Home   >   Movie Stars   >   M   >   Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy

Born and raised in Plainfield, Illinois -- just outside of Chicago – Melissa McCarthy first made her mark on the comedy stage, performing stand up in New York at The Improv and Stand Up New York. At the same time, she received dramatic training from The Actors Studio in New York and starred in a variety of stage productions throughout the city.

Since moving to Los Angeles, McCarthy's quick wit gets a workout almost every weekend as a member of The Groundlings Main Company, a world-renowned improv and sketch troupe.

McCarthy was most recently seen as the clumsy culinary genius, Sookie St. James, in Gilmore Girls. Other recent television and feature film work includes a leading role in the film The Nines, starring Hope Davis and Ryan Reynolds, directed by John August. She also has strong supporting roles in the independent films One Part Sugar, starring Danny DeVito and Dylan Walsh, directed by Hart Bochner, and Pretty Ugly People, starring Josh Hopkins, Missi Pyle and Allison Janney. She appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Life of David Gale, with Kevin Spacey. Previous credits include White Oleander, with Michelle Pfeiffer, Pumpkin, with Christina Ricci, and Go, directed by Doug Liman. In addition McCarthy starred in John August's short film, God, as a young woman having gossipy phone conversations and a short-lived spat with the Almighty.

Recently turning her creative attentions to writing, directing and producing, McCarthy created the short film Polk Valley, and played the main character.

McCarthy currently lives in Los Angeles.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2008.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Melissa McCarthy Facts

OccupationActress
BirthdayAugust 26, 1969 (54)
SignVirgo
BirthplacePlainfield, Illinois, USA

Selected Filmography

Ghostbusters
The Boss
Spy
The Heat
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids Unrated
This is 40
Life As We Know It
Continue » Find more details on the Melissa McCarthy Movies page