50 Years of Little House on the Prairie: Melissa "Missy" Francis (Cassandra Cooper)

 Melissa Ann Francis (born December 12, 1972) is an American television news personality who last worked as an anchor and commentator for the Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News (FNC), departing in 2020. Previously, she worked as an actress.

Before FBN, she worked at CNBC. She had been the co-host of After The Bell weekday afternoons with Connell McShane. She was also an anchor on FNC's Happening Now newscast and a regular panelist on FNC's afternoon talk show Outnumbered. In late October 2020, it was reported that she had been pushed out of Fox. In 2022, Fox paid her a $15 million settlement on a pay discrimination lawsuit. Melissa Francis is now with Newsmax.

Education

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Francis graduated from Harvard University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

Career

Acting

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. 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, although Banks herself has denied this.

Journalism

Francis has worked as a reporter for CNBC and CNET.

In January 2012, Francis became an anchor for Fox Business Network.

In 2014, Francis became a recurring co-host of Fox News Channel's talk and news commentary program, Outnumbered. She also anchored FNC's Happening Now newscast.

Departure from Fox

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. However, her profile on Twitter soon dropped any reference to Fox as well.

In late 2020, Francis filed a pay discrimination action against Fox. 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.

Writer

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; and in April 2017, published Lessons from the Prairie, relating childhood experiences from the show as applied to her adult life.

Filmography

Film

1979       Scavenger Hunt                Jennifer Motley               

1983       Man, Woman and Child Paula Beckwith

1988       Bad Dreams        Young Cynthia  

2009       Race to Witch Mountain               TV reporter        Uncredited

2012       The Dictator       Local News Reporter     

Television

1974       The Ghost of Flight 401  Kid          TV movie

1979       Champions: A Love Story              Sally

Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love         Thea

1979–1980           Joe's World         Linda Wabash    Main role

1980       Mork & Mindy   Little Mindy        Episode: "A Mommy for Mindy"

Galactica 1980    Little Girl              Episode: "Galactica Discovers Earth Part II And III"

When the Whistle Blows              Deenie Episode: "Love Is a Four-Letter Word"

1981       Midnight Lace    Cathy, age 11     TV movie

A Gun in the House         Diana Cates

1981–1982           Little House on the Prairie            Cassandra Cooper Ingalls              Main role

1984       Something About Amelia             Beth Bennett     TV movie

1985       Hotel     Jodi Abbott         Episode: "Rallying Cry"

CBS Schoolbreak Special               Tina        Episode: "The War Between the Classes"

1986       St. Elsewhere    Cynthia Episode: "Family Affair"

Morningstar/Eveningstar             Sarah Bishop      Main role

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"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Francis