Melissa Anderson (fiction)
Encyclopedia
Melissa Horton is a fictional character
on the NBC
soap opera
Days of our Lives
. She was played by child actors Joseph Trent Everett in 1971 and Kim Durso from 1975 to 1977. A teenaged Melissa was portrayed by Debbie Lytton from 1978 to 1980 and 1982 to 1983. Lisa Trusel
played an adult Melissa from 1983 to 1988, 1994, 1996, 2002, and 2010. Camilla Scott
played the role from 1990 to 1991.
was Melissa's father, but when Mickey's wife Laura revealed to her in private that Mickey was sterile (a fact that Mickey did not even know about as Laura had been keeping it from him so that he wouldn't discover that he was not the father of Laura's son Mike), Linda reluctantly admitted that Jim was Melissa's father.
Melissa later took the name Anderson following Linda's marriage to Bob Anderson. In the 1980s Melissa had become a teenager (as a result of SORAS) and returned to Salem. She began living with Mickey and his second wife Maggie. Mickey and Maggie eventually adopted Melissa. Melissa and her cousin Hope Williams became good friends and Melissa also became good friends with Hope's boyfriend Bo Brady
. In 1984, Melissa became involved with gang member Pete Jennings. The two married in 1986 but later divorced when Melissa, an aspiring dancer, fell for her mentor Lars Englund. Melissa's relationship with Lars eventually fell apart after Melissa was injured. The injury also put an end to Melissa's promising dancing career.
Melissa eventually fell in love with Jack Deveraux
but was heartbroken when he married Kayla Brady
instead. Melissa was eventually accused of being behind Kayla's poisoning but was cleared. In 1988, Melissa was one of the few people who stood by Jack after Jack committed marital rape against Kayla. To the horror of her family and friends, Melissa made plans to marry Jack after his divorce from Kayla came through. Shortly before their wedding, Melissa saw Jack with another woman and discovered that Jack was only using her to make himself look good. She called off the wedding and denounced Jack to the rest of Salem before leaving town.
Melissa returned two years later in 1990 and immediately realized that her cousin Jennifer Horton
had fallen in love with Jack, who by this time was genuinely trying to become a better person and make amends for his evil behavior. Melissa tried to discourage her cousin from getting involved with her former fiance and encouraged Jennifer's boyfriend Emilio to propose. However, Melissa and Emilio eventually realized that they were attracted to one another and got together while Jack and Jennifer were away on the Cruise of Deception
. Melissa and Emilio were free to be together after Jack and Jennifer returned and revealed that they had become a couple on the cruise. Unfortunately , the relationship was short-lived as Melissa accidentally believed to have killed Emilio in a struggle. Melissa eventually left Salem with her adoptive sister Sarah Horton in 1991. The two settled in Nashville. In subsequent visits to Salem, it has been revealed that Melissa has married again and had a child but the name of her husband remains unknown to the audience. In June of 2009, Melissa's son, going by the name of Nathan Horton, arrived in Salem as a 1st year medical intern at Salem University Hospital eager to follow in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Tom.
On January 14, 2010 Melissa returned for Mickey's funeral. At the memorial, she spoke about the opportunities Mickey and Maggie have given her. She was also able to reunite with her son Nathan and the rest of the Horton family.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. She was played by child actors Joseph Trent Everett in 1971 and Kim Durso from 1975 to 1977. A teenaged Melissa was portrayed by Debbie Lytton from 1978 to 1980 and 1982 to 1983. Lisa Trusel
Lisa Trusel
Lisa Trusel is an American actress. She is known for her role as Melissa Horton on Days of Our Lives .-Personal life:She married a Days co-star David Wallace in 1987...
played an adult Melissa from 1983 to 1988, 1994, 1996, 2002, and 2010. Camilla Scott
Camilla Scott
Camilla Scott is a Canadian actress and television host.-Biography:Scott's first job was a cashier at the Canadian grocery chain Dominion when she was age 15...
played the role from 1990 to 1991.
