Biography

Maryellen Owens is a performer and writer, whose work has appeared on the big screen, stage, radio and TV.

A native St Louisan, and SAG~AFTRA union performer, Maryellen has two roles in 2023’s Proof Sheet, from director Richard Kilroy, which premiered at Grauman’s (TCL) Chinese Theatre in Dances With Films Los Angeles and is an official selection of the St. Louis International Film Festival 2023. 

Performing the voice acting role of “LA Radio DJ” which opens the films trailer, art imitates life, as she is a real-life former morning radio host in multiple markets including St Louis and Dallas TX. 

And secondly as musician, Maryellen provides soundtrack vocals for Proof Sheet on her new arrangement of The First Noel, which she sang and recorded remotely for the film, shot in Los Angeles. (The First Noel, A New Noel 2023)

While Maryellen has performed music live on stages across St. Louis (Blueberry Hill, Off Broadway, Pointfest, Mississippi Nights, Venice Cafe, and more recently in Los Angeles (EchoPlex, El Cid, Room 5 The Mint, Hollywood Improv) this marks her first foray into original recording for soundtrack motion picture, feature length film. 

From 20th Century Fox, David Prior’s The Empty Man is a project to which Maryellen thoroughly enjoyed lending character actor voice.  Knowing David many years, she was honored by his appreciation of her freestyle creativity to shape an “unearthly eerie hypnotic” sound mantra as the Female Pontifex Voice in his gripping horror drama. 

Maryellen performed a supporting role in the 20 Century Fox feature “Kinsey”, starring Liam Neeson and directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls). She portrays an assistant professor, on-screen with Academy Award winner Timothy Hutton. Owens received the Screen Actor’s Guild “Emerging Actor” Award for her work in “Kinsey”. A portion of her performance was selected for the national theatrical trailer for Kinsey as well. Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated, “Kinsey” is now available on DVD and airing on HBO.

Her improv performance in the mockumentary “Beaux & D’aria” (D’aria) earned “Outstanding Performance” “Outstanding Writing” and the "Audience Award" at the 48 Hour Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film received “Best Short” at the St. Louis International Film Festival, and a letter of interest from HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival at the LA Shorts Fest. A singer /songwriter, Maryellen’s satirical song “O God in Heaven, the Celebrity Prayer” accompanies the “Beaux & D’aria” soundtrack.

On the east coast, Maryellen sang and danced the lead role of “Virginia” in the new musical production, “Einstein’s Breakfast” at the Ocean View, Delaware Amphitheatre. She’s performed on stage with Moving Arts Theatre Company at Los Angeles Theatre Center and wrote original material for the LA Weekly-praised, poetry play “Seven Hearts”. In Los Angeles, her stand-up appearances include The Improv, and The Icehouse. Her comedic characters have been featured on KZLA FM’s morning drive program.

She began her professional career as a radio and live television host in St. Louis Missouri at KPNT FM, KDNL TV, and later at KDGE FM, in Dallas, Texas. Celebrity interviews include Jamie Foxx, Gloria Steinem, Beyonce, Larry David, and Beck.

As a radio host, Maryellen has received awards “Women We Love”, The Riverfront Times, St. Louis, “Critics Choice”, The Dallas Observer, “Best of the Best” St. Louis Readers Poll, St. Louis Post Dispatch, “Best Radio Show”, Spotlight Magazine for her comedic/character work on radio stations KPNT FM The Point, St. Louis and KDGE FM The Edge, Dallas.

The national music industry trade paper Radio and Records (R&R), praised Maryellen as a rebel-groundbreaker for her on-air performance on America’s first major-market two-woman morning radio program at KPNT, Maryellen’s alternative rock CD, with band Pretty Polly, received high marks from the music trade, College Music Journal (CMJ).

Maryellen studied film performance technique with Jackie Benton in Los Angeles, and improv with Tom Johnson (The Daily Show), and Christopher Bosen (Groundlings). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at Fontbonne University, and studied music at Washington University, St. Louis Missouri.

Maryellen is co-owner of DVD production company Invisible Machine, Inc.

Contact Maryellen Owens