Taylor Spreitler has one of those faces you recognize instantly from your favorite comfort shows, yet she’s managed to fly under the radar as one of the most versatile young actors of the last two decades. You probably know her as the quick-witted Lennox on Melissa & Joey or maybe as the grounded daughter in Kevin Can Wait. But honestly, if you look closer at the full list of Taylor Spreitler movies and tv shows, you'll see a career that has zigzagged from the high-stakes drama of daytime soaps to the gritty world of indie horror.
She isn't just "the girl from that sitcom."
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1993, Taylor didn't take the traditional path to Hollywood. She started in beauty pageants and modeling before landing her first major gig on Days of Our Lives. Most child stars burn out or get stuck in one lane. Taylor didn't. She’s built a filmography that spans nearly every genre imaginable.
The Breakthrough: From Salem to Sitcom Stardom
Most actors spend years looking for that one role that defines them. For Taylor, it came early. In 2009, she signed a three-year contract to play Mia McCormick on the iconic soap opera Days of Our Lives. Soap operas are a brutal training ground. You’re filming a massive amount of dialogue every single day, often with very few takes. It’s "sink or swim." Taylor swam. She earned a Young Artist Award nomination in 2011 for her work on the show, proving she could handle heavy emotional lifting before she was even twenty.
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Then everything changed.
She pivoted to comedy. Joining Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence in Melissa & Joey was a huge shift. She played Lennox Scanlon for over 100 episodes. It’s actually kinda wild how well she held her own against two seasoned sitcom vets. She brought a specific brand of teenage sarcasm that felt real, not just "written." Because she was homeschooled in real life, the cast even threw her a fake graduation on set—a detail that shows how tight that production was.
The Big Network Leap
After Melissa & Joey wrapped, she didn't wait long for the next big thing. In 2016, she was cast as Kendra Gable in the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait. She played Kevin James' eldest daughter. The show was a massive hit initially, though it famously went through some... interesting creative changes in its second season. Regardless of the behind-the-scenes shakeups, Taylor remained a solid anchor for the family dynamic.
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Beyond the Laugh Track: Taylor Spreitler Movies and Genre Shifts
If you only know her TV work, you’re missing half the story. Taylor has a strange, almost magnetic pull toward the horror and thriller genres. It’s a sharp contrast to her sunny sitcom persona.
One of her most notable film roles was in Amityville: The Awakening (2017). She played Marissa, starring alongside Bella Thorne. The movie had a notoriously troubled release schedule, but Taylor’s performance was a standout. She has this ability to play "the friend" or "the girl next door" while grounding the supernatural chaos in something believable.
- Leprechaun Returns (2018): This was a direct-to-video horror-comedy where she played the lead, Lila. It’s a cult classic type of film—bloody, campy, and fun.
- Girl on the Edge (2015): This is the one critics actually loved. She played Hannah Green, a girl struggling with trauma sent to a residential treatment center. She won "Best Actress" at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase for this role. It’s probably her most raw performance to date.
- 3 Day Test (2012): A family comedy where she played Lu Taylor. It’s lighter fare, but it shows her range in the early 2010s.
Small Screen Gems and Guest Spots
Taylor has been a "working actor" in the truest sense. She shows up in the biggest procedurals on television. Did you catch her in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? She actually appeared in two different episodes as two different characters: Chloe Sellers in 2005 and Taylor Culphers in 2012.
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She also popped up in Bones and Criminal Minds. More recently, she had a recurring stint on the Hulu series Casual as Mia. That show was a huge critical darling, and her presence there signaled a move toward more "prestige" adult dramedy. You might have also spotted her as Sam in Young Sheldon, further cementing her relationship with major network comedies.
Why She’s Still Relevant in 2026
The reason we're still talking about Taylor Spreitler is her consistency. She doesn't chase the limelight; she chases the work. Whether it’s a Lifetime thriller like Stalked at 17 or a high-octane project like The Contractor, she brings a level of professionalism that makes her a director's favorite.
Her career is a blueprint for longevity. She moved from Mississippi to LA at 11, started with a Motrin commercial, and turned it into a twenty-year career. That’s rare. Most people don't realize she’s also a singer—she even performed a song on Days of Our Lives back in the day.
Your Taylor Spreitler Watchlist
If you're looking to dive into her work, don't just stick to the hits.
- Start with Girl on the Edge. It’s the best showcase of her actual acting chops.
- Watch Melissa & Joey if you want the classic 2010s nostalgia.
- Check out Casual on Hulu to see her in a more modern, cynical setting.
- If you like "bad" horror that’s actually good, Leprechaun Returns is a Saturday night essential.
Taylor Spreitler is proof that you don't need to be a tabloid fixture to be a powerhouse in the industry. She’s survived the "child actor" transition perfectly, and based on her recent trajectory into more complex indie roles, the next decade of her career is probably going to be her most interesting yet. Keep an eye on her credits; she usually picks projects that have more heart than you’d expect from the trailer.