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IMDbPro

Melissa McBride

  • Actress
  • Casting Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000375
Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride is best known for playing housewife-turned-warrior Carol Peletier on "The Walking Dead." What was her acting career like before being a fan favorite on the celebrated AMC series?
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"No Small Parts" IMDb Exclusive: "Walking Dead" Star Melissa McBride
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Melissa Suzanne McBride (born May 23, 1965) is an American actress and former casting director, best known for her role as Carol Peletier on the AMC series The Walking Dead. McBride has garnered critical acclaim and received multiple awards and nominations for her role on the show.

McBride was born in Lexington, Kentucky to parents John Leslie McBride and Suzanne Lillian (née Sagley) (1937-2018). Her father owned his own business, and her mother studied at the historic Pasadena Playhouse. She had three siblings: John Michael (1957-1990), Neil Allen (1960-2008), and Melanie Suzanne (1962-2012).

McBride began her acting career in 1991, appearing in several television commercials for clients such as Rooms To Go; she was also a spokeswoman for Ford. She made her series television debut in a 1993 episode of ABC legal drama series Matlock, and later guest-starred in several other television drama series, including In the Heat of the Night; American Gothic; Profiler; Walker, Texas Ranger; and Dawson's Creek. In the last, she played Nina - a film buff who charms Dawson after his breakup with Jen - in the Season 1 episode "Road Trip" (1998) - and in 2003 returned to the series finale playing a different character.

In the 1990s, McBride had supporting roles in several made-for-television movies, such as Her Deadly Rival (1995) opposite Annie Potts and Harry Hamlin, Close to Danger (1997) with Rob Estes, Any Place But Home (1997), and Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). In 1996, she appeared on the CBS miniseries A Season in Purgatory, based on Dominick Dunne's eponymous 1993 novel. From 2000 to 2010, she worked as a film and commercial casting director in Atlanta, Georgia and starred in several short films. In 2007, director Frank Darabont cast McBride as the "woman with the kids at home" in the ensemble-cast science-fiction horror film The Mist, alongside Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, and Marcia Gay Harden. McBride was in contention for a bigger role in the film but did not want to take a significant amount of time away from her job as a casting director. The following year, she appeared in the Lifetime television movie Living Proof.

McBride's earlier relationship with Darabont led him to cast her as Carol Peletier in the AMC television drama series The Walking Dead - her biggest role to date. Peletier is a mid-forties widow and caring mother to preteen Sophia, fighting to survive in a violent post-apocalyptic world populated with flesh-eating zombies and the few surviving humans, some of whom are diabolical and even more dangerous than the zombies themselves. McBride did not audition for the role, which she thought was temporary. She was a recurring cast member in Season 1 and was promoted to series regular for Season 2. McBride's name appeared in the opening credits sequence beginning with the first episode of Season 4. Carol was supposed to have been killed off in the episode "Killer Within", but the producers eventually had a change of plans.

As the series progresses, McBride's character develops from being weak and dependent, into a strong, cunning, and loyal warrior. The direction of her character is contrasted between the two media. In the comic series, Carol is much younger and exhibits a neurotic, self-centered, and naive demeanor. Throughout her time in the comics, she grows increasingly unstable to the point of being self-destructive. The television show differs in these regards, as she is shown to be a stern, pragmatic, and compassionate individual who has been gradually building inner strength. Producers of the series, Scott M. Gimple and Robert Kirkman, said in 2014 that "Carol is her own unique character; it would be a disservice to Melissa McBride to say she's evolved into the Carol from the comics. The Carol in the TV show is a wholly original creation that we'll continue to explore on the show to great effect. Everyone in the writers' room loves that character, and we're thrilled with what Melissa has brought to the table. She has definitely become a character that is one to watch, and there's some really exciting stuff ahead for her."

McBride has received critical acclaim for her performance as Carol and won positive reviews from critics during Seasons 3, 4, and 5. Many critics praised McBride's performance in the Season 4 episode centered on her character, "The Grove". Others singled out Carol's actions in the Season 5 premiere, "No Sanctuary", which earned critical praise and positive fan reception. Despite the praise of some critics and a fan campaign, McBride did not receive a nomination for the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. However, she won the 40th Annual Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television, and was nominated for the 2014 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Season 4. In March 2015, McBride was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Leading Actress in a Television series, for her role as Carol. She once again won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television at the 41st Saturn Awards, for the second year in a row.
BornMay 23, 1965
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 23, 1965
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000375
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 4 wins & 10 nominations

Photos291

Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride in American Gothic (1995)
Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Sydney Park, and Kerry Cahill in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride in No Small Parts (2014)
Melissa McBride, Kerry Cahill, Callan McAuliffe, and Matt Lintz in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride and Matt Lintz in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride, Kerry Cahill, and Matt Lintz in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)
Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride in The Walking Dead (2010)

