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.
Melissa Francis | |
|---|---|
 Francis in 2010 | |
| Born | Melissa Ann Francis[1] December 12, 1972 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Missy Francis |
| Education | Harvard University (B.A.) |
| Occupation(s) | News anchor Actress |
| Spouse | Wray Thorn (m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
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.
Education
editBorn and raised in Los Angeles, Francis graduated from Harvard University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.[3][4]
Career
editActing
editFrancis 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.[5][6] 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,[7] although Banks herself has denied this.[8]
Journalism
editFrancis has worked as a reporter for CNBC and CNET.[4]
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.
Departure from Fox
editIn 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.[12]
In late 2020, Francis filed a pay discrimination action against Fox.[13] 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.[14]
Writer
editFrancis 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;[15] and in April 2017, published Lessons from the Prairie, relating childhood experiences from the show as applied to her adult life.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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 |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Ghost of Flight 401 | Kid | TV movie |
| 1979 | Champions: A Love Story | Sally | |
| Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love | 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" |
References
edit- ^ "Vini M Francis, Born 12/12/1972 in California - CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (October 23, 2020). "Melissa Francis Off Fox News Amid Reports Of Pay Disparity Dispute". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Hageman, William (March 24, 2013). "When a parent is stage-struck: Shining a spotlight on parents who push their kids too far". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b Francis, Melissa (January 10, 2011). "Melissa Francis Profile - CNBC". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ Friedman, Jon (September 19, 2007). "CNBC's Melissa Francis isn't over the hill". MarketWatch. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ "Missy Francis Biography". TV.com. 2009. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- ^ "Which CNBC Anchor Was The Basis For 30 Rock's Avery Jessup?". February 16, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "Elizabeth Banks Slams Page Six For "30 Rock" Story". The Huffington Post. April 21, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
- ^ "Who'sNews: Why isn't Melissa Francis on CNBC anymore?". Arizona Daily Star. February 10, 2012.
- ^ "Outnumbered". Fox News. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- ^ Francis, Melissa [@MelissaAFrancis] (October 25, 2020). "Thanks for all the kind words of support" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "@MelissaAFrancis" on Twitter
- ^ "The Truth About Fox News' Melissa Francis". October 25, 2020.
- ^ "Fox News paid $15 million to former host who filed pay disparity claim". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Francis, Melissa (November 6, 2012). Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter: A Memoir (3rd ed.). Hachette Book. ISBN 978-1602861725.
- ^ Francis, Melissa (April 25, 2017). Lessons from the Prairie. Weinstein Publishing. ISBN 9781602863064.
External links
edit
- Melissa Francis at IMDb
- Melissa Francis: Lessons From The Prairie
- Melissa Francis on the Muck Rack journalist listing site
