Maurissa Tancharoen
Tancharoen in 2014
Born
Maurissa Anne Tancharoen

(1975-11-28) November 28, 1975
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesMaurissa Tancharoen Whedon
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1988–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​
Children1
RelativesKevin Tancharoen (brother)

Maurissa Tancharoen (/məˈrɪsə ˌtæntʃəˈroʊn/) is an American writer, producer, and actress. She is known for her work as the co-creator, show runner, and executive producer of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which aired on the ABC television network for 7 seasons from 2013 to 2020. She is from Los Angeles.[1][2]

Career

Tancharoen has worked as an actor, writer, production assistant, showrunner, and executive producer in television and film.

She began working as a production assistant under producer Mark Tinker on NYPD Blue and William M. Finkelstein on Brooklyn South.[2] Along with brother Kevin Tancharoen, she co-executive produced of the series DanceLife in collaboration with Jennifer Lopez in 2007.[2][3] She co-produced episodes of the Starz series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Vengeance.[4]

Tancharoen sold her first script in 2001 when Revolution Studios bought an untitled pitch about two Asian American FBI agents investigating a gang in South Central Los Angeles while working undercover as store clerks at a Korean store.[5] She was hired as a writer on the short-lived sitcom Oliver Beene in 2003.[2][3]

During the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, Tancharoen worked with her writing partner Jed Whedon and his brothers, Zack and writer/director Joss on the musical comedy-drama miniseries Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, which was produced exclusively for internet distribution and circumvented issues which were being protested during the strike. The musical was highly successful and won seven awards at the 2009 Streamy Awards for web television.[6]

Tancharoen went on to work as a writer and story editor on Drop Dead Diva and Dollhouse. She worked unaccredited on The Avengers,[7][8] with brother-in-law director Joss and husband Jed Whedon. The success of The Avengers opened the door for a successful pitch by the trio to create the Marvel universe TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[9][10] Tancharoen was the co-writer, showrunner, and co-executive producer with Jed for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for seven seasons (2013-2020).[11][12]

In addition to her writing and production credits, Tancharoen has appeared on screen or contributed voice talent in episodes of Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and Joss Whedon's 2011 adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.[13] She co-wrote and performed lyrics for "Remains" with Jed Whedon for the Dollhouse episode "Epitaph One". She was Zelda's singing voice in the season 2 episode "The Musical" of The Legend of Neil, a spoof based on the video game The Legend of Zelda. According to her Twitter posts, she performed backing vocals and danced in the video for The Guild parody song "(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar" released on August 17, 2009.[14] In the Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog DVD, "Commentary! The Musical", she sings about the scarcity of non-stereotyped roles in television and film for actors of Asian origin.[15]

Personal life and education

Tancharoen's name is of Thai origin (ตันเจริญ).[16] She is the daughter of Asian immigrants. Her father Tommy Tancharoen is a transportation coordinator in Hollywood. Her younger brother Kevin Tancharoen is a director, whose feature film debut was 2009's Fame. On April 19, 2009, she married fellow writer Jed Whedon, brother of Joss Whedon.[17][18] Their first child, a daughter, was born in 2015.[1]

Tancharoen was a singer and dancer as a child and teenager. She appeared as a dancer in the "Badder" segment of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker in 1988. She was also a member of the all-girl multi-cultural R&B group Pretty in Pink which recorded a single album with Motown in 1991. Chaka Khan's daughter, Milini Khan was a member of the group; the other members of the group were Shey Sperry, Tameika Chaney, and Taniya Robinson. The band broke up without having recorded a hit song.[17][19]

Tancharoen attended Occidental College, where she majored in English and comparative literary studies and minored in theater. She began writing during her time at Occidental and authored two plays which earned the school's Argonaut & Moore literary award.[17]

Lupus

Tancharoen was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 15. Her early symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, and a butterfly rash intensified as she aged resulting in periodic episodes in which the autoimmune disease attacks her organs and central nervous system. She has been an advocate for lupus awareness and research, talking about her personal experience with the disease during media interviews.[20][21]

Tancharoen said, "Every year during May I do my part to raise lupus awareness, from conversations with friends and family to always wearing my purple during Lupus Awareness Month and definitely on Put On Purple Day."[20]

Her friends and family formed Club Mo to raise money for the Walk for Lupus Now event in Los Angeles in 2011. The team raised about $80,000 for the event.[22]

Awards

In 2009, Tancharoen won a Streamy Award for Best Writing for a Comedy Web Series for Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

