The only cast member of "The O.C." to actually hail from the now-infamous county, Melinda Clarke was born in 1969 in the tony town of Dana Point, California. The middle child of ballet dancer Patricia and actor John Clarke, Melinda followed her father into the family business moving to Los Angeles at the age of 18. She famously landed a role just three days after her arrival – on the soap opera her father had starred in since its inception in 1965, “Days of our Lives.” The younger Clarke played the role of Faith Taylor (1989 – 1990), a preacher’s daughter who had lost her sight. Though
As a teenager she performed in many stage productions and musicals as well as participating in workshops at South Coast Repertory and summer camps at Idyllwilde School of Music and the Arts
c. 1987
At eighteen, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career
1989
Became a series regular on "Days of Our Lives," playing Faith Taylor
1993
Cast in the horror film "Return Of the Living Dead"
1994
Cast as Lexy Monroe in the Aaron Spelling series "Heaven Help Us"
