Melissa McCarthy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melissa McCarthy
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McCarthy in 2018
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Melissa Ann McCarthy
August 26, 1970 Plainfield, Illinois, U.S.
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| Years active | 1997–present |
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| Children | 2 |
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| Awards | Full list |
Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is a famous American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She has won many awards for her work. These include two Primetime Emmy Awards. She has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
In 2016, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people. She has often been one of the highest-paid actresses. In 2020, The New York Times listed her as one of the top actors of the 21st century.
Melissa McCarthy won her first Emmy Award for her role in the TV show Mike & Molly. She played Molly Flynn in this CBS sitcom from 2010 to 2016. She won another Emmy for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2017. She also had important roles in Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) and Samantha Who? (2007–2009). More recently, she starred in the miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers (2021). She also had a guest role in Only Murders in the Building (2024).
In movies, she was nominated for two Academy Awards. One was for her funny role in Bridesmaids (2011). The other was for playing writer Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018). She has also starred in many popular comedies. These include Identity Thief (2013), The Heat (2013), and Spy (2015). In 2023, she played Ursula in the movie The Little Mermaid.
Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, have their own production company. It is called On the Day Productions. They have made several comedy films together. These include Super Intelligence (2020) and Thunder Force (2021). In 2015, she started her own clothing line for plus-sized women. It is called Melissa McCarthy Seven7. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Early Life and Education
Melissa Ann McCarthy was born on August 26, 1970. Her parents are Sandra and Michael McCarthy. She grew up in Plainfield, Illinois, on a farm. She is a cousin of actress Jenny McCarthy. Melissa was raised in a large Catholic family. Her background is mostly Irish, with some German and English roots.
She went to St. Francis Academy in Joliet, Illinois. This school is now called Joliet Catholic Academy. She also attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Her career began with stand-up comedy. She performed in Los Angeles and later in New York City. Melissa is a former member of The Groundlings. This is a famous comedy group in Los Angeles, California. She also performed as a drag queen in New York City.
Career Highlights
Early Roles and TV Success
McCarthy first appeared on TV in 1997. It was in an episode of the comedy series Jenny. She acted alongside her cousin, Jenny McCarthy. Her first movie role was a small part in Go (1999). She also appeared in movies like Charlie's Angels and Disney's The Kid. She even voiced a character named DNAmy in three episodes of Kim Possible.
In 2000, Melissa got a big role in Gilmore Girls. She played Sookie St. James, the cheerful best friend of Lorelai Gilmore. Sookie was also Lorelai's business partner. Melissa returned for the show's revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, in 2016.
In 2007, she starred in the movie The Nines. She also joined the cast of the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?. She played Dena Stevens, Samantha's childhood best friend. Melissa also had guest roles in Rita Rocks and Private Practice. In 2010, she had supporting roles in the films The Back-up Plan and Life as We Know It.
Rise to Stardom
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In 2010, McCarthy got a main role in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. She played Molly Flynn. In 2011, she had a huge breakthrough in the comedy movie Bridesmaids. She acted alongside Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. Her performance was highly praised by critics. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won several other awards for this role.
After Bridesmaids, Melissa became very famous. In 2011, she won her first Primetime Emmy Award. This was for her role as Molly on Mike & Molly. She also hosted Saturday Night Live multiple times. She won another Emmy in 2017 for her guest appearances on the show.
In 2013, McCarthy starred with Jason Bateman in the comedy Identity Thief. The movie was a big success at the box office. Later that year, she co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the comedy The Heat. This film also did very well and earned a lot of money.
In 2013, Melissa and her husband, Ben Falcone, started their production company. Their first movie was Tammy (2014). Melissa co-wrote the script and starred in it. The movie was a box office success. Later in 2014, she starred with Bill Murray in St. Vincent. Her role as an overworked single mom was well-received.
In May 2015, Melissa McCarthy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2015, Forbes magazine listed her as one of the highest-paid actresses. Also in 2015, she starred in the spy comedy Spy. This role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. Critics praised her performance in the film.
