Christina Applegate: Biography, Age, Net Worth, MS Battle & Life Story

Christina Applegate stands as one of Hollywood’s most resilient and beloved performers, having navigated a five-decade career that spans from child stardom to comedic icon to courageous health advocate.

From her breakout role as the ditzy Kelly Bundy on Married… with Children to her critically acclaimed turn in Netflix’s Dead to Me, Applegate has consistently demonstrated remarkable versatility and depth.

Now 54 years old, she faces her greatest challenge yet—a very public battle with multiple sclerosis that has fundamentally transformed her life and career, yet has also revealed her extraordinary strength and capacity to inspire millions facing similar struggles.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Christina Applegate
Nickname	Chris
Profession	Actress, Producer, Author, Podcast Host
Birth Date	November 25, 1971
Age	54 years 3 months old
Birth Place	Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Current Residence	Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California
Nationality	American
Known For	Married… with Children (Kelly Bundy), Dead to Me, Anchorman, Samantha Who?
Ethnicity	Caucasian (English, German, Irish descent)
Zodiac Sign	Sagittarius
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight	55 kg (121 lbs)
Hair Color	Blonde
Eye Color	Blue
Education	High School (professional acting from infancy)
Religion	Christian (attends Agape Church)
Marital Status	Married to Martyn LeNoble (2013–present)
Previous Marriage	Johnathon Schaech (2001–2007)
Children	1 daughter: Sadie Grace LeNoble (born January 27, 2011)
Parents	Nancy Priddy (mother, actress/singer), Robert William “Bobby” Applegate (father, record producer)
Siblings	2 half-siblings: Alisa and Kyle (from father’s second marriage)
Net Worth	$25 Million (estimated)
Years Active	1972–present
Current Work	MeSsy podcast (2024–present), memoir You With the Sad Eyes (March 2026)
Health Conditions	Multiple Sclerosis (diagnosed 2021), Breast Cancer (diagnosed 2008, double mastectomy)
Charity	Right Action for Women (founder, 2008)

Early Life & Education

Christina Applegate was born on November 25, 1971, in Hollywood, California—literally into the entertainment industry . Her mother, Nancy Priddy, was a singer and actress, while her father, Robert William “Bobby” Applegate, worked as a record producer and executive at Dot Records . Her parents separated shortly after her birth, and Applegate was primarily raised by her mother .

Named after the Andrew Wyeth painting Christina’s World, which also inspired a song by her mother, Applegate began her professional career at just three months old, appearing in a Playtex baby bottle commercial . Her television debut came on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, where she appeared alongside her mother .

Applegate trained extensively in dance, studying jazz and ballet, which contributed to her dynamic on-screen presence . Despite her early start in show business, she maintained a relatively grounded childhood thanks to her mother’s guidance. “I wasn’t one to go out and buy a new car and stereo system and expensive clothes. My mom helped keep me grounded,” she later recalled .

Career Journey

The Married… with Children Era (1987–1999)

At age 15, Applegate landed the role that would define her early career: Kelly Bundy, the dim-witted, promiscuous daughter on Fox’s groundbreaking sitcom Married… with Children . Ironically, Applegate initially turned down the role before being convinced to take it . The show ran for 11 seasons from 1987 to 1997, becoming a cultural phenomenon and earning Applegate a reported $125,000 per episode in later seasons .

During this time, Applegate discovered her comedic talents. “As she described herself as a teenager, she said she was ‘a dark kid’ until she landed the role of Kelly Bundy… The series helped her unleash her comedic talents and allowed her to lighten up a bit” . She later reflected on the show’s impact: “The show definitely shocked and disgusted people. But privately, they enjoyed laughing at it.

I think all too often people look at the perfect families on television and think, ‘Why can’t my family be like that?’ In the case of ‘Married with Children’, people were able to say, ‘Thank God my family’s not like that!'”

Post-Married Transition and Film Success (1998–2010)

After Married… with Children ended, Applegate successfully transitioned to both television and film. She starred in the sitcom Jesse (1998–2000), earning a Golden Globe nomination, and appeared in films including Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991), The Sweetest Thing (2002), and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) .

Her guest appearance as Rachel Green’s self-absorbed sister Amy on Friends won her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2003 . She returned to television as the lead in Samantha Who? (2007–2009), earning another Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination .

