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Mary Elizabeth Ellis (born May 11, 1979[1]) is an American actress. She is 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). She starred as Amy in the shortlived NBC sitcom Perfect Couples (2010–2011) and Debbie Sanderson in the Fox sitcom The Grinder (2015–2016). More recently, she played Gary's mother Anita in Licorice Pizza (2021), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Ellis at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | May 11, 1979 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Southern Methodist University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
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Ellis graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2001.[2]
Since the first season began airing in 2005, Ellis has been mostly 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.[3] 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.
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. Ellis was a series regular on the NBC romantic comedy series Perfect Couples, which ran for one season in 2011.[4] In 2015, she got her first main role as Debbie Sanderson, co-starring with Fred Savage and Rob Lowe in The Grinder. In 2008, she co-wrote and starred as Olive in the independent film A Quiet Little Marriage.[5] In 2020, she appeared in Disney's Godmothered.[6] The next year, she appeared in Licorice Pizza (2021) as Momma Anita.[7]
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Ellis and Charlie Day met in 2001 and began dating immediately.[8] Since then they have an extensive history of appearing on shows together. In 2004, they auditioned together as incestuous siblings for Reno 911! and landed the roles.[8] 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.[9] The films became 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.[9][10]
Ellis and Day were married on March 4, 2006.[11][12] Their son was born on December 15, 2011.[13][14]
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| † | 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 | |
| 2024 | Red One | Olivia |
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" |
| 2024 | It's Florida, Man | Mia | Episode: "Mermaids" |
| 2024 | A Man on the Inside | Emily | 8 episodes |
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 |
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| 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. |
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