In 2016, she starred in The Boss. She also played a scientist in the all-female Ghostbusters movie. In 2017, she made popular surprise appearances on Saturday Night Live. She played White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Dramatic Roles and Recent Work
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McCarthy starred in and produced the comedy film Life of the Party. She also appeared in The Happytime Murders, a puppet comedy film. Later in 2018, she starred in the drama Can You Ever Forgive Me?. She played the writer Lee Israel. Her performance in this movie received very high praise. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also received nominations for Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and BAFTA Awards.
In 2019, McCarthy played a lead role in the crime film The Kitchen. In 2020, she returned to comedy with Superintelligence. In 2021, she starred in the superhero comedy Thunder Force and the drama The Starling. Both movies were released on Netflix.
She also starred in and produced the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers. In 2022, she co-starred with Ben Falcone in the Netflix comedy series God's Favorite Idiot.
In 2023, Melissa McCarthy played Ursula in Disney's live-action movie The Little Mermaid. Her performance was highly praised. She also starred in the film Genie and the comedy Unfrosted for Netflix.
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Personal Life
Melissa McCarthy married her longtime boyfriend, Ben Falcone, on October 8, 2005. Ben is also an actor and a member of The Groundlings comedy group. They have two daughters, Vivian and Georgette. Melissa's pregnancy with Vivian was written into the last season of Gilmore Girls. Both Vivian and Georgette appeared in the 2016 film The Boss. Vivian played a younger version of her mother's character.
Ben Falcone often makes short appearances in Melissa's movies and TV shows. He has been in Gilmore Girls, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, and many others.
In 2021, Melissa joined the 40x40 campaign. This campaign was started by Meghan Markle. It asks people to spend 40 minutes helping women who are returning to work. This helps women who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fashion Line
Before becoming an actress, Melissa McCarthy was interested in fashion. She studied textiles at Southern Illinois University. She also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She even worked as a costumer for a dance company.
In 2015, Melissa launched her first clothing collection. It is called Melissa McCarthy Seven7. This line is for plus-size women and includes clothes up to size 28. Melissa has said that she wanted to create clothes for all sizes. She felt there was a need for more stylish options for women above a certain size. The Seven7 line debuted in August 2015.
Notable Film and Television Roles
Film
- 1999: Go as Sandra
- 2000: Charlie's Angels as Doris
- 2000: Disney's The Kid as Sky King Waitress
- 2007: The Nines as Margaret / Melissa / Mary
- 2010: Life as We Know It as DeeDee
- 2011: Bridesmaids as Megan Price
- 2013: Identity Thief as Diana / Dawn Budgie
- 2013: The Heat as Detective Shannon Mullins
- 2014: Tammy as Tammy Banks (also writer and producer)
- 2014: St. Vincent as Maggie Bronstein
- 2015: Spy as Susan Cooper
- 2016: The Boss as Michelle Darnell (also writer and producer)
- 2016: Ghostbusters as Dr. Abigail "Abby" Yates
- 2018: Life of the Party as Deanna Miles (also writer and producer)
- 2018: The Happytime Murders as Detective Connie Edwards (also producer)
- 2018: Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Leonore "Lee" Israel
- 2020: Superintelligence as Carol Vivian Peters (also producer)
- 2021: Thunder Force as Lydia Berman / The Hammer (also producer)
- 2023: The Little Mermaid as Ursula
- 2023: Genie as Flora (also executive producer)
- 2024: Unfrosted as Donna Stankowski
Television
- 2000–2007: Gilmore Girls as Sookie St. James (153 episodes)
- 2002–2005: Kim Possible as DNAmy (voice, 3 episodes)
- 2007–2009: Samantha Who? as Dena (35 episodes)
- 2010–2016: Mike & Molly as Molly Flynn (127 episodes)
- 2011–2025: Saturday Night Live as Herself / various (5 episodes as host, 5 episodes as guest)
- 2016: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life as Sookie St. James (1 episode)
- 2021: Nine Perfect Strangers as Frances Welty (8 episodes; also executive producer)
- 2022: God's Favorite Idiot as Amily Luck (8 episodes; also executive producer)
- 2024: Only Murders in the Building as Doreen (1 episode)
Awards and Recognitions
Melissa McCarthy has won two Primetime Emmy Awards. She won for her role in Mike & Molly in 2011. She also won for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2017. She has been nominated for many other major awards. These include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Melissa McCarthy para niños
