Melanie Paxson
Melanie Paxson | |
---|---|
Born | Melanie Deanne Moore September 26, 1972 Champaign, Illinois,U.S. |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1997–present |
Spouse | Andy Paxson |
Children | 2 |
Melanie Moore Paxson(néeMoore;born September 26, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jaclyn inCupid,Sara Brennan inHappy Familyand as Julie inNotes from the Underbelly.Paxson also appeared in a number ofGladwaretelevision commercials in the early 2000s.
Life and career
[edit]Paxson was born inChampaign, Illinois,and grew up inMahomet, Illinois.She graduated from theUniversity of Missouriwith a bachelor's degree in Theatre. She received training in acting atSecond City Chicagoand performed with theSteppenwolf Theatre Company.
Paxson later became involved with "The Crew on the U" on Chicago'sWCIU-TV.The Crew was made up of a group of young actors (including WCIU personality George Blaise) that appeared in promos for the station shortly after WCIU became a full-time general English language station after Univision (its former affiliate) boughtWGBO-TV.Paxson also appeared as Velma in promos for WCIU's Scooby-Doo episodes the station aired on weekday mornings. Paxson was still seen on WCIU andWFBT(The Chicago low power station that was first home toMeTVin 2003) in disclaimers for E/I Children's programming as late as the mid 2000s. Paxson by that time had become relatively famous on a national level.
She pursued a screen career. In 1997, she had an uncredited role in the seriesEarly Edition.Her first notable screen role was a recurring role as Jaclyn in theABCseriesCupidfrom 1998 to 1999. She went on guest star in the seriesThe Drew Carey Show,Quintuplets,Joey,Related,Kitchen Confidential,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Surviving Suburbia,Rules of Engagement,MediumandThe Exes.From 2003 to 2004, Paxson had a regular role in theNBCsitcomHappy Familyas Sara Brennan. From 2007 to 2008, she co-starred as Julie in the ABC sitcomNotes from the Underbelly,the series aired for two seasons. From 2009 to 2010, she had a recurring role as Doris Madigan (née Aidem) on theNickelodeonsitcomTrue Jackson, VP.She is also the spokeswoman inRed Robin's burger commercials.
Paxson's film credits includeReady to Rumble(2000),Slackers(2002),Saving Mr. Banksas Dolly (Dolores Vought), Disney's secretary (2013), and starring asJoyce DeWittin the television filmBehind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company(2003). She has appeared in television commercials forFiber One,Target,Yoplait,Red Robin,Glad Trash Bags,Hotelsand Serta mattresses. From 2015 to 2019 she starred in theDisney Channel Original MoviefranchiseDescendantswith its sequels,Descendants 2andDescendants 3.She played theFairy GodmotherfromCinderellanow serving as the Headmistress for the school, Auradon Prep. She also played a mother of a schoolchild in a second season episode of the ABC comedySpeechless,which played on October 4, 2017.
Personal life
[edit]Paxson is married to Andy Paxson, co-owner of Los Angeles restaurants Sushi Note and Melanie Wine Bar. They have a son Miller and daughter Winifred.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | The Opera Lover | Bibi | |
2000 | Ready to Rumble | Wendy | |
2013 | Ending Up | Blair | Short film |
Saving Mr. Banks | Dolly | ||
2015 | Come Simi | Lucy | |
The Outfield | Judith Meola | ||
2017 | The Magnificent Room | Stacy | |
2018 | Chicken Girls: The Movie | Principal Anthony |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Early Edition | Candace | Episode: "A Regular Joe" |
1998–1999 | Cupid | Jaclyn | Recurring role |
2001 | Kristin | Madeline | Episode: "The Escort" |
2002 | Dexter Prep | Meg | Television film |
2003 | Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company | Joyce DeWitt | |
The Drew Carey Show | Teri | Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boy" | |
2003–2004 | Happy Family | Sara Brennan | Main role |
2004 | Quintuplets | Lisa | Episode: "Quint Con" |
2005 | Related | Kathy | Episode: "Cry Me a Sister" |
Kitchen Confidential | Jessica | Episode: "You Lose, I Win" | |
2005–2006 | Joey | Marci | 2 episodes |
2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Nancy Katz | Episode: "A La Cart" |
2007–2008 | Notes from the Underbelly | Julie | Main role |
2009 | Surviving Suburbia | Carla | Episode: "Project Run Away" |
Rules of Engagement | Deirdre | Episode: "Twice" | |
Medium | Miss Colletto | Episode: "Bite Me" | |
2009–2010 | True Jackson, VP | Doris Aden | Recurring role |
2011 | The Exes | Rebecca | Episode: "Lutz and the Real Girl" |
2012 | Last Man Standing | Liz | Episode: "The Spotlight" |
2013–2014 | American Dad! | Harper (voice) | 3 episodes |
2014 | Masters of Sex | Mrs. Turnsworth | Episode: "Giants" |
2015 | Cougar Town | Mary | 2 episodes |
Descendants | Fairy Godmother | Television film | |
Truth Be Told | Linda | 3 episodes | |
2016 | The Real O'Neals | Nancy | 2 episodes |
Trollhunters | Gladys (voice) | ||
2017 | Bones | Patty | Episode: "The Brain in the Bot" |
Trial & Error | Gail | Episode: "A Hostile Jury" | |
Descendants 2 | Fairy Godmother | Television film | |
Speechless | Carla | Episode: "F-I-- FIRST S-E-- SECOND F-- FIRST DAY" | |
2019 | Descendants 3 | Fairy Godmother | Television film |
2024 | Descendants 4 | Fairy Godmother | Television film |