Melissa McCarthy– biography, photos, husband, facts, family, kids, height and weigh 2021

Melissa McCarthy’s biography

Melissa McCarthy is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and fashion designer. Melissa became popular for her roles in the Bridesmaids (2011), The Heat (2013), Spy (2015), and Ghostbusters (2016) films.

Childhood and youth

Melissa Ann McCarthy was born on August 26, 1970, in the village of Plainfield, Illinois (USA). Melissa spent her childhood on a farm in a large Catholic family. Her father Michael is a descendant of Irish who moved to the States and her mother Sandy is of English, German, and Irish ancestry.

Melissa grew up an active and creative girl who didn’t miss the opportunity to make everyone laugh. The parents who adored their daughter encouraged her desire for stage.

I performed in front of my poor mother while she was cleaning and washing. I was always writing some funny songs.

By the way, she was not the only, who’s acting talent had awaken since childhood - her cousin Jenny McCarthy also became an actress (Dirty Love, Scary Movie 3).

Fashion was another passion for McCarthy. After finishing school she entered the University of Southern Illinois on the faculty of Art of Costume and Textiles. In her youth Melissa managed to work as a costume designer at dance shows until the desire to become an actress overcame the desire to build a career in the fashion world.

Acting career

Melissa began performing on stage in Los Angeles where the actress honed her skills at The Groundlings School which specialized in improvisational comedy and sketch shows. Jennifer Coolidge, Will Ferrell, and Lisa Kudrow graduated from the same school at that time.

Melissa McCarthy on the stage of The Groundlings theatre

McCarthy appeared on television for the first time in 1997 starring in an episode of The Jenny McCarthy Show comedy series. The sketch show was founded by her cousin Jenny who had already become famous as a Playboy star by that time.

Two years later Melissa made her debut in the Go comedy where young Katie Holmes and Sarah Polley also lit up. In the early 2000s, the charismatic actress was invited to many projects, though only for supporting roles so far. So Melissa appeared in the picture Drowning Mona alongside Danny DeVito, Disney's The Kid philosophy drama alongside Bruce Willis, The Life of David Gale detective story by Alan Parker and the Charlie's Angels iconic picture along with Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu.

But most viewers remembered McCarthy for her role as Sookie St. James, the optimistic friend and colleague of Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) in the Gilmore Girls comedy-drama series. Melissa's character appears in all seven seasons and McCarthy appeared in the sequel of the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life story in 2016.

Melissa McCarthy in the Gilmore Girls series

In 2007 McCarthy, along with Ryan Reynolds starred in The Nines science fiction psychological thriller about people whose lives are mysteriously linked with the number nine Hope Davis and Elle Fanning also appeared in the film. The same year McCarthy starred in the Samantha Who? ABC series along with Christina Applegate, who is known to many from the Married... with Children sitcom, where she played the silly but charming blonde Kelly.

The real breakthrough in the actress’s career happened in 2010 when she was approved for the lead role in the Mike and Molly sitcom. The series was produced by Chuck Lorre, the creator of popular projects Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. Policeman Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell) and his beloved Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy), a primary school teacher were in the spotlight. Having met on the courses of anonymous guttlers, the young people support each other in an effort to lose those extra pounds and overcome other temptations of life.

Melissa McCarthy in the Mike & Molly sitcom

Together with her heroine, Melissa herself lost weight - she managed to lose about 35 kg since the beginning of the shooting due to a high-protein, low-carb diet, regular exercises, and a super-boring life, which included sleeping at 19:30. For her role in the series, which was released until 2016, the actress received an Emmy (later she was nominated five more times).

During the filming of Mike and Molly Melissa managed to lose about 35 kg

Another significant role in McCarthy’s career was her role in the Bridesmaids comedy. In the film about the adventures of the bridesmaids the actress appeared in the image of rude and innocent Megan, the groom's sister. The script for the film was written by comedian Kristen Wiig, also a graduate of The Groundlings school and the star of the Saturday Night Live sketch show. She also played the lead role. The Charming comedy was warmly met by critics. The film won several awards and Melissa won three awards at various film festivals as the best-supporting actress.

