Celebrity Movie Blog

Who is Melinda Clarke?

Melinda Clarke was born April 24th, 1969 in Dana Point, California. Clarke is known best for her character on the O.C., but first appeared onscreen on Days of Our Lives where her father, John Clarke, was Mickey Horton for almost 40 years until 2004. Melinda was in 17 episodes of the soap in the role of Faith Taylor. The nepotism was well received, Melinda was nominated for a 1990 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Daytime Drama. Afterward, Clarke got regular work in television including the short lived George Carlin Show (1994) and Xena: Warrior Princess (1994) where she met her best friend Hudson Leick who played Callisto, Xenas arch nemesis. However, Clarkes fans came to know her from her break out role as Julie Cooper on the O.C. from 2003-2007. She was the sometimes scandalous mother of Mischa Bartons Marissa Cooper. Clarkes close age to Barton is explained by her pregnancy at age 18. Yet seeing the two together makes the point of the NBC sitcom Will & Graces funny line (spoken by character Jack) about the O.C. being the show where the kids are all 20, and the parents are all 30. Clarke now appears on shows like CSI and is married to Ernie Mirich. The couple have a daughter, Kathryn Grace.