Melinda Clarke

Clarke was born and raised in Dana Point, California.{{cite web |title=Melinda Clarke Biography |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/melinda-clarke/bio/3030057095/ |website=tvguide.com |publisher=TV Guide |access-date=12 May 2025}}{{Cite web |last1=Gliatto |first1=Tom |last2=Rhone |first2=Paysha Stockton |last3=Rizzo |first3=Monica |title=Picks and Pans Review: Spotlight on the O.C.'s Melinda Clarke |url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-spotlight-on-the-o-c-s-melinda-clarke-vol-66-no-21/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |work=People}} She is the daughter of actor John Clarke. Clarke is one of three siblings, and her sister died in 1994 of a malignant heart tumor.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091022152943/https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800334807/bio Melinda Clarke Biography at Yahoo! Movies]

Clarke appeared on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives as Faith Taylor (where her father was a senior cast member), and starred in the television series Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997–1999). She also guest-starred on Xena: Warrior Princess (1997) as the Amazon chieftain Velasca, Firefly (2003) the brothel madam Nandi, Charmed (2002) as the Siren, and has had six appearances on CSI (2001–2011) where she played dominatrix Lady Heather. She also appeared in the Seinfeld episode "The Muffin Tops", playing Jerry's girlfriend who likes anything hairless. In 1993, she played a lead role in the horror film Return of the Living Dead 3.{{Cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |date=October 29, 1993 |title=Review/Film; A Lust for the (Supposedly) Lifeless |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/29/movies/review-film-a-lust-for-the-supposedly-lifeless.html |access-date=August 7, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}

File:Melinda Clarke at the Toronto Film Festival 2011.jpg in 2011]]

She portrayed Julie Cooper in the teen drama series The O.C. that aired on the Fox network from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons.{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Nicholas |title=The O.C. Creator Shares Which Actors Were Almost Cast Instead of Ben McKenzie and Mischa Barton |url=https://people.com/tv/the-oc-creator-on-actors-that-almost-played-ryan-and-marissa/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |work=People |date=April 30, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Nicholas |title=Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke Are 'Totally Down' for The O.C. Reboot: 'Never Say Never' |url=https://people.com/tv/rachel-bilson-melinda-clarke-on-the-oc-reboot/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |work=People |date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Garron |first=Barry |date=August 5, 2019 |title=The O.C.: THR's 2003 Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/oc-review-first-episode-2003-1132163/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Clarke's character Julie Cooper was often characterized as devious and selfish,{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Isabel |date=May 4, 2021 |title=The O.C.'s Most Controversial Relationship Got an Important Last-Minute Edit |url=https://www.instyle.com/reviews-coverage/tv-shows/the-oc-julie-cooper-luke-affair-line-added |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=InStyle}} with USA Today calling her a "shallow vixen".{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Erin |title=The O.C.: Rachel Bilson on dating Adam Brody, the storyline she and Melinda Clarke would kill |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/04/27/the-o-c-podcast-rachel-bilson-melinda-clarke-adam-brody/7356643002/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=USA Today}} However, she revealed a more vulnerable side of herself a number of times during the series. Clarke was originally billed as a guest star in the first few episodes in which she appeared, but due to fan response was offered a series regular contract; Clarke accepted the role and her character became an integral part of the show's storylines.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Anne |title=We Still Owe Melinda Clarke For Bringing Us Julie Cooper |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/05/10459627/julie-cooper-actress-melinda-clarke-oc-podcast-interview |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=www.refinery29.com}}

In July 2009, Entertainment Weekly placed Clarke's The O.C. character Julie Cooper at No. 3 on their list of "21 Top TV Bitches".{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2009 |title=21 Top TV Bitches |url=https://ew.com/gallery/21-top-tv-bitches/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=EW.com}} In January 2021, Vogue wrote about the fashion choices on The O.C., commenting: "Speaking of the Coopers, I also want to end by saying Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke), Marissa's mom, is so underrated during this whole series. First of all, she's gorgeous. Secondly, she commands every single room she walks into, whether it's in a pink Juicy Couture tracksuit or a groovy, off-the-shoulder top. Clearly Marissa got all her fashion sense from her."{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2021 |title=17 Thoughts I Had Re-Visiting the Fashion on The O.C. |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/the-oc-fashion-17-thoughts-i-had |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Vogue}}

