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Melissa Francis, born December 12, 1972, is an American journalist and former actress. She began her career in entertainment at a very young age, appearing in commercials and television shows, most notably as Cassandra Cooper Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie." After her acting career, Francis transitioned to journalism, working for CNBC and CNET before joining the Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News Channel (FNC).

At FBN, she co-hosted "After The Bell," and at FNC, she was an anchor for "Happening Now" and a panelist on "Outnumbered." In late 2020, reports indicated she had departed from Fox; she later received a $15 million settlement in 2022 related to a pay discrimination lawsuit filed against the network. Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Harvard University. She has also authored two books: a memoir titled "Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter" and "Lessons from the Prairie," reflecting on her childhood experiences.

Born Melissa Ann Francis, she began her professional life as a child performer, starting with a shampoo commercial at just six months old. Her most recognized role was playing Cassandra Cooper Ingalls for two seasons on the popular television series "Little House on the Prairie." Her acting credits also include regular roles on the series "Morningstar/Eveningstar" and "Joe's World," and appearances in films such as "Man, Woman and Child" and "Bad Dreams." Throughout her acting tenure, she was featured in approximately 100 commercials. While unconfirmed and denied by the actress involved, there have been reports suggesting she was the inspiration for the fictional character Avery Jessup in the show "30 Rock."

Following her work as an actress, Melissa Francis pursued a career in journalism. She gained experience reporting for CNBC and CNET before moving to the Fox News Channel (FNC) and Fox Business Network (FBN) in 2012. At FBN, she served as a co-host for "After The Bell." She also became a prominent figure at FNC, co-hosting the news commentary program "Outnumbered" and anchoring the "Happening Now" newscast. Her tenure at Fox concluded in late 2020, with reports suggesting her departure was involuntary. She later settled a pay discrimination lawsuit against the network for $15 million.

Melissa Francis is also a published author. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University, graduating in 1995. Her writing career includes "Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter: A Memoir," released in November 2012, which chronicles the experiences of growing up with a demanding mother. In April 2017, she published "Lessons from the Prairie," a book that draws parallels between her childhood experiences on the television show and her adult life. She is currently affiliated with Newsmax.