Born: April 18, 1956
Age: 68
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Melody Thomas Scott (born April 18, 1956) is an American actress best known for playing Nikki Newman on the soap opera The Young and the Restless.
Scott was born Melody Ann Thomas in Los Angeles, California. Her first film credit was as a child actress in the 1964 Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie. After parts in television and movies in the mid-1970s (most notably in John Wayne's final film, The Shootist in 1976), she was offered parts on nighttime series such as, The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels, and a recurring role on The Waltons
In 1979, at the age of 23, she left The Waltons to take over the role of Nikki Reed, a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, on the daytime serial The Young and the Restless, choosing the part over a sitcom pilot that in the end was not picked up. She was a replacement for the previous Nikki, who had lasted six months. Over time, her character reformed and became an important part of Genoa City society, as she married Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Scott has said, "It's a miracle for an actor to have a job last 35 years. I am so blessed."
It was on the set of "Young and the Restless" that she met her third husband, the show's executive producer Edward J. Scott. They married in 1985 and have three daughters, Jennifer (his daughter from a previous marriage ), Alexandra Danielle Yeaggy (father is the late Carlos Yeaggy, a makeup man Melody met on the set of Y&R.) and Elizabeth. The family resides in Beverly Hills, California. Jennifer gave birth to twins on May 25, 2011, a boy named James and a girl named Charlotte. James and Charlotte are Melody and Edward's first and second grandchild, respectively.
In 2002, Scott was asked to be one of the original board members of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | Marnie | Young Marnie | Movie (uncredited) |
1965 | Wagon Train | Samantha | Episode: "The Katy Piper Story" (as Melody Thomas) |
1969 | Ironside | Leslie Richards | Episode: "Goodbye to Yesterday" (as Melody Thomas) |
1971 | The Beguiled | Abigail | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1975 | Posse | Laurie | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1976 | The Shootist | Girl on streetcar | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1977 | Secrets | Laura Fleming | TV Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1977 | Code R | Linda | Episode: "The Firebug" (as Melody Thomas) |
1977 | Fish | Joanie Kellen | Episode: "The Neighbors" (as Melody Thomas) |
1977 | The Car | Suzie Pullbrook | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1977 | The Waltons | Darlene Jarvis | Episodes: "The Go-Getter" and "The Seashore" (as Melody Thomas) |
1978 | Charlie's Angels | Betsy Harper | Episodes: "The Sandcastle Murders" (as Melody Thomas) |
1978 | The Fury | LaRue | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1978 | Piranha | Laura Dickinson | Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1979 | Makin' It | Carol / Paula | Episodes: "Stayin' Alive" and "Tony's Homecoming" (as Melody Thomas) |
1979 | Billy | Shirley | Episode: "Computer Dating" (as Melody Thomas) |
1979 | The Rockford Files | Sherry | Episode: "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs, Part 1" (as Melody Thomas) |
1979-present | The Young and the Restless | Nikki Newman | Series regular |
1980 | The Scarlett O'Hara War | Laurie Lee | TV Movie (as Melody Thomas) |
1985 | Hotel | Mandy Vinning | Episode: "Sleeping Dogs" (as Melody Thomas) |
2001 | The King of Queens | Nikki Newman | Episode: "Inner Tube" |
2003 | The Paradise Virus | Linda Flemming | TV movie |
2005 | Freezerburn | Jill Renzie the Moviestar | Movie |
2007 | My Name is Earl | Pill Popping Mom | Episode: "The Birthday Party" |
2011 | Castle | Tonya Wellington | Episode: "Nikki Heat" |
2014 | The Crazy Ones | Flora | Episode: "The Monster" |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 8th Telegatto Awards | Best Actress | The Young and the Restless | Won |
1995 | 11th Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Actress | The Young and the Restless | Nominated |
1999 | 26th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress | The Young and the Restless | Nominated |
2001 | 17th Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Actress | The Young and the Restless | Won |