Melanie Mayron facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie Mayron
Mayron in 1990
Born	Melanie Joy Mayron (1952-10-20) October 20, 1952 (age 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	American Academy of Dramatic Arts Actors Studio
Occupation	Actress director
Years active	1974–present
Children	2

Melanie Joy Mayron (born October 20, 1952) is an American actress and director. She is famous for playing photographer Melissa Steadman in the TV drama thirtysomething.

For this role, she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She was nominated for the same award again in 1990 and 1991. In 2018, the Santa Fe Film Festival honored Mayron for her important work in movies and television.

Early Life and First Roles

Melanie Mayron was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Norma, was a real estate agent, and her father, David, was a pharmaceutical chemist (a scientist who helps create medicines). Her family is Jewish.

She was interested in acting from a young age. In 1972, she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a famous acting school. She also studied at the Actors Studio, where she learned from well-known acting teachers.

Mayron's first major movie role was in the 1974 film Harry and Tonto. Throughout the 1970s, she appeared in several movies, including Gable and Lombard, Car Wash, and You Light Up My Life. She also starred in the 1978 movie Girlfriends.

On television, she played the best friend of Brenda Morgenstern on the show Rhoda. In 1982, she acted alongside famous actors Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek in the movie Missing.

A Career in Acting and Directing

Success with 'thirtysomething'

From 1987 to 1991, Mayron played Melissa Steadman on the popular TV show thirtysomething. Her character was a single photographer from Philadelphia, much like Mayron herself. Many people felt that Mayron and her character were very similar. She even directed some episodes of the show, which started her career as a director.

Becoming a Director

After thirtysomething, Mayron began directing more. In 1995, she directed the movie The Baby-Sitters Club, based on the popular book series. She also directed the TV movie Toothless (1997) and the comedy Slap Her... She's French (2002).

She has directed episodes for many well-known TV shows, including:

• Dawson's Creek
• Pretty Little Liars
• The Fosters
• Jane the Virgin
• GLOW
• Julia

Mayron not only directed episodes of Jane the Virgin but also acted in the show. She played a professor who advises the main character.

Personal Life

Melanie Mayron has two children. She shared parenting duties with her former partner, screenwriter and producer Cynthia Mort.

Selected Work

Here are some of Melanie Mayron's most famous projects as an actress and director.

As an Actress

• Harry and Tonto (1974) - Her first big movie.
• Girlfriends (1978) - A starring role that earned her an award nomination.
• Missing (1982) - A political drama with famous actors.
• thirtysomething (1987–1991) - Her Emmy-winning role as Melissa Steadman.
• Jane the Virgin (2016–2019) - Played Professor Marlene Donaldson.

As a Director

• The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) - A movie based on the beloved book series.
• Toothless (1997) - A Disney TV movie starring Kirstie Alley.
• Mean Girls 2 (2011) - The sequel to the popular teen movie.
• Pretty Little Liars - Directed 7 episodes.
• Jane the Virgin - Directed 17 episodes.
• Dynasty - Directed 6 episodes.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Melanie Mayron para niños

• List of female film and television directors
• List of lesbian filmmakers
• List of LGBT-related films directed by women