Kandi From 'Two And A Half Men' Series Is 43 And Looks Like A New Woman Today

Feb 04, 2021

"Two and a Half Men" was arguably one of the most beloved TV shows of the last two decades. While the title might focus on the men of the series, the sitcom would never become the success it did without its legendary women. In its 12-season run, fans have fallen in love with many of the female characters to make an appearance on the show. We're taking a look back at some of the hilarious gals in the Harper men's lives and what the actors who brought them to life have been up to since they departed the show. 

What kind of article about the women of "Two and a Half Men" (TAAHM) would this be if we didn't start with the Queen herself, Evelyn Harper. The mother of the main characters, Charlie and Alan Harper, Evelyn became a fan favorite thanks to her hilarious antics as the mischievous, sultry matriarch to the Harper boys. While her sons might have sulked every time she came round for a visit, she became the only person who wasn't afraid to tell them off when she had to. 

Holland Taylor, the talented actor who brought Evelyn to life, has enjoyed an enormously successful career in the industry spanning over four decades. Taylor, who is 78 years old today, began as a rookie starring in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in the '60s. She made her big break on the screen in the 1980s as Denise Cavanaugh on the soap opera "The Edge of Night," before going on to star alongside Tom Hanks as the sultry Stella Adler in the 1982 sitcom "Bosom Buddies." She's a seven-time Emmy nominee and one-time winner after she bagged the prestigious award in 1999 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "The Practice." Of those nominations, five were for her part in TAAHM.

The wacky Miss. Dolores Pasternak first won the hearts of the series's viewers in season 2 as the no-nonsense elementary school teacher who suspends Jake after he disrespects her. After she meets his womanizer uncle Charlie, the two start dating, and she quickly lifts the suspension.  The couple seemed like a match made in heaven at first, but the relationship quickly turned sour. Charlie and Jake's dad Alan became suspicious after noticing Jake's grades improve, even though he hadn't put in the work for it. It didn't take long for Charlie to realize that the teacher was mentally ill and break up with her. 

The character was reprised by renowned actor Missi Pyle, who has since gone to lead a successful Hollywood career. The actor has become a household name in sit-coms, with her resume boasting appearances in shows like "Mad About You," "Friends," "2 Broke Girls," and most recently, "Bob Hearts Abishola." Pyle has also starred in movies galore, including "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," "Gone Girl," and the 2019 psychological horror, "Ma." The talented Texas native even part of a country-rock music duo, Smith & Pyle, together with fellow actor Shawnee Smith. 

Who can forget the beautiful Mia, one of only a handful of women to have successfully given Charlie a run for his money. The playboy first became enamored with Mia in season 3, after he tries to flirt with her when he meets her in a cafe. She showed little interest in Charlie, and so began his near-obsession with her. After finding out she is a dance teacher, Charlie convinces his nephew Jake to take up dance lessons as a ploy to get closer to her. The two eventually start dating and even become engaged, only to break up at the alter when Mia realized that Alan was not planning on moving out of Charlie's house. 

Emmanuelle Vaugier, the actor who played Mia, appeared in many other television shows after her gig on TAAHM. She's had many recurring roles in shows like "CSI: NY," "Smallville," "Human Target," and "Lost Girl." The Canadian-born actor has also starred in numerous films, including 

"Saw II" and "Saw IV," "Blonde and Blonder," "Teen Lust," and most recently in the 2020 Canadian comedy, "Eat Wheaties!".

Who can forget Berta – the witty, sharp-mouthed housekeeper of the Harper household. In the show, she became known as one of the only constant female presences of the Harper boys and took on a de-facto motherly role to Charlie. Berta had become such a beloved character on the show that producers decided to keep her on even after Charlie left.

Berta's sassy character was played by the legendary actor, Conchata Ferrell. She is a three-time Emmy nominee, twice as an Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for her role in TAAHM, and once for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in L.A. Law. She enjoyed a diverse career in Broadway theater, television, and dozens of films. Unfortunately, Ferrell passed away in October 2020 of a heart attack, as reported by the NY Post. She was 77 years old.

Judith Harper-Melnick is the woman who put the show in motion. She was the first woman Alan had ever been with, his first wife, and of course, the mother to his son, Alan. The two wed and had a cold, unhappy marriage before Judith finally kicks out Alan from their home at the beginning of the series. This prompted him to move in with his wealthy brother Charlie. Judith became known as the main antagonist of the show who enjoyed spending her alimony on expensive trips and plastic surgery.

Marin Hinkle, the actor behind Judith, is a successful actor in her own name. Fans will recognize her for her roles as Judy Brooks in "Once and Again" and Rose Weissman in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." She is a twice-nominated Emmy Award actor for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for her character in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and has also starred in many high-profile films since she departed from TAAHM.

Alan's rocky relationship with his ex-wife only becomes worse after her trouble-making sister Liz comes into the picture. The brunette-bombshell first became involved with Charlie at Alan and Judith's wedding when the two hook up. Liz appears in the first season at Jake's 11th birthday and becomes perplexed when she realizes that Charlie could not remember their hook up. She then makes a move on Alan, much to Judith's dismay. It is later revealed that Alan was first interested in Liz, and only asked her sister out after she rejected him. 

Liz's drama-stirring character was brought to life by the legendary actor, Terri Hatcher. The 56-year-old boasts an impressive resume, with her most iconic role being that of Susan Mayer in the drama series "Desperate Housewives." Her portrayal of Susan Mayer, Hatcher has won a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and was even nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Melissa is first introduced in season 6 as Alan's kind-hearted, attractive receptionist. She first began a relationship with Charlie, which ended up in a disastrous mental breakdown which saw her drive to the office and demand Alan give her a raise. Soon after, the receptionist develops feelings for Alan, and even organizes a birthday party for him. The two eventually started dating and he moves in with her after a fall out with Bertha and his family. Sadly, the two broke up after she found out Alan had relations with her mother, Shelly. 

After her departure from the show, Kelly Stables, the actor who played Melissa, went on to star in many other projects. She reprised other television roles in shows like "The Exes" and "Superstore," and most recently lended her voice for the 2020 film, "Dolittle," starring alongside Robert Downey Jr. 

And now the legendary Kandi. Portrayed by April Bowlby, Kandi became a fan favorite in the series when she first appeared in season 3. The red-haired beauty had relations with many men on the show, including Charlie, who angers her after he stops returning her calls. When Kandi confronts him, he tells her that he is in love with Mia and urges her to meet somebody else.

That's when she became involved with Alan, who at first was skeptical of starting a relationship with her. He later hires her as his assistant and the two move in together, although they break up briefly after a heated argument.

When Mia left Charlie at the alter in Las Vegas, Alan and Kandi decide to marry each other. The two then move into a kondo Alan buys after winning $500,000, but she divorces him shortly after for unknown reasons. Although the two had a complicated relationship, they remain friends long after their divorce, in contrast to Alan and his first ex-wife, Judith.

Since TAAHM, Bowlby has starred in many different high-profile shows, including "Drop Dead Diva" and "Titans." Most notably, Bowlby portrayed the recurring character, Meg, in the critically-acclaimed sitcom "How I Met Your Mother." Recently, the actor is making a name for herself in the action superhero television series, "Doom Patrol," which began airing in 2019. While she now has traded in her ginger tresses for some blonde ones, Bowlby is still as gorgeous as ever.

Who was your favorite lady on "Two and a Half Men?" Let us know in the comments, and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!