Mindy Cohn

Melinda Heather Cohn (born May 20, 1966) is an American actress and comedian. She starred as Natalie Green in the sitcom The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1988, and is known for voicing Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise from 2002 to 2015, succeeding B. J. Ward, before being succeeded herself by Kate Micucci. Cohn appeared on VH1's List of "100 Greatest Kid Stars".

Early life Melinda Heather Cohn was born in Los Angeles in 1966 and was raised Jewish.

Career Cohn was discovered by actress Charlotte Rae when Rae and the producers of The Facts of Life visited Westlake School in Holmby Hills, California, while doing research for the show; she had been asked by the principal to be a student tour guide for the group, who found themselves enchanted by her natural comic instincts as she led them around the campus. Cohn was cast as Natalie Green and portrayed the character for the series' nine-year run (1979–1988), as well as in the reunion movie (2001). In 2013, she commented on Charlotte Rae's lobbying on her behalf: "Mr. Reynolds calls me into his office. It seemed that Charlotte Rae had fallen madly in love with me, in part because I reminded her of her best childhood friend Natalie—and I was irrepressible, charming, and hilarious. So she asked the producers to create a part for me in the show. Honestly, the whole thing seemed so fantastic I didn't know what to think." After the show, she remained friends with Rae. Two months before Rae's birthday in 2016, when Cohn was unavailable to attend The Facts of Life reunion interview, she sent Rae a video message praising her decades-long friend for teaching her the craft of acting. Cohn said that one of the reasons she did The Facts of Life Reunion in 2001 was that the actresses in the long-running 1980s series have been wrongly denied a cut of the syndication and DVD profits from the series. "We all never got paid and still don't get paid for DVDs and reruns... we felt we were owed."

Cohn has continued her acting career outside of The Facts of Life. In 1984 she had a leading role as the daughter alongside Stockard Channing in RKO's video production of Table Settings. In 1986, she appeared in The Boy Who Could Fly as next-door neighbor Geneva. She also had guest appearances in other popular TV shows, including Charles in Charge (playing Buddy's sister Bunny, a young alcoholic, in the 1988 episode "Bottle Baby"), and two guest appearances in the second season of the cop drama 21 Jump Street (playing Rosa in the 1987 episode "Christmas In Saigon" and the 1988 episode "Chapel of Love"). In 2004 Cohn appeared in the WB comedy The Help. In 2010, Cohn played the role of Violet, the leading character in Casper Andreas's movie Violet Tendencies, and appeared on the Season 8 premiere of TLC's What Not to Wear on October 29, 2010. She appeared in an episode of Hot in Cleveland on July 13, 2011, on The Secret Life of the American Teenager on March 26, 2012, in Judson Theatre Company's Bell, Book and Candle in 2013, and in The Middle on May 21, 2014. Cohn reprised her Velma Dinkley role in Lego Dimensions. Since 2024, she has played Ann Holiday on Apple TV's Palm Royale.

Personal life Mindy Cohn is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with it in 2012 and was declared cancer-free in 2017. She announced her cancer went into remission in late April 2026 and later stated she beat it again in May of the same year. Cohn is a strong supporter of the LGBT community and has stated that she is proud to be a "fag hag". She has a degree in cultural anthropology from Loyola Marymount University and is a founding member of the weSpark cancer support center.

Accolades In 2003 Cohn was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the TV show What's New, Scooby-Doo?, for which she provided the voice of Velma Dinkley. She reprised her role of Velma on Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and in several other Scooby-Doo movies.

Cohn received a positive notice from Variety for her role in the 2007 Daniel Waters comedy film Sex and Death 101. In 2023, she received an Indie Series Award for her voice acting roles in season 2 of Around the Sun.

