Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Mary Elizabeth Ellis (born May 11, 1979) is an American actress, best known for her recurring roles as The Waitress on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present), Nick's ex-girlfriend Caroline in the Fox sitcom New Girl (2011–2018) and Lisa Palmer on the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019). Ellis also starred as Amy in the shortlived NBC sitcom Perfect Couples (2010–2011) and Debbie Sanderson in the Fox sitcom The Grinder (2015–2016). Most recently, she played Gary's mother Anita in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza (2021).

Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Ellis at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International
Born (1979-05-11) May 11, 1979
Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma materSouthern Methodist University
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2006)​
Children1

Early life

Ellis was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2002.[1]

Career

Since the first season began airing in 2005, Ellis has been mostly widely known for her role as The Waitress, the object of Charlie Kelly's unrequited infatuation and obsession, on the FX/FXX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present). Ellis and her It's Always Sunny colleague Artemis Pebdani are members of the Los Angeles-based performance group Discount Cruise to Hell.[2] Together, they wrote and starred in the stage show Mother May I Dance with Mary Jane's Fist?: A Lifetime Original Play at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Ellis has also appeared in a number of other television series, including Reno 911!, House M.D., Without a Trace, Cold Case, New Girl, Happy Endings, and Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet and music videos including "Diaper Money" (2013) for The Lonely Island and "Anti-Hero" (2022) for Taylor Swift. She was a series regular on the NBC romantic comedy series Perfect Couples, which ran for one season in 2011.[3] In 2015, she landed her first main role as Debbie Sanderson, co-starring with Fred Savage and Rob Lowe in The Grinder.

In 2008, Ellis co-wrote and starred as Olive in the independent film A Quiet Little Marriage.[4] In 2020, she appeared in Disney's Godmothered.[5] The following year, she appeared in Licorice Pizza (2021) as Momma Anita.[6]

Personal life

Ellis and Charlie Day met in 2001 and began dating immediately.[7] They have since had an extensive history of appearing on shows together. In 2004, they auditioned together as incestuous siblings for Reno 911! and landed the roles.[7] Around the same time, Ellis also began playing The Waitress in home movies Day was making and co-starring in (as Charlie Kelly who stalks her) with their friends Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton.[8] These would go on to form the pilot episode of the dark comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2005 and Ellis continues to appear on the series to date.[8][9]

Ellis and Day got married on March 4, 2006.[10][11] Their first child, a boy named Russell Wallace Day, was born on December 15, 2011.[12][13]

Filmography
Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2008 A Quiet Little Marriage Olive Also writer
2009 Pulling Karen
2014 The Last Time You Had Fun Alison
2016 Free State of Jones Margaret
2016 Masterminds Michelle Chambers
2018 The Truth About Lies Sharon
2020 Godmothered Paula Walsh
2021 How It Ends Krista
2021 Licorice Pizza Momma Anita
2023 Fool's Paradise Makeup Woman #1
2023 Red One † Filming

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Cracking Up Jennifer Episode: "Panic House"
2004 Reno 911! Inbred Twin Episode: "Not Without My Mustache"
2005–present It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Waitress 35 episodes
2006 House Sophie Episode: "Que Será Será"
2007 Without a Trace Sally Price Episode: "Skin Deep"
2009 Old Friends Portia Bridges Episode: "Introductions"
2009 Cold Case Shelly Reid Episode: "Lotto Fever"
2010–2011 Perfect Couples Amy 11 episodes
2011–2014 New Girl Caroline 6 episodes
2012 Georgia Georgia 3 episodes
2012 Up All Night Connie Chafin 2 episodes
2012–2013 Happy Endings Daphne Wilson 2 episodes
2013 The Millers Debbie Unaired pilot
2013 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Dr. Rossi Episode: "M.E. Time"
2014–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various 2 episodes
2015 Drunk History Dorothy Fuldheim Episode: "Cleveland"
2015–2016 The Grinder Debbie Sanderson 22 episodes
2017 Animals. Wendy (voice) Episode: "Roaches"
2017–2019 Santa Clarita Diet Lisa Palmer 15 episodes
2019 The Cool Kids M.J. Episode: "Margaret Jr."
2019 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Wivian Turnter Episode: "Love Is the Most Dangerous Game"
2019 Lodge 49 Daphne Larson 5 episodes
2023 Unstable Barbie Episode: "A Dragon's Fire"

Web
Year Title Role Notes
2022 The Always Sunny Podcast Herself/Guest 1 episode

Music videos
Year Artist Title Album Notes
2013 The Lonely Island "Diaper Money" The Wack Album
2022 Ben Abraham "If I Didn't Love You" Friendly Fire Co-starred with Charlie Day
2022 Taylor Swift "Anti-Hero" Midnights Role: Kimber, the future daughter-in-law

Theatre
Year Title Role Venue
2001 The Tempest Ariel PCPA Theaterfest
2002 Killer Joe Dotty Artists Repertory Theatre Portland
2009 The Nightman Cometh The Waitress The Troubadour
2015 Trevor Ashley Circle X Theatre Co.

References
  1. "2001-2002 Class Notes". SMU Magazine 2013. 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  2. Conversations with Ross: Featuring Mary Elizabeth Ellis
  3. Gencarelli, Mike (March 3, 2011). "Interview with Mary Elizabeth Ellis". MediaMikes. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  4. Anderson, John (November 13, 2008). "A Quiet Little Marriage". Variety. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  5. Palmer, Roger (January 30, 2020). "Production Has Begun On New Disney+ Movie "Godmothered"". What's On Disney Plus. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. ""Licorice Pizza," Reviewed: Paul Thomas Anderson's Thrilling Coming-of-Age Story". The New Yorker. December 1, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  7. "The Days of Disco – An Interview with Charlie Day & Mary Elizabeth Ellis – MONSTERFRESH". October 4, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. 39. The Waitress (with special guest, Mary Elizabeth Ellis!) | The Always Sunny Podcast, retrieved November 20, 2022
  9. Wyatt, Edward (September 9, 2007). "The Writers Are the Actors Are the Producers". The New York Times.
  10. Interview with Charlie Day & Mary Elizabeth Ellis, MonsterFresh.com
  11. "Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Ellis Welcome Son Russell Wallace". Peoplemag. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. Wedemeyer, Jessica (July 23, 2011). "Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Ellis Expecting a Baby". People.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  13. Lebowitz Rossi, Holly (December 19, 2011). "Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Ellis Welcome Baby Boy". Parents. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
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