Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Mary Elizabeth Ellis (born May 11, 1979) is an American actress, best known for her recurring roles as The Waitress on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present), Nick's ex-girlfriend Caroline in the Fox sitcom New Girl (2011–2018) and Lisa Palmer on the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019). Ellis also starred as Amy in the shortlived NBC sitcom Perfect Couples (2010–2011) and Debbie Sanderson in the Fox sitcom The Grinder (2015–2016). Most recently, she played Gary's mother Anita in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza (2021). Ellis was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2002. Since the first season began airing in 2005, Ellis has been mostly widely known for her role as The Waitress, the object of Charlie Kelly's unrequited infatuation and obsession, on the FX/FXX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present). Ellis and her It's Always Sunny colleague Artemis Pebdani are members of the Los Angeles-based performance group Discount Cruise to Hell. 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, California.