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.

Melanie Paxson
Paxson in 2007
Born
Melanie Deanne Moore

(1972-09-26) September 26, 1972 (age 52)
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
SpouseAndy Paxson
Children2

Life and career

edit

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, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 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 Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company (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

edit

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

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Opera Lover Bibi
2000 Ready to Rumble Wendy
2013 Ending Up Blair Short film
Saving Mr. Banks Dolly
2015 Come Simi Lucy
The Outfield Judith Meola
2017 The Magnificent Room Stacy
2018 Chicken Girls: The Movie Principal Anthony

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Early Edition Candace Episode: "A Regular Joe"
1998–1999 Cupid Jaclyn Recurring role
2001 Kristin Madeline Episode: "The Escort"
2002 Dexter Prep Meg Television film
2003 Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company Joyce DeWitt
The Drew Carey Show Teri Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boy"
2003–2004 Happy Family Sara Brennan Main role
2004 Quintuplets Lisa Episode: "Quint Con"
2005 Related Kathy Episode: "Cry Me a Sister"
Kitchen Confidential Jessica Episode: "You Lose, I Win"
2005–2006 Joey Marci 2 episodes
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nancy Katz Episode: "A La Cart"
2007–2008 Notes from the Underbelly Julie Main role
2009 Surviving Suburbia Carla Episode: "Project Run Away"
Rules of Engagement Deirdre Episode: "Twice"
Medium Miss Colletto Episode: "Bite Me"
2009–2010 True Jackson, VP Doris Aden Recurring role
2011 The Exes Rebecca Episode: "Lutz and the Real Girl"
2012 Last Man Standing Liz Episode: "The Spotlight"
2013–2014 American Dad! Harper (voice) 3 episodes
2014 Masters of Sex Mrs. Turnsworth Episode: "Giants"
2015 Cougar Town Mary 2 episodes
Descendants Fairy Godmother Television film
Truth Be Told Linda 3 episodes
2016 The Real O'Neals Nancy 2 episodes
Trollhunters Gladys (voice)
2017 Bones Patty Episode: "The Brain in the Bot"
Trial & Error Gail Episode: "A Hostile Jury"
Descendants 2 Fairy Godmother Television film
Speechless Carla Episode: "F-I-- FIRST S-E-- SECOND F-- FIRST DAY"
2019 Descendants 3 Fairy Godmother Television film
2024 Descendants 4 Fairy Godmother Television film
edit