Missy Peregrym: Biography, Career, and Personal Life

Few TV detectives bring their personal life as visibly into the script as Missy Peregrym does. Over the past five years, the Canadian actress has balanced raising two young children while playing FBI Special Agent Maggie Bell on CBS’s hit procedural FBI—and her maternity leaves became part of the show’s storyline. This article traces how Peregrym moved from modeling to prime time, what’s behind her on-screen absences, and what her career looks like today.

Age (as of 2024): 42 ·
Height: 5’8″ (173 cm) ·
Number of children: 2 ·
Spouse: Tom Oakley (m. 2018) ·
Years active: 2004–present

The pattern is clear: Peregrym’s career pauses are tied to family growth, not career burnout.

Why did Missy Peregrym leave the FBI?

Peregrym’s absence from FBI isn’t a career exit—it’s a maternity leave pattern. She took leave in 2020 after giving birth to son Otis Paradis Oakley on March 21, 2020 (Wikipedia), and again in 2022 after daughter Mela Joséphine Oakley was born on June 6 (Deadline). In both cases, the show wrote her character Maggie Bell out temporarily, and Peregrym returned to the set within months.

Who is replacing Maggie on FBI?

No permanent replacement exists. During Peregrym’s 2022 leave, the show brought in guest characters to fill the gap—but the core cast remained intact. CBS has not announced any plans to recast the role (Deadline).

Why is Maggie off FBI so much?

The pattern is personal, not contractual. Peregrym has two children under four. Her maternity leaves align with the births, and the show’s production schedule accommodates her. She told Variety that coming back to set “felt like coming home.” The implication: Maggie’s screen time ebbs because Peregrym’s real-life priorities—motherhood—take precedence, and CBS supports that balance.

What is Missy Peregrym doing now?

As of 2024, Peregrym is actively filming FBI on CBS. She balances a full shooting schedule with raising her two children and maintains a modest social media presence—mostly family updates and behind-the-scenes shots on Instagram (Instagram). She has not announced any film or other TV projects outside the series.

Her role as Maggie Bell remains central to the show: a tough, composed FBI agent who works alongside partner OA Zidan, played by Zeeko Zaki. The series, now in its seventh season, continues as a reliable ratings performer for CBS. The catch: while viewers see Maggie back in action, they may continue to see gaps during future family milestones.

How many children does Missy Peregrym have?

Two. Her son Otis Paradis Oakley was born on March 21, 2020 (Wikipedia), and her daughter Mela Joséphine Oakley was born on June 6, 2022 (Deadline). Both children are with her second husband, Tom Oakley, a special effects coordinator whom she married on December 30, 2018 (Wikipedia).

How many times has Missy Peregrym been married?

Twice. Her first marriage was to actor Zachary Levi in June 2014. The couple separated on December 3 of that same year, and Peregrym filed for divorce in April 2015 (Wikipedia). The marriage lasted less than a year. Her second marriage to Oakley has lasted since 2018 and produced two children. The pattern: Peregrym’s personal life after 2014 stabilized significantly once she married outside the Hollywood actor circle.

Missy Peregrym husband

Tom Oakley is a special effects coordinator whose behind-the-scenes work includes projects like The Mandalorian and Avengers: Endgame—a career that keeps him in the film industry but less visible than Peregrym. The couple lives in Los Angeles and shares parenting duties that allow her to maintain her FBI schedule.

Was Missy Peregrym a real gymnast?

No. Peregrym trained intensively for the role of rebellious gymnast Haley Graham in the 2006 film Stick It—a part that demanded trampoline, beam, and uneven bars skills (Apple TV). She spent months in a gym but was never a competitive gymnast. Before acting, she worked as a model in Vancouver and Toronto as a teenager.

What is Missy Peregrym’s background?

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Peregrym grew up in Surrey, British Columbia, where her father was a minister (IMDb). She attended a performing arts high school but didn’t immediately pursue acting. Her television debut came in 2002 on Dark Angel (Apple TV), followed by a recurring role on Life as We Know It (2004–2005). The trade-off: she spent six seasons as Andy McNally on Rookie Blue (2010–2015) before deliberately stepping away to rest and reset—a decision she called necessary to “cleanse and heal” from the emotions of that character (Variety).

Do Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki get along?

Yes. In multiple interviews, Zaki has described Peregrym as “like a sister” and praised their on-screen chemistry (ET Online). Peregrym, in turn, has said the partnership feels natural and that the casting team found genuine rapport. No public disputes, no drama—just two actors who understand procedural television and share a steady work rhythm. For viewers, this matters because the Maggie/OA partnership is the emotional engine of FBI, and off-screen friction would risk feeling inauthentic on screen.

Timeline

• 1982 — Born in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia)
• 2004 — Acting debut in Dark Angel, then Life as We Know It (Apple TV)
• 2006 — Starred in Stick It as Haley Graham
• 2010 — Landed lead role as Andy McNally in Rookie Blue (Wikipedia)
• 2014 — Married Zachary Levi (divorced 2015)
• 2018 — Married Tom Oakley; began playing Maggie Bell on FBI (Wikipedia)
• 2020 — Gave birth to son Otis Paradis Oakley (Wikipedia)
• 2022 — Gave birth to daughter Mela Joséphine Oakley; returned to FBI by September (Deadline)

The implication: every major career milestone since 2018 coincides with a family event, showing a deliberate life-first approach.

“I love being a mom, but I also love my job. Coming back to the set felt like coming home.”

— Missy Peregrym, in Variety interview

“We have a great chemistry on and off screen. She’s like a sister to me.”

— Zeeko Zaki, in ET Online interview

Peregrym’s career trajectory reveals a deliberate choice: she built a steady, non-oscillating career in network television rather than chasing movie stardom. The consequence for her audience is that Maggie Bell—and the woman behind her—are likely to stay on screen as long as the show and her family life allow. For Canadian actors navigating dual careers in Hollywood, the lesson is clear: pick a show that works with your life, not against it.

For a comprehensive look at her journey, readers can explore Missy Peregryms biography and FBI career for detailed insights into her early life and rise to fame.

Frequently asked questions

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