Clarke has appeared on HBO's comedy-drama series Entourage (2005–2011) as a fictionalized version of herself, married to Malcolm McDowell's character Terrance McQuewick.{{Cite web |title=Vegas Exclusive: Who's Playing Mia's Mother? |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/vegas-mia-mother-melinda-clarke-1060108/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=TVGuide.com}}{{Cite web |title=The 25 Best Episodes Of "Entourage" |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/09/the-25-best-entourage-episodes/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Complex}} Clarke portrayed Blithe Meacham in the television film She Drives Me Crazy (2007), which was produced by Kelly Rowan. She had guest roles in several television shows, including Chuck (2007), Reaper (2007) and Ghost Whisperer (2010). In 2010, she appeared on The CW show The Vampire Diaries (2010–2017) as Kelly Donovan, a mother who discovers her daughter has died.{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |title=Vampire Diaries exclusive: Melinda Clarke is the mom from hell! |date=January 8, 2010 |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/01/08/vampire-diaries-melinda-clarke-matt-mom |magazine=Entertainment Weekly | access-date=April 13, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515205751/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/01/08/vampire-diaries-melinda-clarke-matt-mom/ | archive-date=May 15, 2010}}{{Cite web |title=The O.C. star Melinda Clarke hits TIFF 2012: See her now! |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/o-c-star-melinda-clarke-hits-tiff-2012-154325997.html |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=www.yahoo.com|date=September 13, 2012 }} Los Angeles Times praised her performance as Kelly by saying: "In a scene without any dialogue, Clarke made Kelly's grief believable and powerful."{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2010 |title=Melinda Clarke on The Vampire Diaries, The O.C. and her new CW pilot |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/04/melinda-clarke-on-the-vampire-diaries-the-oc-and-her-new-cw-pilot.html |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=LA Times Blogs - Show Tracker}}

File:Nikita - Panel (9330304220).jpg in 2013]]

In 2010, she landed one of the main roles in The CW's action drama series Nikita as Helen "Amanda" Collins.{{Cite web |last=Richenthal |first=Matt |date=September 6, 2011 |title=The Big C Exclusive: Gabriel Basso on Inspiring Viewers, Getting Crabs |url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/09/the-big-c-exclusive-gabriel-basso-on-inspiring-viewers-getting-c/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=TV Fanatic}} Clarke's character was the main antagonist in the show's third and fourth season.{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2012 |title=Nikita Star Melinda Clarke On Amanda's Endgame & Her Interest In Owen |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nikita-melinda-clarke_n_2098839 |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=HuffPost}} The series concluded after four seasons on December 27, 2013.{{Cite web |last=Cocks |first=Simon |date=November 14, 2016 |title=TV review: Nikita — 'Cancelled' |url=https://simonc.me.uk/tv-review-nikita-cancelled-d61ad4da003a |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Medium}}{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Merrill |title=Nikita's Final Season Isn't About Fan Service, It's About Netflix |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillbarr/2013/11/18/the-final-season-of-nikita-isnt-about-fan-service-its-about-netflix/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Forbes}} She has lent her voice to several voice acting projects, voicing Alexa in The Animatrix: Matriculated (2003), Sofia Ivanescu in the video game Mission Impossible: Operation Surma (2003), Madame Macmu-Ling in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2006), and Charlene in King of the Hill (2008).

In April 2021, Clarke and her former The O.C. co-star Rachel Bilson launched a weekly podcast titled Welcome to the OC, Bitches!{{Cite web |last=Gauk-Roger |first=Topher Gauk-Roger |title=Rachel Bilson Talks 'Emotional' Reunion with The O.C. Costar Adam Brody: He's 'Super Dear to Me' |url=https://people.com/tv/the-oc-rachel-bilson-talks-podcast-reunion-with-adam-brody/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=People |date=October 26, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Rosario |first=Alexandra Del |date=March 25, 2021 |title=The O.C.{{'}}s Rachel Bilson & Melinda Clarke To Revisit Teen Drama For Welcome To The OC, Bitches! Podcast At Kast Media|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-oc-rachel-bilson-melinda-clarke-welcome-to-the-oc-bitches-podcast-kast-media-1234721808/ |access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Deadline}}{{Cite web |last=Baila |first=Morgan |title=Two Of The OC's Best Characters Are Reuniting For "Welcome To The OC, Bitches" |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/03/10389408/the-oc-podcast-welcome-to-the-oc-bitches-rachel-bilson |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=www.refinery29.com}} The podcast focuses on the hosts and guests re-watching and discussing episodes of The O.C.{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Jeff |title=Rachel Bilson & Melinda Clarke Are A Blast From The Past With Their New The OC Podcast |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffconway/2021/04/23/rachel-bilson--melinda-clarke-are-a-blast-from-the-past-with-their-new-the-oc-podcast/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=Forbes}} In August 2021, the podcast was named one of "7 Top Celebrity Podcasts You Should Subscribe To Right Now" by Bustle.{{Cite web |title=7 Top Celebrity Podcasts You Should Subscribe To Right Now |url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/top-celebrity-podcasts-best-inspirational-podcasters |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=Bustle|date=August 3, 2021 }} In December 2023, Clarke announced that she is launching a new podcast, Beyond the OC, hosted by Clarke and her daughter.{{Cite web |title=Instagram post by Melinda Clarke |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C0uuUPGvVCx/ |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=www.instagram.com}} The podcast was launched on April 25, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Beyond the OC (Welcome to the OC) on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-oc-welcome-to-the-oc/id1559262190 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}