Storylines
Melissa was born in 1971 in Salem to Jim and Linda Phillips. Linda claimed that Mickey HortonMickey Horton
Michael "Mickey" Horton I was a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Mickey was played from November 1965 to January 2004 by actor John Clarke, briefly in 2004 by Richard Voigts, and was played by actor John Ingle from 2004 to 2006...
was Melissa's father, but when Mickey's wife Laura revealed to her in private that Mickey was sterile (a fact that Mickey did not even know about as Laura had been keeping it from him so that he wouldn't discover that he was not the father of Laura's son Mike), Linda reluctantly admitted that Jim was Melissa's father.
Melissa later took the name Anderson following Linda's marriage to Bob Anderson. In the 1980s Melissa had become a teenager (as a result of SORAS) and returned to Salem. She began living with Mickey and his second wife Maggie. Mickey and Maggie eventually adopted Melissa. Melissa and her cousin Hope Williams became good friends and Melissa also became good friends with Hope's boyfriend Bo Brady
Bo Brady
Beauregard Aurelius "Bo" Brady is a fictional character on the NBC Soap Opera, Days of our Lives, the youngest of the series' Brady family. Created under head-writer Margaret DePreist, the role was originated by actor Peter Reckell on May 2, 1983. Robert Kelker-Kelly briefly stepped into the role...
. In 1984, Melissa became involved with gang member Pete Jennings. The two married in 1986 but later divorced when Melissa, an aspiring dancer, fell for her mentor Lars Englund. Melissa's relationship with Lars eventually fell apart after Melissa was injured. The injury also put an end to Melissa's promising dancing career.
Melissa eventually fell in love with Jack Deveraux
Jack Deveraux
Jack Harcourt Deveraux, Sr. is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He is the most prominent member of the Johnson family and is most famously played by Matthew Ashford. After a four-year absence, the character has recently returned to "Salem" to reconnect with his estranged...
but was heartbroken when he married Kayla Brady
Kayla Brady
Dr. Kayla Caroline Johnson is a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of our Lives. She made her first on-screen appearance on in 1982. Kayla was created by Pat Falken Smith as one of the original members of the Brady family. The role was originated in 1982 by actress Catherine...
instead. Melissa was eventually accused of being behind Kayla's poisoning but was cleared. In 1988, Melissa was one of the few people who stood by Jack after Jack committed marital rape against Kayla. To the horror of her family and friends, Melissa made plans to marry Jack after his divorce from Kayla came through. Shortly before their wedding, Melissa saw Jack with another woman and discovered that Jack was only using her to make himself look good. She called off the wedding and denounced Jack to the rest of Salem before leaving town.
Melissa returned two years later in 1990 and immediately realized that her cousin Jennifer Horton
Jennifer Horton
Jennifer Rose Horton is a fictional character on the NBC daytime drama, Days of our Lives, a long running dramatic serial about working class life in the fictional town of Salem. Jennifer was created by scriptwriter Pat Falken Smith, and executive producer Betty Corday...
had fallen in love with Jack, who by this time was genuinely trying to become a better person and make amends for his evil behavior. Melissa tried to discourage her cousin from getting involved with her former fiance and encouraged Jennifer's boyfriend Emilio to propose. However, Melissa and Emilio eventually realized that they were attracted to one another and got together while Jack and Jennifer were away on the Cruise of Deception
Cruise of Deception
The Cruise of Deception was a major cliffhanger and resolution storyline on the daytime drama Days of our Lives. Billed as a "miniseries" by NBC advertisements, it aired from June 7 until July 16, 1990....
. Melissa and Emilio were free to be together after Jack and Jennifer returned and revealed that they had become a couple on the cruise. Unfortunately , the relationship was short-lived as Melissa accidentally believed to have killed Emilio in a struggle. Melissa eventually left Salem with her adoptive sister Sarah Horton in 1991. The two settled in Nashville. In subsequent visits to Salem, it has been revealed that Melissa has married again and had a child but the name of her husband remains unknown to the audience. In June of 2009, Melissa's son, going by the name of Nathan Horton, arrived in Salem as a 1st year medical intern at Salem University Hospital eager to follow in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Tom.
On January 14, 2010 Melissa returned for Mickey's funeral. At the memorial, she spoke about the opportunities Mickey and Maggie have given her. She was also able to reunite with her son Nathan and the rest of the Horton family.