From Charlie’s Angels to Bridesmaids, Snakkle Looks Back At Emmy-Winner Melissa McCarthy’s Amazing Career

Melissa McCarthy, 1977

Born in 1970, little mushroom-haired Melissa (left) grew up in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield, IL, along with cousin Jenny McCarthy (Yes, her!).

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The Groundlings, Los Angeles

Melissa started her comedy career at The Groundlings theatre and still performs improv comedy there. Check out the badass hat and scarf combo she sports in “Hard Streets.”

melissa mccarthy the kid 2000 movie photo

The Kid, 2000

One of Melissa’s first film roles was a delightfully big-haired waitress in Disney’s The Kid, which starred Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Lily Tomlin, and Jean Smart.

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Charlie’s Angels, 2000

Continuing her streak of super-sized hair, Melissa played Doris, a perky office manager in Charlie’s Angels who watches as Lucy Liu cracks the whip on her employees. Literally.

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Gilmore Girls, 2000-2007

For seven seasons, Melissa played Sookie St. James, Lorelai’s best friend and chef at The Independence Inn and later, The Dragonfly Inn. Sookie was many things: bubbly, klutzy, handy with a spatula, and hilarious while inebriated.

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The Third Wheel, 2002

In 2002, Melissa played Marilyn in The Third Wheel, which starred Luke Wilson and Denise Richards as a couple on a first date who accidentally run down a homeless man and end up sharing their evening with him.

The Nines, 2007

After Gilmore Girls ended, Melissa tried her hand at more dramatic acting alongside Ryan Reynolds in surreal movie The Nines. First, Melissa plays Margaret, Ryan’s P.R. agent. Then in part 2 of the film, she is his friend Melissa, who is a version of herself in real life. Finally, she portrays Mary, Ryan’s character’s wife.

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Pretty Ugly People, 2008

Melissa continued to star on the big screen in 2008’s Pretty Ugly People, in which a group of high school friends reunite to discover that one of them has undergone a total physical and personality makeover. No word on whether her cat sweater also received top billing.

Samantha Who? 2007-2009

Melissa landed back on the small screen in 2007 as Dena, Samantha’s best friend on the Christina Applegate sitcom Samantha Who?

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Life As We Know It, 2010

Hands up! Melissa played the neighborly DeeDee in Life As We Know It, which found Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel unexpectedly taking care of a small child after a tragic accident.

melissa mccarthy bridesmaids movie photo 2011

Bridesmaids, 2011

Melissa exploded as a household name after playing the hard fighting, tough talking Megan in Bridesmaids. Watch as she explains how Food Network’s Guy Fieri inspired her character, and how she and her real-life husband joined the mile-high club in the movie.

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Sonja Flemming/CBS

Mike and Molly, 2010-Present

When Chicago police officer Mike meets Molly at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, the two instantly hit it off. Melissa won an Emmy for her portrayal as Molly Flynn in this Chuck Lorre-produced CBS sitcom. Check out her heartfelt speech in which she shouts out her hometown!

The Heat, 2013

Post Bridesmaids McCarthy was a bonafied comedy star. She re-teamed with director Paul Feig for The Heat, a cop buddy comedy alongside Sandra Bullock. The film was wildly successful and people still say women aren't funny? We aren't buying that!

Tammy, 2014

After The Heat, McCarthy starred and wrote in Tammy a dark comedy about a woman whose life has fallen apart. In light of that, she goes on a misguided road trip with her grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon.