Missi Pyle

Last updated

Missi Pyle
Missi Pyle 2012.jpg
Born (1972-11-16) November 16, 1972 (age 52)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Education University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1995–present
Spouses
(m. 2000;div. 2005)
(m. 2008;div. 2012)
Children1
Musical career
Genres Country
InstrumentVocals
LabelsUrban Prairie Records
Formerly of

Missi Pyle (born November 16, 1972) [1] is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in a number of films, including Galaxy Quest (1999), Josie and the Pussycats (2001), Bringing Down the House (2003), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), The Artist (2011), Gone Girl (2014), Captain Fantastic (2016), and Ma (2019). [2]

Contents

Pyle has also appeared in various television series, such as The Mentalist (2010), Cleaners (2013–2014), Jennifer Falls (2014), Another Period (2015–2018), Bordertown (2016), The Soul Man (2016), Mom (2017), Impulse (2018–2019), and Dirty John (2020).

In addition to acting, Pyle has also previously worked as a singer. With actress Shawnee Smith, she served as half of Smith & Pyle, a country rock duo.

Career

Pyle has guest starred on many television shows, including Heroes , Mad About You , Boston Legal , Frasier , The Sarah Silverman Program , and 2 Broke Girls . She started her film career with a minor role in As Good as It Gets , starring Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson. After her breakout role in Galaxy Quest , she had supporting roles in Bringing Down the House (for which she and Queen Latifah were nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight), Josie and the Pussycats , Home Alone 4 , Exposed , Big Fish , Along Came Polly , Soul Plane , Stormbreaker , and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . She was the female lead in BachelorMan. She appears in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story . She had a brief appearance in 50 First Dates and starred in A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song .

Selected cast and crew of The Artist at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival; (left to right) Ludovic Bource (composer), Michel Hazanavicius (director), Missi Pyle (actress), Berenice Bejo (actress), Jean Dujardin (actor), Guillaume Schiffman (cinematographer), and Thomas Langmann (producer) Equipe The Artist Cannes 2011.jpg
Selected cast and crew of The Artist at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival; (left to right) Ludovic Bource (composer), Michel Hazanavicius (director), Missi Pyle (actress), Bérénice Bejo (actress), Jean Dujardin (actor), Guillaume Schiffman (cinematographer), and Thomas Langmann (producer)

Pyle played Jake's elementary school teacher Ms. Pasternak on Two and a Half Men . The role was recast in 2009 for undisclosed reasons; however, it is believed that it was to show the emotional change she went through after Charlie dumped and hurt her.[ citation needed ] Pyle returned to the series in the same role in 2011 and again in the series finale "Of Course He's Dead" in 2015.

In 2008, Missi starred in the Broadway play Boeing-Boeing opposite Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, Greg Germann, Paige Davis and Rebecca Gayheart. The play closed in January 2009.

Pyle was scheduled to ring the closing bell for the trading day at the New York Stock Exchange on September 29, 2008, to promote Boeing-Boeing, but backed out minutes before the close of trading so as not to associate herself with ending a calamitous day of financial turmoil which resulted in the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 778 points, the largest point loss ever in a session in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2008. She watched from the floor as an NYSE staffer pushed the button and gaveled the end of trading instead. [3]

Pyle was part of a country music group with actress Shawnee Smith called Smith & Pyle. The two actresses met while filming an ABC comedy pilot titled Traveling in Packs. The band started after Smith invited Pyle to join her in attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. While stuck in traffic, Pyle talked about her dream to be a rock star and Smith agreed to form a band with her. Their first album, "It's OK to Be Happy", was released digitally through iTunes and Amazon.com in July 2008. The debut album was recorded in Joshua Tree, California at Rancho De La Luna and was produced by Chris Goss. The two actresses have also become business partners and formed their own record label called Urban Prairie Records, under which "It's OK to be Happy" was released. According to an interview Smith did with pretty-scary.net in August 2008, a Smith & Pyle television or webisode series might be in the works. Smith also mentioned the idea of a series on Fangoria radio with Dee Snider. [4] Currently there are three videos posted on YouTube that show the making of the record. They also have a 10-minute "making of" video on Vimeo called Smith & Pyle: Desert Sessions. [5] [6]

