Mary Elizabeth Ellis (born May 11, 1979) 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), 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 short-lived NBC sitcom Perfect Couples (2010–2011) and Debbie Sanderson in the Fox sitcom The Grinder (2015–2016). More recently, she played Anita in Licorice Pizza (2021), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Early life and education Mary Elizabeth Ellis was born on May 11, 1979, in Laurel, Mississippi.
She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2001.
Career TV and film Since the first season of the FX/FXX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia began airing in 2005, Ellis has been mostly known for her role as The Waitress.
In 2008, she co-wrote and starred as Olive in the independent film A Quiet Little Marriage. Ellis was a series regular on the NBC romantic comedy series Perfect Couples, which ran for one season in 2011.
In 2015, she got her first main role as Debbie Sanderson, co-starring with Fred Savage and Rob Lowe in The Grinder. In 2020, she appeared in Disney's Godmothered. The next year, she appeared in Licorice Pizza (2021) as Momma Anita.
Ellis has 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. In 2024 she appeared in A Man on the Inside as Ted Danson's daughter. The series was renewed for a second season, which was released in November 2025.
Stage Ellis and her It's Always Sunny colleague Artemis Pebdani were as of 2011 members of the Los Angeles-based performance group Discount Cruise to Hell.Conversations with Ross: Featuring Mary Elizabeth Ellis 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. The stage show was later adapted to TV for Adult Swim in 2018.
Music videos She has also appeared music videos, including "Diaper Money" (2013) for The Lonely Island, and "Anti-Hero" (2022) for Taylor Swift.
Personal life Ellis and Charlie Day met in 2001 and began dating immediately. They were married on March 4, 2006.Interview with Charlie Day & Mary Elizabeth Ellis, MonsterFresh.com Their son was born in 2011.
The couple have an extensive history of appearing on shows together. In 2004, they auditioned together as incestuous siblings for Reno 911! and landed the roles. Around the same time, Ellis also began playing The Waitress in home movies Day was making. The films became the pilot episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2005, in which Ellis stars.
Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film Year Title Role Notes 2008 A Quiet Little Marriage OliveAlso writer 2009 Pulling Karen 2014 The Last Time You Had Fun Alison 2016Free State of Jones Margaret 2016 Masterminds Michelle Chambers 2018The Truth About Lies Sharon 2020Godmothered Paula Walsh 2021 How It Ends Krista 2021 Licorice Pizza Momma Anita 2023 Fool's Paradise Makeup Woman #1 2024 Red One Olivia2024Last to LeaveBlondeShort film. Also director and writer
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–present A Man on the Inside Emily 16 episodes 2024–2025After MidnightHerself/Guest2 episodes 2025 Bob's Burgers Penelope (voice) Episode: "Get Her to the Zeke"2026Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - ContestantEpisode: "TV Drama & Sitcom Vets"
Web Year Title RoleNotes 2022 The Always Sunny Podcast Herself/Guest 1 episode
Music videos Year Artist Title AlbumNotes 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
Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2001 The Tempest Ariel PCPA Theaterfest2002Killer Joe DottyArtists Repertory Theatre Portland2009The Nightman ComethThe WaitressThe Troubadour2015TrevorAshleyCircle X Theatre Co.
References
External links
"The Days of Disco" interview with Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Charlie Day on MonsterFresh.com