Two action figures have been made of Clarke. The first was for her role as Jessica Priest in Spawn (1997) and the second was for her role as Velasca from the television series Xena: Warrior Princess (1997).{{Cite web |last=Barbecue17 |title=Action Figure Review: Jessica Priest from Spawn: The Movie by McFarlane Toys |url=http://www.actionfigurebarbecue.com/2014/12/action-figure-review-jessica-priest.html |access-date=December 30, 2021}} In August 2005, TV Guide ranked her at No. 5 on their list of "TV's Top Ten Scene Stealers".{{Cite web |title=Melinda Clarke |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164918/publicity/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=IMDb}} Clarke has often portrayed characters that are tough, manipulative and villains.{{Cite web |first=Becca |last=Bleznak |date=August 17, 2017 |title=15 Actors Who Always Play the Villain |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/actors-who-always-play-the-villain.html/ |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |quote=There's something about Melinda Clarke that plays as tough and no-nonsense.}}{{Cite web |title=Nikita{{'}}s Melinda Clarke: Fans Want Amanda to Be Truly Evil |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/nikita-melinda-clarke-1029784/ |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=TVGuide.com}}{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2015 |title="Gotham" Adds "The OC" Star Melinda Clarke as New Character |url=https://www.cbr.com/gotham-adds-the-oc-star-melinda-clarke-as-new-character/ |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=CBR}} In 2011, she said that fans and viewers of Nikita wanted her character Amanda to be "evil" and "as bad as possible".{{Cite web |last=Wightman |first=Catriona |date=February 24, 2011 |title=Nikita star: 'Fans want evil Amanda' |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a305630/nikita-star-fans-want-evil-amanda/ |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=Digital Spy}} Clarke described her The O.C. character Julie Cooper by saying: "You believe your character's truth—and her truth was maintaining this beautiful façade. Physically and monetarily. But ultimately she is an outsider, and that's what Josh has explained is the biggest theme of this show: everyone is really an outsider. They were one, or they become an outsider, or they feel like an outsider."{{Cite web |title=Rachel Bilson & Melinda Clarke Dig Up Old Drama On Their The O.C. Podcast |url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/rachel-bilson-melinda-clarke-podcast-welcome-to-the-oc-bitches-interview |access-date=December 31, 2021 |website=Bustle|date=April 27, 2021 }}

During her career, Clarke has appeared in magazine covers and pictorials such as In Touch Weekly,{{Cite web |title=Melinda Clarke |url=https://www.bellazon.com/main/topic/12557-melinda-clarke/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Bellazon|date=December 3, 2007 }} Fangoria, and Regard magazine.{{Cite web |title=#13 Regard Magazine April 2012 by Regard Magazine, LLC - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/regardmag/docs/april2012 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=issuu.com|date=April 11, 2012 }}

Clarke was married to Ernie Mirich from 1997 to 2005,{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2021 |title=The O.C. Cast's Dating Histories Through the Years |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/the-o-c-casts-dating-histories-through-the-years/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=Us Weekly}} and they have a daughter born in 2000.{{Cite web |title=Melinda Clarke and daughter attend Enchanted premiere |url=https://people.com/parents/melinda-clarke/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=People |date=November 20, 2007}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20878898/julie_of_oc_striving_to_be_a_better_mom/ |title=Julie of The O.C. striving to be a better mom |last=Crook |first=John |date=May 4, 2005 |work=Gettysburg Times |access-date=June 11, 2018 |department=TV Guide |location=Gettysburg, Pennsylvania |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} In September 2015, Clarke married Adam Farmer in a ceremony held in Dana Point, California.{{Cite news |url=https://people.com/style/csi-star-melinda-clarkes-beach-wedding-exclusive-photos-and-all-the-romantic-details/ |title=Exclusive: All the Gorgeous Details from Melinda Clarke's Wedding |date=October 7, 2015}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:20th-century American actresses

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Category:Actresses from California

Category:American film actresses

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Category:People from Dana Point, California