Personal life

Pyle married wildlife naturalist Casey Anderson on September 12, 2008. The wedding was country-western themed and took place in Montana. Wedding guests included bandmate Shawnee Smith and comedian Steve Agee. Anderson's pet grizzly bear, Brutus, served as his best man in the ceremony. [7] Pyle and Anderson appeared in "Grizzly Dogs", the October 22, 2010, episode of Dog Whisperer , in which they sought the help of Cesar Millan to rehabilitate their dog. [8] Pyle confirmed their breakup in 2013.[ citation needed ] She has one daughter. [9] [10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997 As Good as It Gets Waitress
1999 Trick Actress with flowers
Galaxy Quest Laliari
2001 Josie and the Pussycats Alexandra Cabot
Let It Snow Ily
2002 Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House Vera Murchins
2003 Bringing Down the House AshleyNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
Exposed Amy
BachelorManHeather
Big Fish Mildred
2004 Along Came Polly Roxanne
50 First Dates NoreenCameo
Soul Plane Barbara Hunkee
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Fran Stalinovskovichdaviddivitchski
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Zoo Keeper
Meet Market Ericka
2005 The Civilization of Maxwell Bright Cop
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Scarlett Beauregarde
2006 Just My Luck Peggy Braden
Mojave Phone Booth Sarah
Stormbreaker Nadia Vole
2007 Live! Plummy
Entry LevelLiz
Feast of Love Agatha Smith
2008 Pretty Ugly People Lucy
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Raylene
Visioneers Sahra
American CrudeGigi
Soccer Mom Wendy Handler/Coach Lorenzo
2009 Spring Breakdown Charlene
Still Waiting... Rocky Rhoades/Exotic dancer
Taking Chances Faith Fishback
A Fork in the RoadNola
2010 Barry Munday Lida Griggs
Miss Nobody Charmaine
2011 The Artist Constance
A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song Gail Van Ravensway
2012 My Uncle Rafael Blair Schumacher
2013Bakersfield, EarthJudy
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Gray Sister
Killing VivianMegan
2014 A Haunted House 2 Noreen
Just Before I Go Officer CT
Gone Girl Ellen Abbott
Kiss Me Pam
DragulaMaggie
2015 Uncle Nick Michelle
Hollywood Adventures Casting director
2016 Director's Cut Herself / Mabel
Captain Fantastic Ellen McCuneNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Slash Ronnie
Emma's ChanceSusan Peirce
Pandemic Denise
Miles Leslie Wayne
2017 Deidra & Laney Rob a Train Mrs. Fowler
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Coach Webb
2018 Traffik Sally Marnes
Nobody's Fool Lauren Meadows
Miss ArizonaBev
Grace Liz
2019 Walk. Ride. Rodeo. Tina Snyder
Ma Mercedes
2022 Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse Cythonna, Speaker of Nations (voice)
Bring It On: Cheer or Die Principal Simmons
The Moon & BackDiane Gilbert
2023 Unseen Carol
If You Were the Last Megan Benson
A Tourist's Guide to Love [11] Mona
2025 For Worse Julie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 Mad About You Beautiful womanEpisode: "The Final Frontier: Part 2"
The Drew Carey Show StaceyEpisode: "Drew's Reunion"
Friends HillaryEpisode: "The One with Ross's Teeth"
2000 Battery Park SuzanneEpisode: "Walter's Rib"
2001 Ally McBeal Marcia HooperEpisode: "Reach Out and Touch"
The Wayne Brady Show Various6 episodes
Roswell Windy SommersEpisode: "Control"
The Tick Stacy WaxmanEpisode: "Arthur Needs Space"
2002 Philly Charise DuPreeEpisode: "Mojo Rising"
2003 Frasier Shannon PalmerEpisode: "Maris Returns"
2004, 2010,
2011, 2015
Two and a Half Men Miss Dolores Pasternak4 episodes
2005 My Name Is Earl Shelly StokerEpisode: "Broke Joy's Fancy Figurine"
2006–2008 Boston Legal Renee Winger3 episodes
2007–2010 The Sarah Silverman Program Scarlett Lacey4 episodes
2007 Heroes Hope2 episodes
The Wedding Bells Amanda PontellMain role
2008–2011 American Dad! Tracy / drunk girl / sorority girlVoice; 2 episodes
2008 In Plain Sight Teri Ranzino / Treena MorrisEpisode: "Never the Bride"
Pushing Daisies Betty BeeEpisode: "Bzzzzzzzzz!"
2009 Numbers Janet GalvinEpisode: "Ultimatum"
2010 Grey's Anatomy Dr. BaylowEpisode: "The Time Warp"
Rizzoli & Isles Merch ownerEpisode: "I Kissed a Girl"
The Life & Times of Tim Receptionist / Marcy / Nancy (voice)4 episodes
2010–2011 The Mentalist Karen Cross2 episodes
$#*! My Dad Says Katie Palmer2 episodes
2011 Up All Night KayeEpisode: "Mr. Bob's Toddler Kaleidoscope"
Family Guy Kitty Hawk woman (voice)Episode: "Amish Guy"
2012 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Angie BeckencortEpisode: "Whatever It Takes..."
2013 Newsreaders Rebecca LionwekEpisode: "Auto Erotic"
1600 Penn Sarah HarlanEpisode: "Frosting/Nixon"
2 Broke Girls Charity ChanningEpisode: "And Not-So-Sweet Charity"
Warehouse 13 Lily AbbottEpisode: "The Big Snag"
The Mindy Project NancyEpisode: "Mindy Lahiri Is a Racist"
2013–2014 Inside Amy Schumer Various roles3 episodes
The Exes Sabrina/Julie2 episodes
2014 The Crazy Ones MeloraEpisode: "Dead and Improved"
Jennifer Falls Dina SimacMain role
Partners Biffy Saint MurrayEpisode: "Let's Have a Simple Gwedding"
Infomercials Jan JeremyEpisode: "Goth Fitness"
2015 Hot in Cleveland Canadian Joy2 episodes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Trudy MalcoEpisode: "Granting Immunity"
Z Nation BernadetteEpisode: "Rozwell"
Where the Bears Are Maggie Dexter3 episodes
TripTank Woman / Crap Girl / Anna (voice)3 episodes
2015–2018 Another Period Celery Bellacourt / Celery SavoyRecurring role
2016 Bordertown Gert Buckwald (voice)Main role
The Soul Man AliciaRecurring role
Sing It! MarcyMain role
Lady Dynamite Carol SimplesEpisode: "A Vaginismus Miracle"
Major Crimes Tina WalkerEpisode: "Off the Wagon"
Mary + Jane Feminist mobile librarianEpisode: "Girl on Gurl"
Notorious Callie ConnorsEpisode: "Kept and Broken"
2017 Dropping the Soap Lily2 episodes
The Catch Chloe JacksonEpisode: "The Bad Girl"
Mom NatashaRecurring role, 5 episodes
One Mississippi Cassandra NightEpisode: "Who Do You Think You Are?"
2017–2018 Disjointed Mary Jane2 episodes
2018 The Goldbergs Madame CharbenauxEpisode: "1990-Something"
Impulse Cleo ColesMain role
2019 Drunk History Christa GruhleEpisode: "Love"
Bob Hearts Abishola LizEpisode: "Square Hamburger, Round Buns"
The Unicorn AvaEpisode: "Wade Delayed"
Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas ChrissyTV film
To Tell the Truth Celebrity PanelistSeason 4, episode 11
2020 Dirty John Karen KintnerRecurring role (season 2; The Betty Broderick Story) [12]
2021 Mr. Mayor NicoleEpisode: "Hearts Before Parts"
Star Trek: Lower Decks Cardassian interrogator (voice)Episode: "Strange Energies"
A Tale Dark & Grimm The Rain / Widow Fischer (voice)4 episodes
Y: The Last Man Roxanne5 episodes
The Big Leap Tonya Lovewell2 episodes
2022 The Great North Ms. McNamara (voice)2 episodes
Archer Dr. Malory Lacania (voice)Episode: "Out of Network"
A Hollywood ChristmasTheresa FrostTV film
Celebrity BeefHerselfEpisode: "Critical Designer vs. Critically Acclaimed"
2023 Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. Ms. CrawfordEpisode: "A Hui Hou (Until We Meet Again)"
Harlan Coben's Shelter Hannah7 episodes
2024–2025 The Sex Lives of College Girls Tracey Baker2 episodes

