McLeod's most acclaimed work was made in collaboration with major comic performers of the 1930s, and included such films as the first original Marx Brothers comedies Monkey Business (1931) and Horse Feathers (1932), the most acclaimed W.C. Fields film It's a Gift (1934), the Danny Kaye vehicle The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), and The Paleface starring Bob Hope (1948).

Other significant films McLeod made include Taking a Chance (1928), Alice in Wonderland (1933), Pennies from Heaven (1936), There Goes My Heart (1938), Merrily We Live (1938), Little Men (1940), Panama Hattie (1942), Jackass Mail (1942), and his last, Alias Jesse James (1959).

He was educated at the University of Washington and spent two years as a fighter pilot in the Army Air Service in France during World War I.

[1] McLeod was buried in the Court of Freedom courtyard at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

On February 8, 1960, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contributions to the motion picture industry at 1724 Vine Street.