Melody Thomas Scott (born Melody Ann Thomas, April 18, 1956)[1] is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing in the psychological thriller film, Marnie. She later appeared in films The Beguiled (1971), Posse (1975), The Shootist (1976), The Car (1977), The Fury (1978) and Piranha (1978). In 1979 she began starring as Nikki Newman on the CBS daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless.[2]

Melody Thomas Scott
Melody Thomas Scott in 2007
Born
Melody Ann Thomas

(1956-04-18) April 18, 1956 (age 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1963–present
Spouses
Lindy Davis
(m. 1979; div. 1979)
Bob Shield
(m. 1980, divorced)
(m. 1985)
Children3

Life and career

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Scott was born Melody Ann Thomas in Los Angeles. Her first film credit was as a child actress[2] in the 1964 Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie.[3][4] On television, she guest-starred on My Three Sons, Wagon Train and Ironside. She had supporting roles in the psychological thriller film The Beguiled (1971), and the Western films Posse (1975) and The Shootist (1976) in which she becomes the last actress to exchange lines with John Wayne. In the late 1970s, Scott made number-of guest appearances on nighttime series such as, The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels, and a recurring role on The Waltons. She co-starred in the 1977 supernatural horror film The Car and the following year appeared in the horror films The Fury and Piranha.

In 1979, at the age of 23, Scott 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.[2] She was a replacement for the previous Nikki, who had lasted six months.[2] 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."[2] In 1999, she received Daytime Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[5]

Scott made guest-starring appearances in a number of prime time series, such as Hotel, Diagnosis Murder, The Nanny, The King of Queens, My Name Is Earl and Castle. She was a celebrity guest on The $25,000 Pyramid for a week in June 1985.

 
Scott at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival

On February 19, 2019 The Young and the Restless featured a stand-alone episode to honor Scott's 40-year history with the serial.[6] In 2024, Scott received Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.[7]

Personal life

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On the set of The Young and the Restless, 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[8]), Alexandra Danielle Yeaggy (father is the late Carlos Yeaggy, a makeup man Melody met on the set of Y&R.[9]) 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.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 Marnie young Marnie Uncredited
1971 The Beguiled Abigail
1975 Posse Laurie
1976 The Shootist Girl on streetcar
1977 The Car Suzie Pullbrook
1978 The Fury LaRue
1978 Piranha Laura Dickinson
2005 Freezerburn Jill Renzie the Moviestar

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 Wagon Train Samantha Episode: "The Katy Piper Story" (as Melody Thomas)
1969 Ironside Leslie Richards Episode: "Goodbye to Yesterday" (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 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)
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)
1997 The Nanny Herself Episode: "The Heather Biblow Story"
2001 The King of Queens Nikki Newman Episode: "Inner Tube"
2003 The Paradise Virus Linda Flemming TV 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"
2022 The Bold and the Beautiful Nikki Newman Guest: 1 episode (September 26, 2022)

Awards and nominations

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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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Scott, Melody Thomas 1956–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Y&R's Melody Thomas Scott May Not Have a Storyline, But She Has a Lot to Say". Soap Opera Weekly. February 13, 2007. pp. 10–11.
  3. ^ Harding, Curtis (October 18, 2022). "Young & Restless' Melody Thomas Scott Lets Loose On the Director Who 'Was a Very Scary, Heavy Breathing, Critical Guy'".
  4. ^ "My First Role - Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R)". Soap Opera Digest. August 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "Daytime Emmy Nominees List 1". March 12, 1999. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 19, 2019). "See Melody Thomas Scott's 1979 Debut on The Young and the Restless". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. ^ "Melody Thomas Scott, Edward J. Scott and Lidia Bastianich to Receive Lifetime Achievement Honors - The Emmys". theemmys.tv. May 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M. (September 4, 1988). "'Y&R''s Thomas Scott Hast It All". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. p. 39 – via Google News.
  9. ^ Eady, Brenda (October 15, 1984). "Farrah's New Role: Mom". People.
  10. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 28, 2011). "Melody Thomas Scott is a grandmother—twice!". Soapcentral.
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