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Greetings from HomeSue12 episodes
2013–14 Cleaners EileenMain role, 18 episodes
2016The LotteryTeresa YawA Short Film On Shane Dawson TV

Appearances

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017Play Dodgeball with Ben StillerFran Stalinovskovichdavidovitchsky Omaze Charity Dodgeball
Run NurseMusic video by Foo Fighters

Stage credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996900 OneontaBurning Jewel Circle Repertory Theatre
September 15–22, 1996
2008 Boeing-Boeing Gretchen Longacre Theatre
September 9 – October 7, 2008
2012–2013 Bare Sister Joan New World Stages
December 19, 2012 – February 3, 2013

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. "On this Date: Birthdays". The Modesto Bee . The Associated Press. November 16, 2018. p. A 2. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022. Actress Missi Pyle is 46.
  2. "Missi Pyle Filmography and Movies". Fandango. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  3. White, Ben (October 1, 2008). "Turmoil Tarnishes a Cherished Tradition". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  4. "Shawnee Smith on Fangoria radio". Fangoriaradio.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  5. "Smith & Pyle Official MySpace Page". Myspace.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2010.[ self-published source ]
  6. "Smith & Pyle Official Website". Smithandpyle.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.[ self-published source ]
  7. "Smith & Pyle Blog, "Weddin' on the Prairie!"". Smithandpyle.com. Urban Prairie, LLC. September 12, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  8. "Grizzly Dogs". Dog Whisperer . Season 7. Episode 3. October 22, 2010. Nat Geo Wild.
  9. Sokol, Robert (August 6, 2013). "Missi Pyle rides life's curves to cabaret act in The City". The San Francisco Examiner . Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  10. "Hi friends its me, Missi. Zooey, my daughter, and I met Duana and her gorgeous amazing family a few years ago at Knotts Berry Farm". instagram.com.
  11. Grobar, Matt (May 6, 2022). "Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle & More Round Out Cast Of Netflix's Romance 'A Tourist's Guide To Love'". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  12. Petski, Denise (October 18, 2019). "'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story': Missi Pyle & Holley Fain To Recur In Season 2 Of USA Anthology Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.