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Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Ann Walter

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born August 3, 1963 (63) · Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner

Lisa Ann Walter (born August 3, 1963) is an American actress, comedian, and television producer, best known for her roles as Chessy the housekeeper in the romantic comedy film The Parent Trap (1998) and Melissa Schemmenti on the Peabody Award-winning ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary (2021–present), for which she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series. She was formerly the creator and executive producer of Oxygen network reality weight-loss competition series, Dance Your Ass Off. Her other reality television work includes her stint as a judge on ABC's reality television series The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?, and as winning celebrity editions of the game shows The Weakest Link and Jeopardy! She also created and starred in the 1996–1997 sitcom, Life's Work, and appeared in such films as Bruce Almighty, Shall We Dance, and War of the Worlds.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 3, 1963 (63)
From
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 51% in 30 days

What are Lisa Ann Walter's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
39%
Self
28%
Society
13%
Morality
8%
Survival
8%
Power
2%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 0 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 5
Threshold guardian
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
11
Warm
12
Tense
6
Absurd
6
Hopeful
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lisa Ann Walter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lisa Ann Walter's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

50 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 22 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Lisa Ann Walter: It Was an Accident(2026)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever(2023)

    as Gabby (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Blanche

  • Abbott Elementary(2021)

    Show 93 episodes · as Melissa Schemmenti

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Right Mom(2021)

    as Margaret Blanchette

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • I Can See Your Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Jersey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Producer · as Tess

  • The More Things Change (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer · Actor

  • Remember Amnesia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Patient's Wife

  • Psycho Stripper(2019)

    as Margot Mathison

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Sydney to the Max(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marlene

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • 9-1-1(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Delia Narwood

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • GLOW(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorene

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Dependent's Day(2016)

    as Bette

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Odd Couple(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Linda

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Wish Wizard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Helga

  • Feels So Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Lisa Wright

  • Wedding Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Chef Cherie

  • The Exes(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Margo

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Wreckage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Doctor Richardson

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach JJ

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Killers(2010)

    as Olivia

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Joy Behar: Say Anything! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dance Your Ass Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show Creator

  • Celebracadabra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · as Contestant

  • Drillbit Taylor(2008)

    as Dolores

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Entry Level (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kathy

  • Watch Over Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mabel

  • Room 6(2006)

    as Sgt. Burch

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Coffee Date(2006)

    as Sara

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Modern Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Trouble with Dee Dee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dee Dee Rutherford

  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Melissa Schemmenti

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • War of the Worlds(2005)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shirley Gregory

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Shall We Dance?(2004)

    as Bobbie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose Gluck

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Nip/Tuck(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Hickock

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Bruce Almighty(2003)

    as Debbie

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Breaking News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · as Rachel Glass

  • Early Bird Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Janet

  • Emeril (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · as Cassandra Gilman

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita Harper

  • Get Your Stuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Nancy Perry

  • The Parent Trap(1998)

    as Chessy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Life's Work(1996)

    Show 18 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Lisa Ann Hunter

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Eddie(1996)

    as Claudine

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • My Wildest Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · as Lisa McGinnis

  • The Next Best Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles, 50 of them dated from 1995 to 2026; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

War of the Worlds (2005)

$604M worldwide

Highest rated

Abbott Elementary (2021)

Midcredits 90th

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19952026

Peak 2004 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 51: 46 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndDirecting2 of 51: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 51: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 51: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew2 of 51: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

51 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s4 · 4 acting · 1 crew2000s23 · 22 acting · 1 crew2010s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s7 · 6 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
9606

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Screen Actors Guild Award from 4 major nominations, 2023–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  2. 2025
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  3. 2024
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  4. 2023
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Lisa Ann Walter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Dependent's Day (2016)

87th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Abbott Elementary (2021)

Midcredits 90th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 30. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lisa Ann Walter's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles7–61 · median 32 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles11–54 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles10–59 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles7–34 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles6–70 · median 12 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lisa Ann Walter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lisa Ann Walter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Elaine Hendrix shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles