Megan Park

Megan Park
Park at The F Word premiere in September 2013
Born (1986-07-24) July 24, 1986
Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2003–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2026)​
Children2

Megan Park (born July 24, 1986) is a Canadian actress, director, writer, and producer. Beginning her career as a performer, she gained prominence as a regular castmember of the ABC Family television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–2013). After shifting her focus to work behind the camera, Park wrote and directed the feature films The Fallout (2021) and My Old Ass (2024), and created the television series Sterling Point (2026–present).

Early life

Born in Lindsay, Ontario, Park began her acting career with small parts starting at age 6. She attended Oakridge Secondary School, in London, Ontario. She was also a part of the Original Kids Theatre program.[1] Based on her origins in a small town in Canada and lack of entertainment industry connections, she originally did not think that writing and directing was an option.[2]

Career

Acting

Park's first major roles came with a guest spot on the Lifetime series Angela's Eyes and a minor role in the indie movie Charlie Bartlett.[3] Park completed a guest starring role on the Disney Channel show Life with Derek as Amy, a love interest of Derek and head cheerleader ex-girlfriend to Max. In the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, she played one of the main characters, Grace Bowman, a conservative Christian teen and cheerleader who, along with her boyfriend, struggle with her purity vow until marriage.[3]

In 2013, Park lost the role of Nicki in the sitcom Undateable to Briga Heelan. Heelan had originally been cast in the role but was believed to be unable to continue when her sitcom Ground Floor was renewed for a second season. The part was recast with Park, however when Heelan's schedule was adjusted to allow her to appear on both shows, Heelan took back the role.[4]

In 2014, Park portrayed Jules in the horror-thriller film Demonic, directed by Will Canon.[5] In 2015, Park portrayed Lindsay in the Hallmark Channel movie A Wish Come True, directed by Mark Rosman.[6]

Music

In 2009, Park, Codi Caraco and Brandi Cyrus formed the band Frank + Derol, in which she sang and played bass guitar.[7] In 2010, Park left the band to focus on her acting career.

Directing

While still acting, Park wrote a television pilot about a girl trapped inside a TV show, which was bought by a major studio but never produced. This experience helped her realize her passion for writing and directing.[2] Her first short film, Lucy in My Eyes, screened at the 2017 Austin Film Festival.[8] She co-wrote and co-directed the web series "We're Adults Now" with Canadian writer Katie Boland. She also directed several music videos, some of which garnered significant attention, including videos for artists Billie Eilish, Gucci Mane, Mike Posner, Alina Baraz, and Blackbear.[9]

Park's first feature film as writer-director, The Fallout, premiered at the South by Southwest festival on March 17, 2021,[10] where it won three awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.[11] The film was released on HBO Max on January 27, 2022.[12] Starring Jenna Ortega, it explored the psychological aftermath of a school shooting.[8] Park described the development of the story as resulting from her experience as a Canadian living and working in the United States and observing the prevalence of gun violence, remarking: "I just couldn't stop thinking about how if I was a teenager right now, I would straight up be too scared to go to school every day. I could not do it in America."[13]

For My Old Ass, her second feature film as writer-director, Park described herself as seeking a thematic and tonal contrast with The Fallout, wanting to "put something out into the world that was joyful, therapeutic, and left people feeling healed but in a different way."[2] Set in the director's home region of Muskoka, the film starred Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza, and grew out of a feeling of nostalgia for her teenage years and the notion of being able to speak to her younger self.[13] My Old Ass premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024,[14] was given a limited theatrical release in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on September 13, 2024.[15] The film was critically acclaimed, earning Park nominations for the DGA Award for First-Time Theatrical Feature Film and the WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay.[16][17]

Following the success of My Old Ass, Park pitched a television series also based in the Muskoka cottage country setting, which would also examine teenage coming of age and class themes. Co-run with The O.C. and Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, Sterling Point debuted in August of 2026 on Amazon Prime Video. She cited a desire to accurately capture the experiences of the series' Generation Z protagonists, believing that The Secret Life of the American Teenager had not reflected her own teenage experience as a Millenial.[18][19]

Die Alive, Park's planned third film starring Zoë Kravitz, will be her first project centered around adults. She described it as being "about parenthood, aging parents, female friendship and the comedy that comes from that," adding that "[of] all the things I've written, it's the closest to where I am in my actual life."[20]

Personal life

In 2006, Park started dating American actor and singer Tyler Hilton after meeting him on the set of Charlie Bartlett.[21] They became engaged in December 2013[22] and married on October 10, 2015.[23] On December 20, 2019, they welcomed a daughter. Their second child, a son, was born in 2024. Park and Hilton ended their marriage in 2026.[24]

Filmography

Acting credits

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Some Things That Stay Brenda Murphy
2007 Kaw Gretchen
2007 Charlie Bartlett Whitney Drummond
2007 Diary of the Dead Francine Shane
2011 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song Beverly "Bev" Van Ravensway Direct-to-video
2012 Guns, Girls and Gambling Cindy, The Girl Next Door
2012 So Undercover Cotton Roberts
2013 The F Word Dalia Also known as What If
2015 Demonic Jules
2015 Room Laura Uncredited role
2016 Central Intelligence Lexi
2018 Did I Kill My Mother? Natalie Romero
2018 Dog Days Kelli
2020 Deported Harper
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2003 This Time Around Young Cara Cabot Television film
2004 She's Too Young Becca White Television film
2004 Dark Oracle Ainsley Episode: "It Happened at the Dance"
2004 Ace Lightning Jessica Fisgus Recurring role
2006 The Road to Christmas Hilly Pullman Television film
2006 Angela's Eyes Zoe Episode: "Undercover Eyes"
2007 Life with Derek Amy Episode: "Cheerleader Casey"
2007 The Dark Room Zoe Television film
2007 Kaw Gretchen Television film
2008–2013 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Grace Bowman Main role
2010 Entourage Girl Being Interviewed Episode: "Buzzed"
2010 The Perfect Teacher Devon Burke Television film
2011 Happy Endings Chloe Episode: "Baby Steps"
2012 The Newsroom Gwen Valley Episode: "News Night 2.0"
2013–2014 The Neighbors Jane Recurring role
2014 The Lottery Rose Recurring role
2015 Jane the Virgin Dr. Damprey Episode: "Chapter Thirty"
2015 A Wish Come True Lindsay Corwin Television film
2015 Ungodly Acts Melissa Cooper Television film
2016 My Christmas Love Janet Television film
2017 Imposters Gaby 3 episodes
2017 9JKL Sara Episode: "Nanny Wars"
2018 Once Upon a Prince Susanna Truitt Hallmark Television film
2018 Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas Cara Hill Hallmark Television film
2019 A Christmas Wish Maddie Television film
2019 Young Sheldon Francine Walker Episode: "A Math Emergency and Perky Palms"
2021 A Royal Queens Christmas Dee Dee Hallmark Television film

Directing, writing and producing credits

Music videos
Year Title Artist
2012 "(Kissed You) Good Night" Gloriana
2017 "Rich White Girls" Mansionz
2017 "Watch" Billie Eilish
2017 "do re mi" blackbear featuring Gucci Mane
2018 "Buzzin" Alina Baraz
2018 "I Wanna Know" RL Grime featuring Daya
2018 "City on Fire" Tyler Hilton
Film
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2017 Lucy in My Eyes Yes Yes No Short film
2018 A Beautiful Future: Goodnight Yes Yes No Short film
2021 The Fallout Yes Yes No
2024 My Old Ass Yes Yes Executive [25]
Television
Year Title Creator Writer Director Executive
producer		 Notes
2026 Sterling Point Yes Yes (3) Yes (4) Yes [26][27]

References

  1. ↑ "Megan Park Online Bio". Meganparkonline.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Pennick, Bailey (September 13, 2024). "Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Megan Park, the Filmmaker Behind "My Old Ass"". Sundance Institute. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "ABC Family – The Secret Life of the American Teenager – Cast – Official Site". ABC Family. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 5, 2013). "Briga Heelan Back On NBC Comedy 'Undateable' As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ MrDisgusting (January 5, 2015). "Watch Blood Float Through the 'Demonic' Trailer!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ "A Wish Come True". Hallmark Channel. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  7. ↑ Tan, Michelle (June 18, 2009). "Miley's Sister Brandi Cyrus Hits the Stage". People. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  8. 1 2 Dodson, P. Claire (February 3, 2022). "How "The Fallout" Director Megan Park Used Her Early Acting Experiences to Make a Poignant Coming-of-Age Movie". Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Megan Park". PRETTYBIRD. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ Day-Ramos, Dino (February 10, 2021). "SXSW Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup; Charli XCX Quarantine Feature To Close Fest; Tom Petty Docu Set As Centerpiece". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and. "Megan Park: 5 Movies That Inspired My Directorial Debut 'The Fallout'". Academy. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 27, 2021). "Warner Bros Takes Global On SXSW Multi-Award Winner 'The Fallout' For HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Dean, Sadie (September 12, 2024). "Tapping into Feeling and Nostalgic Simplicity: A Conversation with 'My Old Ass' Writer-Director Megan Park". Script Magazine. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 27, 2024). "'My Old Ass' Trailer: Maisy Stella Takes Shrooms And Meets Older Self Aubrey Plaza In Amazon MGM's Sundance Crowd-Pleaser". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  16. ↑ Davis, Clayton (January 8, 2025). "DGA Awards Nominees: James Mangold and Edward Berger In, Denis Villeneuve and Jon M. Chu Snubbed". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ Richlin, Harrison (January 15, 2025). "2025 WGA Award Nominees Include 'A Real Pain,' 'Anora,' 'Wicked,' and More". IndieWire. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ Karounos, Patricia (August 5, 2026). "Megan Park Brings Grief, Sisterhood & Classic Teen Drama to Cottage Country in 'Sterling Point'". Elle Canada. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ Rashotte, Vivian (August 12, 2026). "Megan Park learned what not to do on teen TV. Now, she's making it differently for Gen Z". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  20. ↑ Schneller, Johanna (August 15, 2026). "Sterling Point is one of summer's most talked-about shows". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Tyler Hilton – Hilton Finds Love With Movie Co-Star". contactmusic.com. February 11, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ Garcia, Jennifer (January 23, 2014). "Tyler Hilton Engaged to Megan Park". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  23. ↑ Vulpo, Mike (October 10, 2015). "Tyler Hilton and Megan Park Are Married! All the Details on the Couple's Fall-Themed Celebration". E! Online. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  24. ↑ Degrazia, Leah (January 16, 2026). "One Tree Hill's Tyler Hilton and Wife Megan Park Break Up After 11 Years". E! Online. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  25. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 9, 2022). "'My Old Ass': Megan Park Directing Her Second Film; LuckyChap & Indian Paintbrush Producing". Deadline. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  26. ↑ Otterson, Joe (January 29, 2025). "'My Old Ass' Director Megan Park Sets YA Series at Amazon With Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, LuckyChap (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  27. ↑ Petski, Denise (April 28, 2026). "Megan Park's YA Series 'Sterling Point' Gets Release Date At Prime Video". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
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