Melissa McCarthy in the Bridesmaids comedy

After such a success McCarthy began to get larger and more interesting roles and the number of fans grew every day. In 2013 she played the lead role in the Identity Thief road movie along with Jason Bateman. Despite the negative reviews, the film led to the box office and collected 174 million dollars worldwide. The same year the actress could be seen with Sandra Bullock in The Heat comedy. Critics jokingly called McCarthy The Gold of the box office - the film turned out to be commercially successful and raised more money than the Identity Thief.

The Heat - trailer

In the same year, McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone founded the On the Day production company. Their first film was the Tammy, the script of which was written by Melissa (she also played the lead role) and the film was directed by Falcone. McCarthy’s character loses her job and her car and learns about the treason of her husband in addition. The girl is forced to seek salvation from her alcoholic grandmother (Susan Sarandon), whose cherished dream was to see the Niagara Falls.

McCarthy then played the lead role in the St. Vincent dramatic comedy alongside Bill Murray and starred in the Spy comedy by Paul Feig, the creator of the Bridesmaids and The Heat. Her role in the spy comedy alongside Rose Byrne, Jason Statham and Jude Law brought Melissa her first Golden Globe nomination (the award went to Jennifer Lawrence).

Spy - trailer

A big event for Melissa was the fact that in May 2015 she received a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame. In August of the same year, the actress was the 3rd in the list of the highest-paid actresses according to Forbes.

In May 2015 Melissa was honored a star at the Hollywood Hall of Fame

In 2016 McCarthy starred in The Boss directed by her husband Ben. The actress appeared in the image of a rich businesswoman, who was put in prison, being caught on shady deals. The younger version of Melissa’s character in the film was played by her 9-year-old daughter Vivian.

The same year Melissa worked again with Paul Feig on the set of his female version of the Ghostbusters. In addition to her long-time colleague Kristen Wiig, Chris Hemsworth, comedian Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones appeared in the film. The film called an ambiguous reaction from the audience - many were openly dissatisfied with the unjustified substitution of the rules and the feminist component of the picture.

Ghostbusters 2016: Exclusive interview with the stars

Fashion industry

In 2015 together with Sunrise Brands Melissa McCarthy launched her first plus-size collection of clothes for women Melissa McCarthy Seven7, which the actress herself refers to. McCarthy said: There are people whose clothes are larger than XXL. It’s very frustrating when you can’t dress as you like if you need a big size.

In May 2018 the premiere of the Life of the Party by the actress’ husband Ben Falcone took place in the United States, where Melissa McCarthy played the lead role. The actress appeared in the image of a divorced middle-aged woman who is returning to college to complete her studies. In September of the same year, Melissa could be seen in The Happytime Murders comedy crime film about crimes in Los Angeles, which the stars of popular TV shows of the 90s were engaged in.

The Happytime Murders - trailer

On October 19, 2018, the Can You Ever Forgive Me? comedy-drama was released in the United States, based on the memoirs of Lee Israel (played by McCarthy), America’s most famous biographer. For this role, the actress was nominated for an Oscar.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? - trailer

Melissa McCarthy’s personal life

In October 2005 Melissa McCarthy married her long-time boyfriend Ben Falcone, an actor and alumnus of The Groundlings. The couple had two daughters, Vivian (born 2007) and Georgette (born 2010).

Melissa McCarthy with her husband Ben Falcone

The actress’s spouse often appears in projects which McCarthy is engaged in: his small roles can be seen in the 3rd season of Gilmore Girls, in the Bridesmaids (the scene on the plane), The Heat, and 15 others.

Melissa McCarthy with her husband and children

Melissa does not complex at all about being overweight and makes no attempt to lose weight.

I just want to be healthy and feel good. I have no goal to lose weight to a specific figure,- says McCarthy.

Melissa McCarthy nowadays

In 2019, Melissa took part in the filming of the crime drama "The Kitchen" on DC comics. In it, she played the role of Katie Brennan. Also this year, the premiere of "Super Intelligence" took place, in which McCarthy played Carol Peters.

Melissa McCarthy, biography, news, photos

Photos: Melissa McCarthy