| Melissa Francis | |
| Birth Name: | Melissa Ann Francis[1] |
| Birth Date: | 12 December 1972 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other Names: | Missy Francis |
| Education: | Harvard University (B.A.) |
| Occupation: | News anchor Actress |
| Spouse: | Wray Thorn (m. 1997) |
| Children: | 3 |
Melissa Ann Francis (born December 12, 1972) is an American television news personality who last worked as an anchor and commentator for the Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News (FNC), departing in 2020. Previously, she worked as an actress.
Prior to FBN, she worked at CNBC. She had been the co-host of After The Bell weekday afternoons with Connell MacShane. She also was an anchor on FNC's Happening Now newscast, and a regular panelist on FNC's afternoon talk show Outnumbered. In late October 2020, it was reported that she had been pushed out of Fox.[2] In 2022, Fox paid her a $15 million settlement on a pay discrimination lawsuit.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Francis graduated from Harvard University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.[3]
Francis started her acting career on television by appearing in a Johnson & Johnson shampoo commercial at 6 months old. She was known for her role as Cassandra Cooper Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, for two seasons.[4] [5] Other television appearances include two series regular roles: Morningstar/Eveningstar and Joe’s World, and three films including Man, Woman and Child, where she played Paula Beckwith. She has also had appearances in the television series St. Elsewhere in 1986 and the 1988 film Bad Dreams, where she played young Cynthia. Melissa appeared in nearly 100 commercials during her acting career. She is reportedly the inspiration for the fictional character Avery Jessup (conceived of and played by Elizabeth Banks) in the show 30 Rock,[6] although Banks herself has denied this.[7]
Francis has worked as a reporter for CNBC and CNET.[8]
In January 2012, Francis became an anchor for Fox Business Network.[9]
In 2014, Francis became a recurring co-host of Fox News Channel's talk and news commentary program, Outnumbered.[10] She also anchored FNC's Happening Now newscast.
In late October 2020, it was reported that Francis had been pushed out at Fox. She had not been seen on the network since early in the month. Her contract had expired about a year earlier and had not been renewed. The only communication on the issue from Francis herself came in a tweet, where she thanked her followers for their support.[11] However, her profile on Twitter soon dropped any reference to Fox as well.
In late 2020, Francis filed a pay discrimination action against Fox.[12] Francis claimed that Fox News underpaid her compared to her male colleagues, and she initiated legal claims against Fox. Fox and Francis reached a settlement in June 2022 whereby Fox paid Francis $15 million.[13]
Francis authored a book in November 2012, Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter: A Memoir, concerning the trials, tribulations and joys of having an overbearing mother;[14] and in April 2017, published Lessons from the Prairie, relating childhood experiences from the show as applied to her adult life.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Scavenger Hunt | Jennifer Motley | ||
| 1983 | Man, Woman and Child | Paula Beckwith | ||
| 1988 | Bad Dreams | Young Cynthia | ||
| 2009 | Race to Witch Mountain | TV reporter | Uncredited | |
| 2012 | The Dictator | Local News Reporter |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Ghost of Flight 401 | Kid | TV movie | |
| 1979 | Champions: A Love Story | Sally | ||
| Thea | ||||
| 1979–1980 | Joe's World | Linda Wabash | Main role | |
| 1980 | Mork & Mindy | Little Mindy | Episode: "A Mommy for Mindy" | |
| Galactica 1980 | Little Girl | Episode: "Galactica Discovers Earth Part II And III" | ||
| When the Whistle Blows | Deenie | Episode: "Love Is a Four-Letter Word" | ||
| 1981 | Midnight Lace | Cathy, age 11 | TV movie | |
| A Gun in the House | Diana Cates | |||
| 1981–1982 | Little House on the Prairie | Cassandra Cooper Ingalls | Main role | |
| 1984 | Something About Amelia | Beth Bennett | TV movie | |
| 1985 | Hotel | Jodi Abbott | Episode: "Rallying Cry" | |
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | Tina | Episode: "The War Between the Classes" | ||
| 1986 | St. Elsewhere | Cynthia | Episode: "Family Affair" | |
| Morningstar/Eveningstar | Sarah Bishop | Main role | ||
| 1988 | A Year in the Life | Eunice | Episode: "Common Ground" | |
| 1989 | ALF | Miss Williams | Episode: "Baby, Come Back" | |
| 1990 | Hardball | Episode: "A Death in the Family" |