On Broadway, Applegate received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the 2005 revival of Sweet Charity .

Up All Night and Continued Success (2011–2018)

Applegate starred alongside Will Arnett in the NBC sitcom Up All Night (2011–2012), playing new parents navigating parenthood. During this period, she also appeared in films including Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Vacation (2015), and Bad Moms (2016), and lent her voice to the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise and The Book of Life (2014) .

Dead to Me and Critical Acclaim (2019–2022)

In 2019, Applegate began starring in Netflix’s dark comedy Dead to Me alongside Linda Cardellini. The series, in which she also served as executive producer, became a critical and commercial hit. Applegate received multiple Emmy nominations, Golden Globe nominations, and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for her portrayal of Jen Harding, a grieving widow .

The show’s third and final season was filmed while Applegate was dealing with her MS diagnosis, making her performance even more remarkable. “I can still drive my car short distances. I can bring up food to my kid. Up, never down,” she said of her limitations during filming .

Current Projects: Podcast and Memoir (2024–Present)

In 2024, Applegate launched the podcast MeSsy with fellow MS patient and actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler (known for The Sopranos) . The podcast features candid conversations about living with multiple sclerosis, with guests including Married… with Children co-star Katey Sagal, Montel Williams, and medical experts .

In July 2025, Applegate announced her debut memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, scheduled for publication on March 3, 2026 . The book promises to chronicle her perseverance through “abuse, abandonment, insecurities, self-doubt, body dysmorphia and assault,” as well as her health battles . “It’s scary—not gonna lie—to finally decide to tell it all. But no matter how dark it gets, I wrote this because I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone,” she stated .

Career Statistics & Achievements

Television Credits:

• Married… with Children (1987–1997) – 259 episodes as Kelly Bundy
• Jesse (1998–2000) – 42 episodes, Golden Globe nominee
• Friends (2002–2003) – Emmy Award winner (Guest Actress)
• Samantha Who? (2007–2009) – 35 episodes, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee
• Up All Night (2011–2012) – 35 episodes
• Dead to Me (2019–2022) – 30 episodes, executive producer, multiple Emmy/Golden Globe nominations

Film Credits:

• Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
• The Sweetest Thing (2002)
• View from the Top (2003)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
• Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
• Vacation (2015)
• Bad Moms (2016)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise (voice)

Awards & Honors:

• 1 Primetime Emmy Award (2003, Friends)
• 8 Emmy nominations total
• 3 Golden Globe nominations
• 1 Tony Award nomination (2005, Sweet Charity)
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2022)
• People’s Choice Award nominee

Personal Life

First Marriage to Johnathon Schaech

Applegate married actor Johnathon Schaech in 2001. The couple had met while filming a movie together. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 2007. Despite the split, Applegate spoke warmly of her ex-husband: “We’re best friends. And that spark is always there. I can’t wait to see him, even though I saw him a few hours ago” .

Marriage to Martyn LeNoble

In 2009, Applegate began dating Martyn LeNoble, a Dutch musician and founding member of the band Porno for Pyros . The couple married on February 23, 2013, in a private ceremony at their Los Angeles home . LeNoble has been a constant source of support throughout Applegate’s health battles, described by her as her “rock” during her breast cancer treatment .

Motherhood and Daughter Sadie

On January 27, 2011, Applegate gave birth to daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble . The pregnancy came after Applegate’s breast cancer battle and double mastectomy, making it particularly meaningful. “When Sadie was born, the ‘Dead to Me’ star told People that her ‘heart literally (opened) up for the first time.’… ‘she’s healed me in so many ways,'” Applegate shared .

Sadie, now 14 years old, has become her mother’s mini-me and fierce advocate. At the 2023 SAG Awards, Sadie joined her mother in wearing matching “FU MS” nail polish . At the 2024 Emmy Awards, the mother-daughter duo appeared together looking strikingly similar, with Sadie dressed in a black suit and Dr. Martens boots .

Applegate has expressed that she chose not to have more children due to her age and health concerns: “I think we both want to make another Sadie… But he’s 44. We’re both kind of like, eh, we’re a little old and we don’t know” .

Health Battles & Advocacy

Breast Cancer Diagnosis (2008)

In 2008, at age 36, Applegate was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in her right breast . The diagnosis came through a routine MRI, which she had been receiving regularly due to her mother’s history with the disease (Nancy Priddy had battled breast cancer twice) .

Genetic testing revealed Applegate carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers . Rather than undergo lumpectomy and radiation with continued monitoring, Applegate chose a double mastectomy. “I didn’t want to go back to the doctors every four months for testing and squishing and everything. I just wanted to kind of be rid of this whole thing for me. This was the choice that I made, and it was a tough one,” she explained .

She later underwent breast reconstruction surgery but has been candid about her body image struggles: “I didn’t like my boobies. I still don’t like my boobies. It’s horrible. I don’t have nipples. It’s weird” .

In October 2017, Applegate underwent additional preventive surgery, removing her fallopian tubes and ovaries to further reduce her cancer risk .

Right Action for Women

Following her cancer diagnosis, Applegate founded Right Action for Women in 2008, a charitable organization dedicated to providing financial assistance for MRI screenings and educating women about breast cancer risks, particularly those with high-risk factors . The foundation has raised millions of dollars and partnered with ASICS for campaigns funding MRIs for women in need .

Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis (2021)

In August 2021, while filming the final season of Dead to Me, Applegate revealed she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) . The diagnosis explained symptoms that had begun earlier that year with tingling in her toes. By the time filming started, she required a wheelchair to get to set .

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, causing symptoms including muscle weakness, fatigue, balance issues, numbness, and cognitive challenges . Applegate has been remarkably candid about her progression, sharing in November 2024: “I lay in bed screaming — like, the sharp pains, the ache, that squeezing… I can’t even pick up my phone sometimes because now it’s traveled into my hands” .

She has described MS as an “invisible disease” and uses humor as a coping mechanism. At the January 2024 Emmy Awards, where she received a standing ovation and presented with the help of a walking cane and host Anthony Anderson, she quipped: “You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up, it’s fine, OK” .

By late 2024, Applegate acknowledged she spends most days in bed due to pain. “I just lay in bed all the time. I mean, I worked for almost 50 years, so I’m like, I’m kind of okay with it,” she stated .

Controversies

Christina Applegate has maintained a remarkably controversy-free career. The closest instance of public criticism came when she admitted to feeling pressured to present a brave front during her cancer treatment, later expressing regret: “Everything I was saying was a freaking lie” . This was not a controversy but rather an honest reflection on the pressure to appear strong while battling serious illness.

Her only other “controversial” moment was her candid joke at the 2024 Emmys about the audience standing for her, which was widely praised as a moment of disability advocacy through humor .

Physical Statistics

Measurement	Details
Height	5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
Weight	121 lbs (55 kg)
Build	Slim/Athletic (formerly), now affected by MS
Hair	Blonde
Eyes	Blue
Distinctive Features	Blonde hair, expressive blue eyes, currently uses walking cane

Tattoos & Personal Symbolism

Applegate has six tattoos, each holding special meaning :

• “Agape” on her right ankle: The Greek word for unconditional love, also the name of her church
• Braided vine on her left ankle: Represents a close friendship
• Her mother’s name: Honors her mother Nancy Priddy
• Hawaiian lei/tea leaves: Represents protection; “Hawaiian warriors wore them off to battle and it would protect them against evil”
• Om symbol: Spiritual significance
• Secret tattoo: “I have a secret one that I don’t talk about,” she has said

She has explained that her tattoos “sort of reflect the things that are most important to me — protection, God, my mom” and serve to “keep me grounded” .

Quotes

“There’s this need and this desire to make every single day count.” — Oprah.com interview

“I make these jokes because if I don’t, I’ll suffocate.” — On using humor to cope with MS

“With MS, all the things I thought were important shifted. For a long time, it felt impossible to find the meaning in everything I’ve been through, but for the first time in my life I’ve been able to stop and reflect.” — On her memoir, July 2025

“It’s scary—not gonna lie—to finally decide to tell it all. But no matter how dark it gets, I wrote this because I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone.” — On writing her memoir

“I’m still sitting here like, ‘Boohoo, woe is me.’ I’m still mad about it.” — On accepting her MS diagnosis, June 2024

“The most important person in this world is my daughter.” — At her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, 2022

Favorites

Personal Interests:

• Dance: Trained in jazz and ballet from childhood
• Diet: Vegetarian since adolescence; animal rights advocate
• Music: Connected to her musician husband Martyn LeNoble’s world
• Spirituality: Active member of Agape Church
• Activities: Hosting dinner parties (historically), podcasting (currently)

Earnings & Net Worth

Christina Applegate’s estimated net worth is $25 million as of 2025 . Her wealth derives from multiple sources:

Income Sources:

• Married… with Children: $125,000 per episode in later seasons
• Up All Night: Peak salary of $125,000 per episode
• Dead to Me: Executive producer and star salary
• Film roles: Anchorman franchise, Bad Moms, Vacation, Alvin and the Chipmunks voice work
• MeSsy podcast: Current revenue stream
• Memoir advance: You With the Sad Eyes (2026)

Real Estate:

• Hollywood Hills home purchased in 1995 for $950,000, now estimated worth $5–7 million

Interesting Facts

1. Pussycat Dolls Founder: Applegate was one of the founding members of The Pussycat Dolls when choreographer Robin Antin first conceptualized the group as a burlesque dance troupe in the early 1990s. They debuted at johnny depp’s Viper Room in 1995, and Applegate emceed the group in 2002 before it became a pop music sensation .
2. Early Commercial: She appeared in a Playtex baby bottle commercial at just three months old .
3. Name Origin: Named after Andrew Wyeth’s painting Christina’s World, which also inspired a song by her mother .
4. Almost Passed on Kelly Bundy: Applegate initially turned down her breakthrough role before being convinced to take it .
5. Voice Acting: Has voiced characters in numerous animated films including The Book of Life and the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise .
6. Cancer Advocacy: Has raised millions through Right Action for Women and partnered with ASICS for breast cancer awareness campaigns .
7. MS Advocacy: Through MeSsy, she has created a vital resource for the MS community, discussing everything from medical gaslighting to daily coping strategies .

Did You Know?

• Applegate received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2022, with her daughter Sadie present. She said the honor meant “my daughter can go see when I’m gone” .
• She has been hospitalized over 30 times in the past three years due to MS-related symptoms including severe pain, vomiting, and diarrhea .
• Her friend Melissa Etheridge, also a breast cancer survivor, advised her to view her diagnosis as “a blessing” that allowed her to “start over” and change everything about how she lived .
• Applegate’s MeSsy podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler has featured high-profile guests including Katey Sagal, Montel Williams, edie falco, Jean Smart, and Megan Mullally .

Social Media Links

• Instagram: @christinaapplegate
• Twitter/X: @1capplegate
• Podcast: MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio)
• Memoir: You With the Sad Eyes (available for preorder, publication March 3, 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease does Christina Applegate have?
Christina Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in August 2021. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, for which she underwent a double mastectomy .

Is Christina Applegate still acting?
Applegate has stated she is likely finished with on-camera acting due to her MS progression. In May 2023, she told Vanity Fair: “I’m probably not going to work on-camera again… I can do voiceover stuff because I have to support my family and keep my brain working” . Her final on-camera role was Dead to Me (2019–2022).

Who is Christina Applegate married to?
Applegate has been married to Dutch musician Martyn LeNoble since February 23, 2013. She was previously married to actor Johnathon Schaech from 2001 to 2007 .

Does Christina Applegate have children?
Applegate has one daughter, Sadie Grace LeNoble, born January 27, 2011 .

What is Christina Applegate’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is $25 million as of 2025, accumulated through her television and film career, producing work, and real estate investments .

What is the MeSsy podcast?
MeSsy is a podcast co-hosted by Applegate and fellow MS patient Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos), launched in 2024. The podcast features candid conversations about living with multiple sclerosis, interviews with celebrities and medical experts, and discussions about navigating life’s challenges with chronic illness .

What is Right Action for Women?
Right Action for Women is a charitable foundation Applegate founded in 2008 following her breast cancer diagnosis. The organization provides financial assistance for MRI screenings and educates women about breast cancer risks, particularly for those with high-risk genetic factors .

Conclusion

As she prepares to release You With the Sad Eyes in March 2026, Applegate continues to prove that her greatest role is not any character she’s played, but herself—unflinchingly honest, fiercely resilient, and dedicated to making “every single day count” .

If this biography moved you or provided new insight into Christina Applegate’s inspiring journey, please share it with others who may find strength in her story.