Filmography Actress Year Title Role Notes 1979–88 The Facts of Life Natalie Green, Frenchie Main cast (201 episodes) 1980–81 Diff'rent Strokes Natalie Green Episodes: "The Slumber Party", "The Older Man" 1982 The Facts of Life Goes to Paris TV film 1985 Double Trouble Janie Blakemore Episode: "Funny Girl" 1986 The Boy Who Could Fly Geneva Goodman Feature film 1987 The Facts of Life Down Under Natalie Green TV film 1987–88 21 Jump Street Rosa Banducci Episodes: "Christmas in Saigon", "Chapel of Love" 1988 Charles in Charge Bunny Lembeck Episode: "Bottle Baby" 1991 Dream On Marie Episode: "Toby or Not Toby" 1993–94 The Second Half Maureen Tucker Main cast (13 episodes) 1999 Suddenly Susan Cindy Episode: "Revenge of the Gophers" The Chimp Channel Candy Yuponce (voice) Main cast (13 episodes) 2001 Alone with a Stranger Toni Feature filmVirtually Casey Joanne Collins TV film The Facts of Life Reunion Natalie Green TV film 2002 Under the Gun Gale Feature film 2003 One on One Ms. Sorel Episode: "Daddy, I Don't Need an Edumacation"Swing Martha Feature film 2004 The Help Maggie, the Cook Main cast (7 episodes) 2005 The Adventures of Tango McNorton: Licensed Hero Lunch Lady Short film The Third Wish Bridgette Feature film 2007 Sex and Death 101 Trixie Feature film 2010 Violet Tendencies Violet Feature film 2011 Hot in Cleveland Cassie Episode: "Love Thy Neighbor" 2012 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Dylan's Mom Recurring role (8 episodes) 2013 Holiday Road Trip Artie TV film 2014 The Middle Kimberly Episode: "The Wonderful World of Hecks"Operation Marriage Kathy Short filmBones Valentina Episode: "The Puzzler in the Pit"FreakMe April TV pilot episode (unaired) 2015 You're Killing Me Karen Feature film 2016 Worst Cooks in America Herself (contestant) Worst Cooks in America 9 (8 episodes) A Cinderella Christmas Zelda TV film 2017 Hollywood Dirt Thelma Feature film 2018 Fly Air Traffic Controller Camille Fields Recurring role (8 episodes)Long Island Medium Herself 2019 You Light Up My Christmas Rose TV movie features surviving original cast of The Facts of Life. Not a "The Facts of Life" Christmas movie. 2020 A Nice Girl Like You Priscilla Blum Feature film 2021 Live in Front of a Studio Audience Herself Episode: "The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes" 2024–2026 Palm Royale Ann Holiday 2 seasons, recurring role 2024 Mother Father Sister Brother Frank Joy Jennings Feature film 2025 Hearts Around the Table Jenna's First Love Angie 2026 Influenced Tess Feature film

Voice work Year Title Voice role Notes 1999–2001 The Kids from Room 402 Nancy Francis TV series (34 episodes) 2002–2006 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Velma Dinkley TV series (41 episodes) 2003 Dexter's Laboratory Librarian Episode: "Voice Over/Blonde Leading the Blonde/Comic Stripper"Kim Possible Ms. Whisp Episode: "Naked Genius" 2004 Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster Velma Dinkley Direct-to-video film 2005 Aloha, Scooby-Doo! Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy? Direct-to-video film 2006 Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! Direct-to-video filmFamily Guy Natalie Green Episode: "Prick Up Your Ears"Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! Velma Dinkley Episodes: "Shags to Riches" and "Almost Ghosts" 2007 Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! Direct-to-video film 2008 Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King Direct-to-video film 2009 Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword Direct-to-video film 2010 Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo Direct-to-video film 2010–13 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated TV series (52 episodes) 2010 Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare Direct-to-video film 2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Velma Dinkley / Ticket Girl Episode: "Bat-Mite Presents: Batman's Strangest Cases!"Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur Velma Dinkley Direct-to-video film 2012 Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! Spooky Games Direct-to-video shortBig Top Scooby-Doo! Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays Direct-to-video short 2013 Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! Stage Fright Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow Direct-to-video shortScooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace Direct-to-video short 2014 Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! Ghastly Goals Direct-to-video shortScooby-Doo! Frankencreepy Direct-to-video film 2015 Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness Direct-to-video filmScooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie Direct-to-video shortScooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery Direct-to-video film2022–23Around the Sun Aunt Nora / MollyAudio drama (3 episodes)

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2002 Scooby-Doo! The Glowing Bug Man Velma Dinkley Voice role 2003 Scooby-Doo! The Scary Stone Dragon Voice role 2003 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem Voice role 2005 Scooby-Doo! Unmasked Voice role 2006 Scooby-Doo! Who's Watching Who? Voice role 2006 Scooby-Doo! Frights Camera Mystery Voice role 2009 Scooby-Doo! First Frights Voice role 2010 Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp Voice role 2014 Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes Cartoon Universe: Adventure Voice role 2015 Lego Dimensions Voice role