Melissa Anderson (fiction)

Melissa Phillips Anderson Jannings (also known as Melissa Horton) is a fictional character on the soap opera "Days of our Lives". She was played by Joseph Trent Everett (1971), Kim Durso (1975-1977), Debbie Lytton (1978-1980; 1982-1983), Lisa Trusel (1983-1988; 1994; 1996; 2002), and Camilla Scott (1990-1991).

Character history

Melissa was born in 1971 in Salem to Jim and Linda Phillips. Linda claimed that Mickey Horton was Melissa's father, but when Mickey's wife Laura revealed to her in private that Mickey was sterile (a fact that Mickey didn't 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 1980's 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 apiring 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 behaviour. 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 realised 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 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 and child remain unknown to the audience.

Family

Parents

*Jim Phillips (father; deceased)
*Linda Anderson (mother)
*Bob Anderson (adoptive father; deceased)
*Mickey Horton (adoptive father)
*Maggie Horton (adoptive mother)

iblings

*Mary Anderson (step-sister; deceased)
*Janice Barnes (foster-sister; deceased)
*Sarah Horton (adoptive sister)

Marital status

*Unknown husband

Past marriages

*Pete Jannings (divorced)

Children

*Unnamed baby

Other relatives

*Tom Horton (adoptive grandfather; deceased)
*Alice Horton (adoptive grandmother)
*Bill Horton (adoptive uncle]
*Marie Horton (adoptive aunt)
*Addie Horton (adoptive aunt; deceased)
*Hope Williams (adoptive cousin)
*Julie Williams (adoptive cousin)
*Steve Olson (adoptive cousin)
*Mike Horton (adoptive cousin)
*Jennifer Horton (adoptive cousin)
*Lucas Roberts (adoptive cousin)
*Jessica Horton (adoptive cousin)