#SPOTTED: ANNALEIGH ASHFORD AND KHIYLA AYNNE AT SPECIAL RECEPTION FOR “HAPPY FACE” IN TORONTO

HAPPY FACE offers a fresh perspective on a story that has been well-publicized, looking at “Happy Face Killer” Keith Hunter Jesperson through the lens of her daughter, Melissa Moore. Moore serves as a Producer on the Limited Series and is portrayed by Tony Award-winning Actress Annaleigh Ashford. Dennis Quaid also stars as Jesperson, and Toronto’s Khiyla Aynne plays Melissa‘s daughter Hazel.

Ashford and Aynne graced us with their presence at a special reception for the Series, held at luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, doing a Q&A with radio and podcast personality Jax Irwin, before the intimate audience. The duo embraced on the Red Carpet, also posing for photo ops with some of the activations set-up for the affair. Also spotted quiently in attendance was Aynne’s dear friend and The Baby-Sitters Club Co-Star Momona Tamada, who also is seen in HAPPY FACE as Eva.

The on-screen mother and daughter spoke about their bonding experience during filming, taking selfies together the first day they met. One thing is that they were very cognizant of the Series paying respect to the victims of these crimes, and this was one thing they took away from their experiencing filming this Series and also making them rethink how we consume True Crime.

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Happy Face streams March 20, 2025 exclusively on Paramount+, with new episodes every Thursday.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Plus Canada/Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER TRAILER FOR “HAPPY FACE”

Paramount+ today revealed the teaser trailer and premiere date for its highly anticipated original drama series HAPPY FACE. The eight-episode season will premiere on Thursday, March 20 with two episodes, exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada, the U.S. and international markets where the service is available. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on May 1. HAPPY FACE was filmed in Vancouver, B.C. in 2024.

HAPPY FACE features a star-studded cast, including Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford, Emmy Award and two-time Golden Globe-nominated actor Dennis Quaid and series regulars James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Canadian Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey.

HAPPY FACE is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook. At 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.

Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the Paramount+ Original Series follows Melissa (Ashford) and her incarcerated father, known as the Happy Face Killer (Quaid). After decades of no contact, he finally finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life. In a race against the clock, Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. Throughout, she discovers the impact her father had on his victims’ families and must face a reckoning of her own identity.

HAPPY FACE is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, iHeartPodcasts and Semi-Formal Productions. Jennifer Cacicio (Your Honor, Shooter) serves as showrunner for the series and executive producer alongside Robert and Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Melissa G. Moore, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, Michael Showalter and Jordana Mollick. Michael Showalter (The Dropout, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) also directed the first episode. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

#FIRSTLOOK: DENNIS QUAID TO STAR IN PARAMOUNT+ SERIES “HAPPY FACE”

Paramount+ today announced that Emmy® Award and two-time Golden Globe® nominated actor Dennis Quaid (LAWMEN: BASS REEVES, The Rookie, The Day After Tomorrow) will star in the new original drama series HAPPY FACE. Quaid will play the titular role of the real-life serial killer notoriously called “Happy Face” because of the smiley faces he drew on evidence in which he bragged about his crimes. He joins the cast alongside previously announced actress Annaleigh Ashford, who is set to star as his daughter, Melissa. The eight-episode first season will begin production this spring in Vancouver and premiere exclusively on Paramount+ globally in 2025.

HAPPY FACE is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa Moore; the critically acclaimed Happy Face podcast from iHeartPodcasts and Moore; and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

HAPPY FACE for Paramount+ jumps off from Moore’s true-life story. Happy Face (Quaid) is an incarcerated serial killer who also is Melissa’s (Ashford) once-beloved father. After decades of no contact, he finally finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life. In a race against the clock, Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. Throughout, she discovers the impact her father had on his victims’ families, she must face a reckoning of her own identity.

Quaid is an Emmy Award and two-time Golden Globe® nominee who’s known for his roles in hit films such as The Rookie, The Day After Tomorrow, Traffic, Vantage Point, Frequency, The Parent Trap, Soul Surfer, The Right Stuff, Breaking Away, Midway and many more. His recent credits include a starring role in the hit Paramount+ series LAWMEN: BASS REEVES. Quaid recently completed production portraying the 40th president of the United States in the biopic Reagan, produced by Mark Joseph and directed by Sean McNamara.

HAPPY FACE is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, iHeartPodcasts and Semi-Formal Productions. Michael Showalter (The Dropout, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) will direct the first episode. HAPPY FACE is executive produced by Jennifer Cacicio – who also serves as showrunner – and Robert and Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Melissa Moore, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, Showalter and Jordana Mollick. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution