Happy Face

Melissa Reed thought she understood her family and the man she was raised to trust. Then her father, Keith Jesperson, better known as the Happy Face Killer, reenters her life after years of silence. A killer’s footprints trail across her quiet world as she discovers a potential danger to an innocent man facing the death penalty for crimes her father may have committed. As Melissa weighs loyalty against truth, she must decide how far she will go to stop a miscarriage of justice. The past presses in and forces a reckoning with who she really is.

Created by Jennifer Cacicio, the series stars Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Reed and Dennis Quaid as Keith Jesperson. Other leads include James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili and Khiyla Aynne. The show debuted in 2025.

Reception notes the show leans into emotional tension and moral ambiguity as Melissa navigates a dangerous legacy. Its core themes include identity, accountability, and the cost of truth in the shadow of a celebrated crime figure.