18 Things to Know About Jewish Actress Molly Ephraim (2024)

The "League of Their Own" actress was extremely pregnant during the filming of the show.

ByEvelyn Frick

OK, who else has already binged all of “A League of Their Own,” the incredible reboot of the 1992 movie from “Broad City” star Abbi Jacobson?!

If you haven’t, stop reading this right now and go do that. If you have, you’re probably familiar with Maybelle Fox, the Rockford Peaches’ resident blonde bombshell.But did you know that Maybelle is played by Jewish actress Molly Ephraim?

It’s true! Here are 18 things to know about Molly Ephraim.

1. Molly was born in Philadelphia in 1986 to a Jewish family.

2. She was “raised in a Jewish household, but not a very religious one” — though she did grow up celebrating all the holidays.

3. She was an adorable child!

Just look:

4. According to Molly, her brother Max was the “illest, chillest, coolest Bar Mitzvah boi ever.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEw_1pSutjV/

We simply have to agree.

5. She grew up acting at the Bucks County Playhouse, her local theater, and for her 10th birthday she asked for an agent!

“[My parents] were like, ‘Oh no, this is bad, this is very bad,’” she told the New York Post. “They were very supportive, but also, that’s terrifying.”

6. In 2002, Molly made her Broadway debut in the revival of “Into the Woods” as Little Red Riding Hood.

When legendary Jewish composerStephen Sondheim passed away in 2021, Molly wrote about her incredible experience meeting him:

7. In 2008, Molly graduated from Princeton University witha B.A. in religious studies!

“I became a Religious Studies major because I was interested in studying religions from kind of an outsider’s point of view and understanding my own religion from that standpoint,” Molly said in an interview.

8. Molly’s first main role on TV was as Mandy Baxter in Tim Allen’s sitcom “Last Man Standing.”

Here are her best moments from the show:

9. In 2010, she starred in “Paranormal Activity 2.”

Spooky!

10. Still, Molly once said “there is really nothing like doing live theater,” and interestingly, she’s played numerous Jewish roles in theater productions!

In the 2004 Broadway revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” she played Bielke; in 2010, she played Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” at the Westport Country Playhouse; and in 2015, she played Daphna Feygenbaum in the play “Bad Jews.”

11. She has an adorable dog named Lunch! Here are all the best photos of him from Molly’s Instagram:

We love you, Lunch!!

12. But Lunch isn’t the only important guy in Molly’s life: In 2021 Molly married her now-husband Evan!

13. And a short while later, they introduced their daughter, Zia:

Mazel tov!

14.For “A League of Their Own,” Molly had the opportunity to interview 95-year-old Maybelle Blair, a former member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League!

15. In the same year, she also starred in “Angelyne,” featuring Jewish actress Emmy Rossum!

16. While filming “A League of Their Own,” Molly was extremely pregnant with Zia.

“Which is how I ended up with four bags in front of my stomach for most of the shooting!” Molly told the New York Post, adding,“They just kept giving me more and more bags, and more and more jackets and sweaters and knitting supplies.”

17. While working on “A League of Their Own,” fellow Jewish actress Kate Berlant drew some of her castmates, including Molly. Here’s the result:

18. Molly is hoping for another season of “League.”

I don’t know when, where, how that would happen, but I think we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for that,” she said in an interview. “I think people will really like it. You know, you get all the fans that are sort of grandfathered in from the original movie, but it definitely speaks to a newer crowd.”

We’re hoping for that too, Molly!

18 Things to Know About Jewish Actress Molly Ephraim (2024)

FAQs

What religion is Molly Ephraim? ›

She is Jewish. She grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

What does Molly Ephraim do now? ›

The former Last Man Standing star shut down the red carpet premiere for A League of Their Own in a gorgeous dress. Now, the 36-year-old actress is returning to the small screen, this time as Maybelle Fox on the new Prime Video show A League of Their Own.

Is Molly McCook and Molly Ephraim the same person? ›

Mandy Baxter's extreme makeover is complete. Last Man Standing has tapped Molly McCook (The Ranch) to play Tim Allen's middle daughter in the upcoming Fox revival, replacing original portrayer Molly Ephraim.

What was the real reason Molly Ephraim left Last Man Standing? ›

Ephraim moved on and quickly signed up for other acting gigs. However, little did she suspect that the series would be picked up by Fox for an additional three seasons. While Fox tried to get her back, she had moved on from the show. So they recasted her role.

What religion is Ephraim? ›

Ephraim, one of the 12 tribes of Israel that in biblical times comprised the people of Israel who later became the Jewish people. The tribe was named after one of the younger sons of Joseph, himself a son of Jacob.

Why did Eve on Last Man Standing leave? ›

Eve appears in every episode of series 1-6 except for "Papa Bear". When the show was picked up by FOX, Kaitlyn Dever had made commitments to other projects by this time and as such was demoted to recurring cast member to make time for her other projects.

Who did Molly Ephraim play on Modern Family? ›

Molly Ephraim: Libby

Add a photo or add a quote.

Where are they now Last Man Standing? ›

While some of the actors have had quiet careers since the season finale, others, like Tim Allen (who is reprising one of his most famous roles), Kaitlyn Dever (who is a front runner for an Emmy this year), and Nancy Travis (who will appear in a new Hallmark drama) are keeping busy in the entertainment industry.

Why is Last Man Standing ending? ›

This time around, Last Man Standing simply ran its course, according to Tim. "We had all considered to end the show after last season [season 8], but together with Fox, we decided to add a year so we could produce a full season to create the gentle and fun goodbye," Tim told Deadline.

Why did they switch daughters on Last Man Standing? ›

Alexandra Krosney, who played the eldest daughter of Tim Allen's Mike and Nancy Travis' Vanessa in Season 1, was let go from the show for “creative reasons” ahead of Season 2. She was succeeded by Amanda Fuller.

Why did Bud leave Last Man Standing? ›

Forster was born in Rochester, New York and is, the son of Grace Dorothy (née Montanarella) and Robert Wallace Forster, Sr. Forster left Last Man Standing in 2018 during Season 7, he passed away on October 11th, 2019 from Brain Cancer. His final episode was Man vs. Myth.

What tribe is Ephraim LDS? ›

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that a significant portion of its members are descended from or adopted into the tribe of Ephraim, believing that they are charged with restoring the lost tribes in the latter days, as prophesied by Isaiah.

Why did they replace the oldest daughter on Last Man Standing? ›

Alexandra Krosney, who played the eldest daughter of Tim Allen's Mike and Nancy Travis' Vanessa in Season 1, was let go from the show for “creative reasons” ahead of Season 2. She was succeeded by Amanda Fuller.

Does Molly Ephraim have a child? ›

She received a B. A. from Princeton in Religion. Graduated from Princeton University in 2008. Nominated for a Barrymore Award and a Drama League Award. On December 1, 2021, Ephraim gave birth to her daughter Zia.

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