Melanie Joy Mayron, born October 20, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American actress and director recognized for her Emmy-winning performance on television and her subsequent transition to directing films and series.

She began her career in theater, touring the United States in the musical Godspell before making her film debut as Ginger in Harry and Tonto in 1974, followed by roles in Car Wash and Gable and Lombard. Her breakthrough came with the independent film Girlfriends in 1978, where she portrayed Susan Weinblatt, a struggling Jewish photographer, earning a British Academy Film Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.​

Melanie Mayron gained widespread acclaim for her role as Melissa Steadman, the free-spirited photographer and friend of the main couple, on the ABC drama series thirtysomething from 1987 to 1991, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1989 and receiving nominations in 1990 and 1991.

During this period, she co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the comedy Sticky Fingers in 1988 alongside Helen Slater. Other acting credits include the miniseries Playing for Time with Vanessa Redgrave, Missing directed by Costa-Gavras, and guest appearances on series like Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The Twilight Zone.​

Transitioning to directing in the 1990s, she helmed the feature film The Baby-Sitters Club in 1995, the television remake of Freaky Friday that same year, and Toothless in 1997 starring Kirstie Alley, for which she earned a Directors Guild of America nomination.

She continued with Slap Her... She's French in 2002 and later independent features like Snapshots in 2018, which won awards at film festivals. Her extensive television directing portfolio encompasses episodes of Jane the Virgin, where she also recurred as Marlene Donaldson - GLOW, SEAL Team, Julia, Dynasty, Charmed, Grace and Frankie, and Pretty Little Liars, among others.​

In 2018, the Santa Fe Film Festival honored Mayron for her contributions to film and television, reflecting her dual legacy in front of and behind the camera.

She has also produced projects like Brooklyn All American in 2020 and maintained a presence in acting with roles in films such as Breaking the Girls and the Itty Bitty Titty Committee.