Melissa Francis
| Melissa Francis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Melissa Ann Francis[1] 12 December 1972 Los Angeles, California |
| Other names | Missy Francis |
| Occupation | Television journalist, anchor, child actress |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse(s) | Wray Thorn (1997–present) |
| Children | 3 |
Melissa Ann Francis (born December 12, 1972) is a former child actress and current television journalist for the Fox Business Network and Fox News. She occasionally appears as a fill-in host for FBN's Cashin' In program, which is part of the network's The Cost of Freedom program block. She received her own FBN show in January of 2012 called MONEY with Melissa Francis and is currently a co-host of Fox News' commentary and talk program, Outnumbered.
Contents
Education
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Francis graduated from Harvard University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and served as executive editor of The Harvard College Economist magazine. She was also the captain of the Harvard Polo Team.
Career
Acting
Francis started her acting career on television before her first birthday, first appearing in a Johnson & Johnson shampoo commercial at 6 months of age. She was known for her role as Cassandra Cooper Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, for two seasons.[2][3] 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,[4] although Banks herself has denied this.[5]
Television journalist
In January 2012, Francis became a financial news reporter and anchor for Fox Business Network.[6] She is well-known for wearing the same pair of tan heels during every broadcast.
Previously, she was a financial news reporter and anchor for CNBC. She originally provided live hourly reports from the New York Mercantile Exchange on trading in crude oil futures contracts.
Prior to CNBC, Francis was a correspondent for CNET's broadcast unit, where she covered finance, technology and consumer products.[7]
In 2014, Francis became a recurring co-host of Fox News Channel's talk and news commentary program, Outnumbered.[8]
Writer
In November 2012, Francis authored a book, Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter: A Memoir, concerning the trials, tribulations and joys of having an overbearing mother.[9]
Filmography
Film
| 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;[citation needed] reporting the events in television |
| 2012 | The Dictator | Local News Reporter |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Ghost of Flight 401 | Kid | TV film |
| 1979 | Champions: A Love Story | Sally | TV film |
| 1979 | Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love | Thea | TV film |
| 1979–80 | Joe's World | Linda Wabash | Main role (11 episodes) |
| 1980 | Mork & Mindy | Little Mindy | Episode: "A Mommy for Mindy" |
| 1980 | When the Whistle Blows | Deenie | Episode: "Love Is a Four-Letter Word" |
| 1981 | Midnight Lace | Cathy, age 11 | TV film |
| 1981 | A Gun in the House | Diana Cates | TV film |
| 1981–82 | Little House on the Prairie | Cassandra Cooper Ingalls | Main role (21 episodes) |
| 1984 | Something About Amelia | Beth Bennett | TV film |
| 1985 | Hotel | Jodi Abbott | Episode: "Rallying Cry" |
| 1985 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Tina | Episode: "The War Between the Classes" |
| 1986 | St. Elsewhere | Cynthia | Episode: "Family Affair" |
| 1986 | Morningstar/Eveningstar | Sarah Bishop | Main role (7 episodes) |
| 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" |
References
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