Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy is an American actress, comedian, and producer who has become one of the highest-paid and most commercially successful actresses in Hollywood. Born in Plainfield, Illinois, McCarthy grew up on a corn and soybean farm and moved to New York City after high school to pursue stand-up comedy. She studied at the Actors Studio and began landing small roles in television and film throughout the late 1990s, including a memorable part in the Groundlings improv troupe in Los Angeles, where she honed her comedic skills.

McCarthy’s breakout television role came as Sookie St. James on the hit WB series Gilmore Girls, which ran from 2000 to 2007. She then landed the role of Molly Flynn on the CBS sitcom Mike and Molly, which premiered in 2010 and ran for six seasons. However, it was her scene-stealing performance as Megan in the 2011 film Bridesmaids that transformed her into a movie star. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and opened the door to leading roles in major studio comedies.

Following Bridesmaids, McCarthy became a box office powerhouse with hits including Identity Thief, The Heat, Tammy, Spy, and Ghostbusters. Her collaborations with her husband, director Ben Falcone, have produced several films through their production company On the Day. She also demonstrated dramatic range with her Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2018, playing real-life literary forger Lee Israel. The role proved she could command the screen in both comedic and dramatic material.

McCarthy’s estimated net worth of $90 million comes from her prolific film career, television work, producing credits, and her fashion line Melissa McCarthy Seven7, which she launched in 2015 to offer stylish plus-size clothing. She has earned multiple Emmy nominations, hosted Saturday Night Live numerous times with a memorable recurring impression of Sean Spicer, and continues to be one of the most in-demand talents in the entertainment industry.