Known for

Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, and Michael James Shaw in The Walking Dead (2010)
The Walking Dead
8.1
TV Series
  • Carol Peletier
The Mist (2007)
The Mist
7.1
  • Woman With Kids at Home
  • 2007
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
6.9
  • Mrs. Doyle
  • 2002
The Reconstruction of William Zero (2014)
The Reconstruction of William Zero
5.4
  • Dr. Bronson
  • 2014

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, and Michael James Shaw in The Walking Dead (2010)
    The Walking Dead
    • Carol Peletier
    • TV Series
    • 2010–2022
  • The Walking Dead: Onslaught (2020)
    The Walking Dead: Onslaught
    • Carol Peletier (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 2020
  • Colman Domingo and Lennie James in Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
    Fear the Walking Dead
    • Carol Peletier
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Robot Chicken (2001)
    Robot Chicken
    • Andrea Harrison
    • Carol Peletier (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2017
  • Janeane Garofalo, Melissa McBride, Arturo Del Puerto, Amanda Bauer, Jack DePew, and Rhys Ward in The Happys (2016)
    The Happys
    • Krista
    • 2016
  • The Reconstruction of William Zero (2014)
    The Reconstruction of William Zero
    • Dr. Bronson
    • 2014
  • Conan O'Brien in Conan (2010)
    Conan
    • Carol Peletier
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Harry Connick Jr. in Living Proof (2008)
    Living Proof
    • Sally
    • TV Movie
    • 2008
  • Delgo (2008)
    Delgo
    • Miss Sutley
    • Elder Pearo (voice)
    • 2008
  • Melissa McBride, Geordie White, Erin Áine, Shandra L. McDonald, and Nancy B. Howard in The Promise (2007)
    The Promise
    • Stacey Johnson (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2007
  • The Mist (2007)
    The Mist
    • Woman With Kids at Home
    • 2007
  • Lost Crossing (2007)
    Lost Crossing
    • Sheila
    • Short
    • 2007
  • Nailed! (2006)
    Nailed!
    • Olga
    • Waitress
    • Agent (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2006
  • James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams in Dawson's Creek (1998)
    Dawson's Creek
    • Melanie
    • Nina
    • TV Series
    • 1998–2003
  • The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
    The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
    • Mrs. Doyle
    • 2002

Casting Director

  • Broken Moment (2010)
    Broken Moment
    • Casting Director (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2010
  • The Party
    • Casting Director (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2010
  • Golden Minutes
    • Casting Director
    • Short
    • 2009
  • This Side Up (2009)
    This Side Up
    • Casting Director (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2009
  • Melissa McBride, Geordie White, Erin Áine, Shandra L. McDonald, and Nancy B. Howard in The Promise (2007)
    The Promise
    • Casting Director (as Melissa Suzanne McBride)
    • Short
    • 2007
  • The Last Adam (2006)
    The Last Adam
    • Casting Director
    • 2006

Videos162

"The Walking Dead" Universe Goes Interstellar & Beyond
Clip 3:10
"The Walking Dead" Universe Goes Interstellar & Beyond
"The Walking Dead": Preparing for Michonne's Emotional Exit
Interview 2:28
"The Walking Dead": Preparing for Michonne's Emotional Exit
"The Walking Dead" Won't Die With the Comic Book's Conclusion
Interview 1:52
"The Walking Dead" Won't Die With the Comic Book's Conclusion
Finish the Fight
Trailer 3:09
Finish the Fight
The Final Season Official Trailer
Trailer 1:54
The Final Season Official Trailer
Season 11 Official Trailer
Trailer 3:02
Season 11 Official Trailer
Season 11 Trailer: Trilogy
Trailer 2:02
Season 11 Trailer: Trilogy
Season 10 Teaser Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Season 10 Teaser Trailer
San Diego Comic-Con Season 10 Trailer
Trailer 4:09
San Diego Comic-Con Season 10 Trailer
Season 9 Teaser: "New Threats"
Trailer 0:31
Season 9 Teaser: "New Threats"
Mid-Season 9 Official Teaser
Trailer 0:31
Mid-Season 9 Official Teaser
"Rick's Final Episodes"
Trailer 5:34
"Rick's Final Episodes"

Personal details

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  • Official site
    • Twitter
  • Alternative name
    • Melissa Suzanne McBride
  • Height
    • 5′ 5¾″ (1.67 m)
  • Born
    • May 23, 1965
    • Lexington, Kentucky, USA
  • Parents
      Suzanne Lillian
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Melissa McBride was working as a commercial casting director in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. from 2000 until, in 2010, when unexpectedly offered the role of "Carol Peletier" in AMC's The Walking Dead (2010); McBride had worked previously with the show's creator, Frank Darabont, three years prior, when cast for a brief role in his feature film, The Mist (2007).
  • Quotes
    Actually, I've gotten myself into some difficult places because I thought I could fix somebody.
  • Salaries
      The Walking Dead
      (2010)
      $20,000,000 over three years

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