Melissa Horton

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Melissa Horton
Days of Our Lives character
Lisa Trusel as Melissa Horton
Portrayed by	Joseph Trent Everett (1971) Matthew Bowman (1971) Kim Durso (1975–1976) Debbie Lytton (1977–1982) Lisa Trusel (1983–1988, 1994–2010) Camilla Scott (1990–1991)
Duration	1971 1975–1980 1982–1988 1990–1991 1994 1996 2002 2010
First appearance	October 18, 1971
Last appearance	June 28, 2010
Classification	Lucas Roberts (adoptive) Jessica Blake (adoptive)

Melissa Horton is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives.

Casting

She was played by child actors Joseph Trent Everett from October 18 to November 29, 1971, Matthew Bowman from December 16 to 29, 1971, and Kim Durso from April 15, 1975, to June 25, 1976. A teenaged Melissa was portrayed by Debbie Lytton from May 31, 1977, to April 17, 1980, and March 16, 1982, to November 29, 1982. Lisa Trusel played an adult Melissa from May 12, 1983, to November 8, 1988, with returns from June 28 to July 4, 1994, November 1 to 15, 1996, May 30 to June 3, 2002; January 14 to 19, 2010, and June 18 to 28, 2010. Camilla Scott played the role from February 14, 1990, to June 13, 1991.

Storylines

Melissa is the child of Jim and Linda Phillips; however, Linda claims that

; Linda reluctantly admits that Jim is Melissa's father.

Melissa later takes the name Anderson following Linda's marriage to

. In 1984, Melissa gets involved with gang member Pete Jannings. Melissa's relationship with Pete experiences various challenges, including Linda's attempts to sabotage it by pretending to have slept with him. Linda aims to make Melissa believe she is going crazy to gain control of Melissa's stock in Anderson Manufacturing. Despite Linda's failed scheme, she decides to leave town, offering a final apology that Melissa reluctantly accepts. Melissa and Pete marry, but their union ends in divorce when Melissa, an aspiring dancer, becomes romantically involved with her mentor, Lars Englund. Unfortunately, their relationship and Melissa's dance career unravel due to an injury.

Melissa eventually falls in love with Jack Deveraux but is heartbroken when he marries Kayla Brady instead. Melissa is eventually accused of being behind Kayla's poisoning but is cleared. Melissa stands by Jack after he commits marital rape against Kayla. Despite her family and friends' horror, she plans to marry Jack after his divorce from Kayla. However, before the wedding, Melissa catches Jack with another woman and learns he was using her for appearances. She calls off the wedding, denounces Jack to the rest of Salem, and leaves town.

Melissa returns two years later and immediately realizes that her cousin,

, arrives in Salem as a first-year medical intern at Salem University Hospital, eager to follow in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Tom.

Melissa returns for Mickey's funeral, expressing gratitude for the opportunities Mickey and Maggie provided her. During the memorial, she reunites with her son Nathan and the Horton family. In 2010, she makes a brief appearance to bid farewell to Alice.

Reception

Trusel's run as Melissa earned her various nominations including a Daytime Emmy award nomination.^[1]

References