Award-winning actress Melissa McCarthy will accept an honorary doctorate of performing arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale's May 2019 graduation.
McCarthy is best known for her comedic work in movies such as "Bridesmaids," "Tammy," and "Gilmore Girls." She began her journey in 1988 as a fashion design major at SIUC, according to the university press release.
After living two years in Carbondale, she moved on to New York where she continued her fashion studies and began performing stand-up.
According to the university press release, one of McCarthy's most recent wins was a Golden Globe for her acting in the 2019 hit movie, "Can You Ever Forgive Me."
McCarthy's roots began in Plainfield, Illinois and extend to Carbondale through her studies and her husband and Carbondale native, Ben Falcone. According to the university press release, the two met each other while living in Los Angeles although they had both lived in Carbondale at the same time. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
She will be attending the 5:30 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11.
For more information about the 2019 commencement go to commencement.siu.edu
