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Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller

Actor · Died August 20, 2012, aged 95 · Lima, Ohio, USA

Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician, and visual artist, best known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and exaggerated, cackling laugh. Diller was one of the first female comics to become a household name in the U.S., credited as an influence by Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr, and Ellen DeGeneres, among others. She had a large gay following and is considered a gay icon. She was also one of the first celebrities to openly champion plastic surgery, for which she was recognized by the cosmetic surgery industry. Diller contributed to more than 40 films, beginning with 1961's Splendor in the Grass. She appeared in many television series, featuring in numerous cameos as well as her own short-lived sitcom and variety show. Some of her credits include Night Gallery, The Muppet Show, The Love Boat, Cybill, and Boston Legal, plus 11 seasons of The Bold and the Beautiful. Her voice-acting roles included the monster's wife in Mad Monster Party, the Queen in A Bug's Life, Granny Neutron in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Thelma Griffin in Family Guy. Description above from the Wikipedia article Phyllis Diller, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1917
Died
August 20, 2012 (aged 95)
From
Lima, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
52 on MovieCove · 83 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 49% in 30 days

What are Phyllis Diller's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Self
32%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Morality
7%
Ideas
5%
Power
1%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 19 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 3

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 14 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 15

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 19 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 8
Herald
2 of 8
Mentor
2 of 8
Hero
1 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
14
Absurd
10
Warm
9
Romantic
4
Hopeful
4
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Phyllis Diller's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 52 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phyllis Diller's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

83 credits, 52 with a MovieCove page; 79 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Robot Chicken: Christmas Specials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Various (voice) (archive sound)

  • Found Footage Festival Volume 4: Live in Tucson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as (archive footage)

  • Casper's Scare School(2006)

    as Aunt Spitzy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Forget About It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mrs. Hertzberg

  • Unbeatable Harold(2006)

    as Mrs. Clancy

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken's Christmas Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Mrs. Claus (voice)

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Dorsey / Phyllis Diller (voice) · as Phillys Diller / Mrs. Claus / Hooker (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Quintuplets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Sylvia

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Life with Bonnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Frost

  • The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Granny Neutron (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Place on Earth(2002)

    as Mrs. Baskin

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Kiss My Act (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Phyllis Diller

  • Everything's Jake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Victoria Pond

  • Even Stevens(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Korns

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Titus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Grandma Titus

  • The Nuttiest Nutcracker(1999)

    as Sugar Plum Fairy (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Debtors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Thelma Griffin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • A Bug's Life(1998)

    as Queen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Powerpuff Girls(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mask Scara (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Wild Thornberrys(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Emily of New Moon(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · as Great Aunt Nancy Priest

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Cow and Chicken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Red's Mom / Cop (voice)

  • I Am Weasel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Red's Mother (voice)

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lillian (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hey Arnold!(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitzi

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gabrielle · as Mabel

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Arli$$(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Diller

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Drew Carey Show(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Bebe

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Cybill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Perfect Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mother

  • The Silence of the Hams(1994)

    as Old Secretary

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Diller

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Ouspenskaya

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Phyllis Diller

  • Wisecracks(1991)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Boneyard(1991)

    as Miss Poopinplatz

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Nutcracker Prince(1990)

    as Mousequeen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Captain Planet and the Planeteers(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Barish

  • Blossom(1990)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog(1989)

    as Mrs. Frasco

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Happily Ever After(1989)

    as Mother Nature (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Hackenstein(1988)

    as Mrs. Trilling

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Full House(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Diller

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Alice Through the Looking Glass(1987)

    as The White Queen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge(1987)

    as Jonathan's Mother

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Louanne costello

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Nora Mills

  • The Bob Monkhouse Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pink Motel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Margaret

  • A Pleasure Doing Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mrs. Wildebeest

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Morse · as Viola Penny

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Wanda

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Easy Does It... Starring Frankie Avalon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Gong Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • The Sunshine Boys(1975)

    as Self · as Performer on Fictional TV Program (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Jeffersons(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Bobby Darin Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wait Till Your Father Gets Home(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The New Scooby-Doo Movies(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Diller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Mooch(1974)

    as Phyllis Diller (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Pamela (segment "Pamela's Voice")

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as Belva Lockwood

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Bella · as Daphane Daniels · as Edna · as Sally Walker

  • The Jim Nabors Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adding Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Mrs. Zero

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?(1968)

    as Agatha Knabenshu

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell(1968)

    as Nurse Nellie Krause

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Eight on the Lam(1967)

    as Golda

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Mad Monster Party?(1967)

    as The Monster's Mate (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Pruitts of Southampton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 30 episodes · as Phyllis Pruitt

  • Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!(1966)

    as Lily

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Fat Spy(1966)

    as Camille Salamander

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Batman(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Scrubwoman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Maxwell Smart (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Splendor in the Grass(1961)

    as Texas Guinan

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as BoBo Van Beacon · as Clara · as Greta Gargoyle · as Killer Diller

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Bob Hope Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 16 episodes · as Self · as Zoo Tour Guide

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 83 titles from 1950 to 2014; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

A Bug's Life (1998)

$363M worldwide

Highest rated

A Bug's Life (1998)

Midcredits 87th

Film career

19502014

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting83 of 83: 83 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s14 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Phyllis Diller's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 32nd percentile, the median of all 24; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 52 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

The Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999)

94th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Splendor in the Grass (1961)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Phyllis Diller work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phyllis Diller's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bob Hope shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers