Melanie Paxson Explained

Melanie Paxson
Birth Date:September 26, 1972
Birth Place:Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Birth Name:Melanie Deanne Moore
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1997–present
Spouse:Andy Paxson
Children:2

Melanie Moore Paxson (née Moore; born September 26, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jaclyn in Cupid, Sara Brennan in Happy Family and as Julie in Notes from the Underbelly. Paxson also appeared in a number of Gladware television commercials in the early 2000s.

Life and career

Paxson was born in Champaign, Illinois, and grew up in Mahomet, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Theatre. She received training in acting at Second City Chicago and performed with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Paxson later became involved with "The Crew on the U" on Chicago's WCIU-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) bought WGBO-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 and WFBT (The Chicago low power station that was first home to MeTV in 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 series Early Edition. Her first notable screen role was a recurring role as Jaclyn in the ABC series Cupid from 1998 to 1999. She went on guest star in the series The Drew Carey Show, Quintuplets, Joey, Related, Kitchen Confidential, , Surviving Suburbia, Rules of Engagement, Medium and The Exes. From 2003 to 2004, Paxson had a regular role in the NBC sitcom Happy Family as Sara Brennan. From 2007 to 2008, she co-starred as Julie in the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly, the series aired for two seasons. From 2009 to 2010, she had a recurring role as Doris Madigan (née Aidem) on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. She is also the spokeswoman in Red Robin's burger commercials.

Paxson's film credits include Ready to Rumble (2000), Slackers (2002), Saving Mr. Banks as Dolly (Dolores Vought), Disney's secretary (2013), and starring as Joyce DeWitt in the television film (2003). She has appeared in television commercials for Fiber One, Target, Yoplait, Red Robin, Glad Trash Bags, Hotels.com and Serta mattresses. From 2015 to 2019 she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise Descendants with its sequels, Descendants 2 and Descendants 3. She played the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella now 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 comedy Speechless, which played on October 4, 2017.

Personal life

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Bibi
2000Ready to RumbleWendy
2013Ending UpBlairShort film
Saving Mr. BanksDolly
2015Come SimiLucy
Judith Meola
2017Stacy
2018Principal Anthony

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Early EditionCandaceEpisode: "A Regular Joe"
1998–1999CupidJaclynRecurring role
2001KristinMadelineEpisode: "The Escort"
2002Dexter PrepMegTelevision film
2003Joyce DeWitt
TeriEpisode: "Two Girls for Every Boy"
2003–2004Happy FamilySara BrennanMain role
2004QuintupletsLisaEpisode: "Quint Con"
2005RelatedKathyEpisode: "Cry Me a Sister"
Kitchen ConfidentialJessicaEpisode: "You Lose, I Win"
2005–2006JoeyMarci2 episodes
2007Nancy KatzEpisode: "A La Cart"
2007–2008Notes from the UnderbellyJulieMain role
2009Surviving SuburbiaCarlaEpisode: "Project Run Away"
Rules of EngagementDeirdreEpisode: "Twice"
MediumMiss CollettoEpisode: "Bite Me"
2009–2010True Jackson, VPDoris AdenRecurring role
2011RebeccaEpisode: "Lutz and the Real Girl"
2012Last Man StandingLizEpisode: "The Spotlight"
2013–2014American Dad!Harper (voice)3 episodes
2014Masters of SexMrs. TurnsworthEpisode: "Giants"
2015Cougar TownMary2 episodes
DescendantsFairy GodmotherTelevision film
Truth Be ToldLinda3 episodes
2016Nancy2 episodes
TrollhuntersGladys (voice)
2017BonesPattyEpisode: "The Brain in the Bot"
Trial & ErrorGailEpisode: "A Hostile Jury"
Descendants 2Fairy GodmotherTelevision film
SpeechlessCarlaEpisode: "F-I-- FIRST S-E-- SECOND F-- FIRST DAY"
2019Descendants 3Fairy GodmotherTelevision film
2024Descendants 4Fairy GodmotherTelevision film