If you are still wondering where you heard the name, Melissa Peterman from, I am sure you are not also wondering which TV series had the character Barbra Jean, or are you? Hope your answer is just my right guess, a NO, right? It’s sure is. Peterman happened to be Barbra Jean from the U.S comedy sitcom Reba which aired on WB from 2001 to 2006 and on CW from 2006 to 2007.
She is also popular as Bonnie Wheeler in Baby Daddy (ABC Family/Freeform series) and has served as host on ABC game shows including Bet on Your Baby, and Family’s Dancing Fools and also on the karaoke/spelling bee game show, The Singing Bee, which aired on NBC and then on CMT. Learn more about her in the sub-headings below:
Melissa Peterman – Bio, Age
Peterman was born in Edina, Minnesota on the 1st of July 1971 as Melissa Margaret Peterman. Not so much is available on her parents, early life, and family background. But we know she graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a major in Theatre and began her acting career as one of the casts in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (one of Hey City Theater productions).
After appearing in over six hundred performances, Melissa wrote and performed at Brave New Workshop (an improvisational comedy theatre in Minneapolis), which boasts of alumni in the persons of Al Franken, Pat Proft, Cedric Yarbrough, Louie Anderson, and Mo Collins. She also performed at the Big Stink Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas, as well as in the Chicago Improv Festival during her early days.
In 1996, Melissa Peterman made her film debut in the Coen brothers’ award-winning black comedy movie Fargo. Between 2001 and 2006, she played Barbra Jean Booker-Hart in the sitcom Reba alongside TV veteran Christopher Rich and country music icon Reba McEntire.
Within this period, she also starred in the movie Recipe for Disaster alongside John Larroquette and Lesley Ann Warren. Margaret also starred in an unreleased Independent film titled Cook-off and made appearances in a 2001 stoner film How High which stared Redman and Method Man.
She also began hosting a comedy show for women at the Egyptian Theatre titled 15 Minutes of Fem, and also appeared on Running with Scissors – a comedy show that aired on U.S cable network, Oxygen. Melissa Peterman also guest-starred on several sitcoms including Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, Just Shoot Me!, and The Pitts. Her other sitcom credits include American Dad!, Living With Abandon, Rita Rocks, Surviving Suburbia, Dusty Peacock, Working Class, Baby Daddy, among many more.
Asides from acting, Melissa soon began hosting shows, which included comedy shows on TV; some of these shows include Wanna Bet?, Sound of Music Sing-a-Long. Trading Spaces, Comedy Stage, Redneck Dreams, Bet On Your Baby, The Singing Bee, Dancing Fools, etc. In 2010, she hosted the CMT Music Awards red carpet event.
Net Worth – How Much is She Worth?
Peterman’s net worth is currently estimated at $8 million which are earnings from her career as an actress, comedian, and from her brand endorsements. She has appeared in commercials for Tyson Any’tizers, Amazon Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition, and Kia automobiles.
Her Husband
Melissa Peterman has been married to actor John Brady since 1999 and together, they have a son whom they welcomed in October 2005. Brady is popular for starring in movies like Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, Maneater, and Shteps.
Her Height and Other Body Stats
The actress is a few inches shy of standing at 6 ft; she currently stands at 1.77m, which is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 67 kg (148 lbs). Her other body measurements are 36-30-37 inches (bust, waist, and hips) which are the equivalent of 91.5-76-94 when measured in cm.
Where is Melissa Peterman Now?
In 2010, Melissa Peterman signed a contract with Big Machine Records to release her own comedy album; the project was however scrapped and she has since then moved on with her acting career as well as other projects.
Between 2016 and 2017, she starred as herself on two cooking shows – Valerie’s Home Cooking and Worst Cooks in America. Both shows aired on the Food Network. In the same year, she starred as Brenda Sparks in some episodes of Young Sheldon – a comedy TV series that starred on CBS.
Melissa has at other times been involved with some charitable works; She is involved with a non-profit organization named The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, which helps youths that are at risk in the Los Angeles area.