Her professional profile includes numerous identifiers across academic and institutional databases, reflecting her established presence in the entertainment industry.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. datos.bne.es
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. filmportal.de
7. FemBio database
8. Discogs
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. The Movie Database