Lisa Ann Walter, born on August 3, 1963, is a versatile American actress, comedian, and television producer who has carved out a distinctive career in both scripted and unscripted entertainment. She is best known for her memorable performance as Chessy, the warm and witty housekeeper in the beloved romantic comedy The Parent Trap (1998), and for her current starring role as the sharp-tongued second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti on the acclaimed ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary (2021–present). For her work on the latter, Walter and her castmates received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, cementing her status as a key figure in one of television’s most celebrated ensemble shows.

Walter’s career began in the mid-1990s when she created, executive produced, and starred in the ABC sitcom Life’s Work (1996–1997), a show that showcased her comedic talents as both a writer and performer. She later expanded her reach into reality television, creating and executive producing the Oxygen network weight-loss competition series Dance Your Ass Off, which combined dance challenges with personal transformation. Her on-screen presence extended to the judge’s panel on ABC’s The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?, and she became a formidable game show contestant, winning celebrity editions of both The Weakest Link and Jeopardy!. To date, Walter is the sixteenth highest-earning game show contestant of all time, having accumulated a total of $1,242,500 through her various game show appearances.

In addition to her television work, Walter has appeared in a number of notable films. She played a supporting role in the Jim Carrey comedy Bruce Almighty (2003), appeared in the romantic drama Shall We Dance (2004) starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, and had a role in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi blockbuster War of the Worlds (2005). Her filmography also includes appearances in The Last Days of Disco and My Baby’s Daddy. Throughout her career, Walter has demonstrated a knack for blending humor with heart, a quality that has made her a beloved figure in both film and television. Currently, she continues to delight audiences as a series regular on Abbott Elementary, where her portrayal of Melissa Schemmenti has earned critical praise and a devoted fan following, ensuring her legacy as a talented and enduring presence in the entertainment industry.