Molly Gordon

Here is a detailed biography of Molly Gordon, the American actress:

Early Life & Family Background

Full name & birthdate: Molly Gordon (Molly June Gordon) was born December 6, 1994 in Los Angeles, California.
Parents: She comes from a creative family. Her father is Bryan Gordon, a television and film director, and her mother is Jessie Nelson, a writer, director, and producer.
Cultural / religious background: Her family is Jewish.
Early performance & theatrical interest: From a young age she appeared on stage in Los Angeles. She and her childhood friends (such as Ben Platt) performed musicals like Fiddler on the Roof when she was about four, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at five.
Education & move to New York: She briefly attended New York University, but left after two weeks, dissatisfied with the program. She then pursued acting more directly, including doing night classes and working as a hostess.

Her film debut was a small role in I Am Sam (2001), directed by her mother, where she played “Callie.”
She also appeared in Bewitched (2005) in a minor role.
On television, she had guest appearances in shows such as Sin City Saints and Orange Is the New Black.
In 2015, she was cast as Nicky Belmont in the TNT crime drama series Animal Kingdom. That role became one of her better-known television credits.

She played Maddie (Melissa McCarthy’s daughter) in the 2018 comedy Life of the Party.
In 2019, she appeared as Annabelle / “Triple A” in Booksmart.
Also in 2019 she appeared in Good Boys.
She acted in Shiva Baby (2020), playing Maya, an ex-girlfriend of the lead.
She has taken on multiple roles as writer, director, and producer as well. For instance, she co-directed, co-wrote, and starred in Theater Camp (2023).
She also co-wrote and starred in the romantic comedy Oh, Hi! (2025).

On television, she has recurred in Ramy (2022–2023)
More recently, she joined The Bear (from 2023 onward) in the role of Claire Dunlap.
Her involvement in The Bear came even while Theater Camp was in editing, and she was offered the Bear role during that period.

Molly Gordon’s acting style often balances comedy and emotional subtlety. She often embodies characters that are quirky but grounded.
Her experience in writing and directing gives her a multi-dimensional view of storytelling. Her move into co-directing Theater Camp shows her expanding creative control.
Her public image is of a rising young talent—relatable, earnest, and versatile.

Here are some of her more notable credits:

Film

Television

She grew up in Los Angeles in a creative environment, which likely influenced her early exposure to theater and film.
She and her peers (like Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein) formed an informal troupe when young, doing performances at local retirement homes and such.
During Theater Camp, she drew on her own childhood camp experiences to help shape the film.
She has admitted in interviews that she sometimes spoils The Bear for co-stars unintentionally, saying “I can’t keep a secret.”

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Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon