Marisa Coughlan ( ; born March 17, 1974) is an American actress and writer. Her first prominent role was a lead in Kevin Williamson's Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), followed by a role as Officer Ursula Hanson in the comedy Super Troopers (2001) and as Betty in Freddy Got Fingered (2001). She also had a recurring role as Melissa Hughes on the series Boston Legal.
Early life Coughlan is a native of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from Breck School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Career Coughlan's first film appearance to gain mainstream attention was in Kevin Williamson's directorial debut Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), in which she co-starred alongside Katie Holmes and Helen Mirren. She was cast in the role after reportedly having been rejected for a role on Williamson's series Dawson's Creek. She followed this with a recurring role on the series Wasteland in 1999.
Other films she appeared in included Pumpkin (co-starring with Christina Ricci), a drama about sorority girls; New Suit, a satirical comedy about the inner workings of Hollywood; Super Troopers, playing Officer Ursula Hanson; and Freddy Got Fingered as Betty.
She had a recurring role on the television series Boston Legal as secretary Melissa Hughes in seasons two and three. She appeared in a ouija board segment in an early episode of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction which also features in every episode of the show. In 2007, she starred as Jenny McIntyre in Lifetime Television's original series Side Order of Life. In 2008–2009, she appeared on three episodes of the TV show Bones.
Coughlan began writing while she was pregnant and taking time off from acting. She wrote and produced her first pilot, Lost & Found for ABC in 2011. In 2014, she completed writing a comedy based on Peter and Wendy for NBC. In 2016, it was reported by Variety that Fox was developing a comedy series titled Pushing, written by Coughlan and produced by Greg Berlanti.
In 2022, Coughlan wrote and starred opposite Beau Bridges in the independent drama film Days When the Rains Came, which was filmed in Minnesota.
Personal life After living in Studio City, California, Coughlan sold her home there in 2015.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1996 Our Son, the Matchmaker Julie Longwell 1997 The Sleepwalker Killing Tanya Lane 1999 Teaching Mrs. Tingle Jo Lynn Jordan 2000 Gossip Sheila 2001 Freddy Got Fingered Betty Super Troopers Ursula Hansen 2002 Pumpkin Julie Thurber New Suit Marianne Roxbury 2003 Criminology 101 Molly Dr. Benny Candy Dry Cycle Ruby I Love Your Work Jane 2004 Kat Plus One Kat 2005 Jake in Progress Hope 2006 Wasted Kelly 2007 Meet Bill Laura 2008 Poundcake Deborah also known as The Dissection of Thanksgiving Already Dead Sarah Archer 2014 Space Station 76 Misty 2018 Super Troopers 2 Chief Ursula Hansen 2020 Infamous Janet 2025 Blue Eyed Girl Also writer2026 Super Troopers 3 Chief Ursula Hansen
Television Year Film Role Notes 1995 Step by Step New Girl 2 Episode: "The Wall" Weird Science Barbara Episode:"Future Bride" Fist of the North Star Jenny Television film 1996 High Society Dana Episode: "Nip and Tuck" The Guilt Kendall Cornell Episode: "Dean's Office" The Burning Zone Chante Lefort Episode: "Blood Covenant" 1997 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Summer Segment: "The Prophecy" (also show intro sequence on every episode) Diagnosis Murder Allison Porter Episode: "Open and Shut" 1998 The Magnificent Seven Nora Episode: "Working Girls" 1999 Wasteland Dawnie Parker Main role 2003 The Twilight Zone April Beech Episode: "Rewind" 2006 Boston Legal Melissa Hughes Recurring role (seasons 2–3); 12 episodes Masters of Horror Dina Episode: "The Damned Thing" Separated at Worth Tess Television film 2007 Side Order of Life Jenny McIntyre Main role 2009 Medium Gabrielle Episode: "Soul Survivor" Bones Special Agent Payton Perotta 3 episodes 2011 Man Up! Dr. Donna Perkins Episode: "Men and Their Chickens" 2012 How to Be a Gentleman Candice Episode: "How to Share a Relationship" 2019 Legacies The Keeper Episode: "Screw Endgame"
References
External links