Melinda Clarke Biography / Pictures

Melinda Clarke (born April 24, 1969) is an American actress known primarily for her work in television.

Biography

Clarke was born Melinda Patrice Clarke in Dana Point, California, the daughter of Patricia (née Lewis), a ballet dancer, and John Clarke, an actor. She has a brother, Joshua, and a sister, Heidi, who died in 1994 of a malignant heart tumor. She also has a daughter named Catherine Grace, with whom she resides in Beverly Hills, California. Clarke's height is 5' 7" (1.70 m), and she is a cigar aficionado.

Clarke appeared on the daytime soap opera Days of our Lives as Faith Brown (where her father John Clarke was a senior cast member), and starred on Soldier of Fortune, Inc. for both of its seasons. She also guest starred on Xena: Warrior Princess, Firefly, Charmed, and has had five appearances on CSI where she played the dominatrix, Lady Heather. She also appeared in the Seinfeld episode "The Muffin Tops", playing Jerry's girlfriend who likes anything hairless. Coincidentally, one of her appearances on CSI was with Kelly Rowan, with whom she would later appear on The O.C..

Melinda Clarke originally appeared on the FOX drama The O.C. as a guest star, and due to fan response was offered a contract for her role as Julie Cooper-Nichol, a cunning socialite who marries for money. Clarke accepted the role and became an integral part of the show's storylines. As well as starring on The O.C., she has appeared on HBO's hit series Entourage as a fictionalized version of herself, married to Malcolm McDowell's Terrance McQuewick. Clarke also appeared as the Devil's girlfriend in The CW Television Network's 2007 series Reaper. She also auditioned for the role of "Number Six" on SCI-FI's smash hit Battlestar Galactica but the role ultimately went to Tricia Helfer.

Melinda has volunteered as an actress with the Young Storytellers Foundation. Other projects included a TV movie, She Drives Me Crazy, produced by former co-star Rowan. She also appeared on Chuck as a guest star, another series created by The O.C.'s creator Josh Schwartz.