Studio album

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Moonwalker Dancer Segment: "Badder"
2003 Headache EKG Nurse Short
2005 I? Jessica Short
2008 Promotion Short
2012 Much Ado About Nothing Additional Cast
2014 Lust for Love Hazel

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 King of the Hill Yuppie Woman #1 (voice) Episode: "Mutual of Omabwah"
2008 Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Groupie #1 Episode: "Act III"
2009 The Legend of Neil Zelda (singing voice) Episode: "Les Neilérables"
2009 Floored and Lifted Mo Episode: "That's Fine"
2009–2010 Dollhouse Kilo Episodes: "The Public Eye", "Meet Jane Doe", "Epitaph Two: The Return"
2011 The Guild Alina Episodes: "Ends and Begins", "Revolving Doors", "Downturn"
2011, 2013 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kana Episodes: "Scorpion & Sub Zero: Parts 1 & 2", "Liu Kang and Kung Lao Reunite in Macau"
2013 LearningTown Young Wand-A Episodes: "Princess", "Viral", "Storm"
2019 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sequoia Episode: "Code Yellow"

Production credits

Year Title Notes
1998–2000 NYPD Blue Assistant to Mark Tinker (31 episodes)
2003 Oliver Beene Staff writer (TV series)
2007 DanceLife Co-executive producer (TV series)
2008 Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Writer ("Act I-III")
2009 Drop Dead Diva Story editor (8 episodes), writer ("Crazy")
2009–2010 Dollhouse Story editor, writer (13 episodes)
2011 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Co-producer (6 episodes), writer ("Missio")
2012 Spartacus: Vengeance Co-producer (5 episodes)
2013–2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Creator, executive producer, writer (17 episodes), showrunner (44 episodes)
2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot Executive producer (6 episodes)

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Maurissa Tancharoen Biography". IMDb. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Maurissa Tancharoen Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine biographical information, DoctorHorrible.net. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  3. 1 2 Magazine, Audrey (April 27, 2015). "Get Inspired by 'Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Showrunner Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon". Character Media. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Spartacus Gods Of The Arena Episode 3 Photo Preview". Cinemablend.com. 2011-01-29. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  5. ↑ Charles Lyons. "Revolution catches FBI pitch", Daily Variety Gotham, June 11, 2001, page 6: " 'This is my first official gig as a screenwriter,' Tancharoen said. 'It's a break for me, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Revolution is an amazing place to be.' "
  6. ↑ Mike Hale (August 2, 2008). "In Online Musical, the Mad Doctor Is In". The New York Times. p. 7 Arts. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Joss Whedon Writes Thank You Letter to Fans for Years of Support, 'Avengers' Success". Hollywood Reporter. 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  8. ↑ Caroline van Oosten de Boer, Milo Vermeulen (2012-05-09). "The Purple - Purple prose". Whedonesque.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  9. ↑ Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D. Comes to ABC, SuperheroHype.com, 29 August 2012, retrieved August 29, 2012
  10. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 28, 2012). "ABC Greenlights 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' Marvel Pilot, Joss Whedon to Co-Write & Possibly Direct". Deadline. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (August 12, 202). "'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.': Behind the Scenes of the Emotional Series Finale". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Connelly, Brendon (September 14, 2014). "Exclusive! Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Showrunner Talks Interconnection with Avengers: Age of Ultron, Agent Carter, & Marvel Cinematic Universe". Comicbook. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Listen to Joss Whedon Put Shakespeare's Words to Music". BuzzFeed. 6 June 2013.
  14. ↑ @MoTancharoen (August 17, 2009). "#1 on itunes! Wow. And yes ..." twitter.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011. #1 on itunes! Wow. And yes that's me dancing, and yes, I sing on the bg vocals. @theguild rocks! #datemyavatar video!!!
  15. ↑ Liz Shannon Miller. "Dr. Horrible DVD: Yes, it's worth your money," NewTeeVee.com, December 10, 2008.
  16. ↑ Exclusive: Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen Archived 2008-07-19 at the Wayback Machine (interview), DoctorHorrible.net, July 19, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-21. (includes audio)
  17. 1 2 3 Anderson, Dick (November 14, 2013). "Maurissa Explains It All". Occidental College. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ Official Dr. Horrible Twitter updates: Maurissa and Jed are getting married in less than 48 hours Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon
  19. ↑ "Pretty in Pink". Discogs. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Maurissa, Raising Awareness Every Way She Can". Lupus Foundation of America. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  21. ↑ Warrior Princess: Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon finds support through friends and family Archived 2014-09-03 at the Wayback Machine lupus.org. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  22. ↑ "How Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon Became an Advocate for Lupus". Lupus Foundation of America. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  23. ↑ Jet Magazine, 1991
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