Melissa Ann Francis (born December 12, 1972) is an American television news personality who most recently appeared as an anchor and commentator for the Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News (FNC). Previously, she worked as an actress.
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 most recently[when?] an anchor on FNC's Happening Now newscast. She most recently had been a regular panelist on FNC's afternoon talk show Outnumbered. However, in late October 2020, it was reported that she had been pushed out of Fox. Although there was not a formal announcement to that effect, all signs point to her having departed Fox, likely not on her terms.[2]
Francis 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]
JournalismEdit
Francis has worked as a reporter for CNBC and CNET.[4]
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 FoxEdit
In 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]
WriterEdit
Francis 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]
Melissa Francis on the Muck Rack journalist listing site
October 21, 2023
melissa, francis, melissa, francis, born, december, 1972, american, television, news, personality, most, recently, appeared, anchor, commentator, business, network, news, previously, worked, actress, francis, 2010bornmelissa, francis, 1972, december, 1972, ang. Melissa Ann Francis born December 12 1972 is an American television news personality who most recently appeared as an anchor and commentator for the Fox Business Network FBN and Fox News FNC Previously she worked as an actress Melissa FrancisFrancis in 2010BornMelissa Ann Francis 1 1972 12 12 December 12 1972 age 50 Los Angeles California U S Other namesMissy FrancisEducationHarvard University B A Occupation s News anchorActressSpouseWray Thorn m 1997 Children3Prior to FBN she worked at CNBC She had been the co host of After The Bell weekday afternoons with Connell MacShane She also was most recently when an anchor on FNC s Happening Now newscast She most recently had been a regular panelist on FNC s afternoon talk show Outnumbered However in late October 2020 it was reported that she had been pushed out of Fox Although there was not a formal announcement to that effect all signs point to her having departed Fox likely not on her terms 2 Contents 1 Education 2 Career 2 1 Acting 3 Journalism 3 1 Departure from Fox 3 2 Writer 4 Filmography 4 1 Film 4 2 Television 5 References 6 External linksEducation 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 Edit Francis started her acting career on television by appearing in a Johnson amp 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 Edit In 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 Edit Francis 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 Notes1979 Scavenger Hunt Jennifer Motley1983 Man Woman and Child Paula Beckwith1988 Bad Dreams Young Cynthia2009 Race to Witch Mountain TV reporter Uncredited2012 The Dictator Local News ReporterTelevision Edit Year Title Role Notes1974 The Ghost of Flight 401 Kid TV film1979 Champions A Love Story Sally TV film1979 Son Rise A Miracle of Love Thea TV film1979 80 Joe s World Linda Wabash Main role 11 episodes 1980 Mork amp Mindy Little Mindy Episode A Mommy for Mindy 1980 Galactica 1980 Little Girl Episode Galactica Discovers Earth Part II And III 1980 When the Whistle Blows Deenie Episode Love Is a Four Letter Word 1981 Midnight Lace Cathy age 11 TV film1981 A Gun in the House Diana Cates TV film1981 82 Little House on the Prairie Cassandra Cooper Ingalls Main role 21 episodes 1984 Something About Amelia Beth Bennett TV film1985 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 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 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 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melissa Francis Fox Business bio Melissa Francis at IMDb Melissa Francis Lessons From The Prairie Melissa Francis on the Muck Rack journalist listing site nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melissa Francis amp oldid 1151997279, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
