Melanie Chartoff’s acting career began early onstage with The ThreePenny Opera for Yale University and the New London Opera Company, and in the children’s company at the Long Wharf Theatre in her hometown New Haven, Connecticut. She backed up the Ronettes and the Crystals as a wholesome go-go girl for Phil Spector, backed up those experiences with a BA in Theater Arts and TV Directing from Adelphi University and Hofstra on Long Island.

A student of the legendary Stella Adler, Chartoff soon appeared on Broadway in Galt MacDermott’s Via Galactica, then in Scapino with England’s Young Vic Company. Off-Broadway she sang in Sondheim and Rodgers’ Do I Hear a Waltzand was featured in the improv musical revue The Proposition along with Jane Curtin, Josh Mostel and Fred Grandy.

She became a singing ingenue stand-up at the Improv Clubs of NY and LA. West Coast stage premieres of Sunday in the Park with George, March of the Falsettos, Big River and Beyond Therapy soon followed.  She came to prominence writing and performing alongside Larry David and Michael Richards on ABC-TV’s late-night comedy show Fridays.  She had starring and recurring roles on The Newhart Show, Married with Children, Seinfeld, Wise Guy, Weird Science, Allie McBeal, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and the animated Jumanji. And she cohosted the syndicated talk show What’s Hot What’s Not with Fred Willard.

She became a popular guest on talk shows, including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Merv Griffin Show, Entertainment Tonight plus Good Morning programs in NY, LA ,and Chicago.  She’s a frequent guest on podcast and radio shows talking about her first book Odd Woman Out, rated 5-stars on most book sites.

She proudly shares an Emmy and a Star on the HollywoodWalk of Fame for voicing the iconic characters Didi and Minka in the animated series Rugrats.  She recently became a new wife and stepmother and lives in Los Angeles where she performs in new plays and YouTube films.  

For more information, go to melaniechartoff.com