• Meredith Salenger is an American actress born in Malibu, California in 1970
• She attended Santa Monica High school and Harvard University, and later enrolled at Pepperdine University’s School of Law
• She has appeared in over 80 movies and TV series, most notably in “The Journey of Natty Gann”, “Village of the Damned”, and “Race to Witch Mountain”
• She is married to American stand-up comedian and actor Patton Peter Oswalt
• She has a net worth of over $3 million
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Who is Meredith Salenger?
American actress Meredith Dawn Salenger was born in Malibu, California USA, on 14 March 1970, so her zodiac sign’s Pisces. She’s appeared in over 80 movies and TV series, but is probably still known best for playing the title role in the 1985 family adventure movie “The Journey of Natty Gann”, directed by Jeremy Kagan, and which also starred John Cusack and Ray Wise. Set in the 1930s, the film follows a tomboy who’s run away from her guardian, wanting to find her father who’s more than 3,000 kilometers away; the film won one of its five award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design.
Education and early life
Meredith was raised in Malibu as an only child, by her father Gary Salenger who was a dentist, and mother Dorothy who was an interior designer; she’s Jewish, and her family’s of Russian and Austrian descent.
Meredith began appearing in her elementary school plays at the age of eight, and was 12 when she made her debut film appearance, playing Orphan in the 1982 family comedy film “Annie”, which was nominated for two Oscars, for Best Music, Original Song Score and Best Art Direction – Set Decoration. She attended Santa Monica High school, and upon matriculating in 1988 enrolled at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1992.
Meredith then pursued a career in the film industry, before in 2007 enrolling at Pepperdine University’s School of Law, earning certificates in Court-Based Mediation of Family Law Matters in 2009, and Mediating the Litigated Case in 2011.
Roles in movies
Some of Meredith’s notable performances in the ‘80s were in the 1986 romantic drama “The Last Frontier”, the 1988 historical war drama “April Morning”, and the 1989 romantic comedy “Dream a Little Dream”.
In 1995, she starred as Melanie Roberts in the horror science fiction thriller “Village of the Damned”, which John Carpenter directed, and which also starred Kirstie Alley and Christopher Reeve; it follows a group of women from a small town who are giving birth to alien children, and the film was nominated for three awards. Some of Meredith’s movie roles in the remainder of the decade were in 1996 drama “Pier 66”, the 1998 comedy “Sour Grapes”, and the 1999 drama “Matters of Consequence”.
What marked the 2000s for her was perhaps her portrayal of Natalie Gann in the hit 2009 action family adventure “Race to Witch Mountain”, directed by Andy Fickman, and which starred Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino and AnnaSophia Robb. It follows a taxi driver and a UFO expert from Las Vegas, Nevada as they’re protecting two siblings with supernatural abilities from an evil organization – the movie was nominated for an ALMA Award for Best Actor in Film (Cheech Marin).
Well, I'm sitting next to her and she's wearing THIS: pic.twitter.com/csmXtLFOXa
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) July 22, 2017
Some of Meredith’s following roles were in the 2010 family fantasy “The Lamp”, the 2013 horror thriller “Crush”, and the 2015 action science fiction adventure “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”.
Amongst Meredith’s most recent film roles have been voicing Cat Lady in the 2019 animated adventure comedy “The Secret Life of Pets 2”, directed by Chris Renaud and Jonathan del Val, and which starred Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart and Harrison Ford. It follows a group of pets whose owners have just left for work – the film was nominated for 11 awards.
Roles in TV series
Meredith’s debut TV series role was playing Amber Wheeler in the 1986 episode “My Town” of the family adventure “The Magical World of Disney”, and her following role came in 1993, when cast to play Mona in the episode “House of Horror” of the fantasy crime-comedy “Tales from the Crypt”.
She appeared in an episode of various other series in the ‘90s, including the action adventure “L. A. Firefighters”, the action crime adventure “The Sentinel” and the fantasy horror “Poltergeist: The Legacy”.
What marked the 2000s for Meredith was perhaps playing Diane Walker in the 2005 episode “Under Threat” of the crime mystery “Close to Home”, created by Jim Leonard, and which starred Jennifer Finnigan, Kimberly Elise and David James Elliott. It follows the life of prosecutor Annabeth Chase, and the series won one of its four award nominations.
In 2012, Meredith starred as Lisa Sanders in 71 episodes of the drama “Hollywood Heights”, co-starring Melissa Ordway and Jama Williamson, which follows a high school senior who’s dreaming of becoming a songwriter; it was nominated for an Imagen Foundation Award for Best Young Actress/Television (Brittany Underwood).
Some of Meredith’s most recent TV series roles have been in the 2019 episode “The Chick and the Egg Donor” of the romantic comedy “Will & Grace”, the 2020 episode “Chapter Nine: Have Fun Storming the Castle!” of the short fantasy comedy “Home Movie: The Princess Bride”, and two episodes of the 2021 animated action comedy “M. O. D. O. K.” (voice role).
Other credits
Meredith sang the song “Everybody Be Gay” in the 2008 science fiction comedy movie “My Apocalypse”.
She received special thanks for the 1988 short drama movie “Dare to Say No!”, and the 2022 TV special “Patton Oswalt: We All Scream”.
Some of Meredith’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, “Films to Be Buried with”, and “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”.
Awards and nominations
Meredith won a 1986 Young Artist Award for Best Starring Performance by a Young Actress – Motion Picture, for “The Journey of Natty Gann”, and was nominated for a 1989 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon”.
She was also nominated for a 1990 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in “The Kiss”, and a 2018 Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short, for her and her colleagues’ performance in “Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain”.
Love life and husband
Meredith prefers not to speak about her love life in public, however, she and American stand-up comedian and actor Patton Peter Oswalt have still let their fans have a glimpse into their love life. The two became engaged in July 2017, after having dated for only a couple of months, and exchanged vows on 4 November of the same year, in front of their closest friends and family members. Patton’s appeared in more than 240 movies and TV series, and is probably best known for playing Matt Freehauf in the 2011 comedy film “Young Adult”.
Meredith and Patton don’t seem to be planning on having children together, but Patton has a daughter Alice with his first wife, the late American true crime author Michelle Eileen McNamara; they were married from 24 September 2005 until she died in her sleep on 21 April 2016.
Meredith hasn’t spoken of other men whom she’s dated, she’s married to Patton Peter Oswalt as of January 2023, and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Meredith’s revealed that she loves to work, and often feels bored when she’s taking a break from acting.
She was eight years old when she told her mother that she was going to become a famous actress.
Meredith’s followed by more than 70,000 people on Instagram, and has posted over 2,000 pictures onto the social media network.
She’s passionate about travelling, but rarely travels to the same city twice, unless for work.
Meredith likes to wear pink and red clothes.
She loves stand-up comedy, and her favorite comedian’s the late Robin Williams.
Meredith’s favorite actors are George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, and some of her favorite movies include “Money Monster”, “The American”, and “The Descendants”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Meredith’s age is 52. Her eyes are green and she has black hair, she’s 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall and weighs about 115lbs (52kgs).
Meredith’s net worth’s been estimated at over $3 million, as of January 2023.
