Julie Cooper’s comin’ to Mystic Falls!
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Vampire Diaries has tapped the inimitable Melinda Clarke (The O.C., CSI) to play Kelly Donovan, Matt’s irresponsible, hard-drinking absentee mother.
How rotten is this woman? She didn’t even bother to show up to her own daughter’s funeral. (In other words, my kind of gal!)
I’m told Clark’s scenery-chewing boozehound will blow into town in March and stick around for at least three episodes.
Memo to Kevin Williamson: Let’s get that series regular paperwork started now!










PERFECT casting. There should be a Melinda Clarke channel IMO.
My thoughs exactly dOb
I’ll third that emotion
I think this is going to be awesome, but series regular? Idk about that..
i agree with ObiHave!
She is so pretty
This is literally the best news I have ever heard in my life. And I totally second the Melinda Clarke channel suggestion. It would completely destroy Lifetime.
Hahahahahaha. Can’t stop laughing long enough to come up with a clever compliment.
Julie Cooper – TVD = this gonna get bitchy and AWESOME!!!
Omg! Melinda Clarke alone made seasons 3 and 4 of the OC watchable! Can’t wait for her to be on another show I love!
For me (as an avid lover of the show), Adam Brody and Autumn Reeser (in the fourth season) made a huge impact on the show. So did Ben McKenzie and Rachel Bilson. Besides Julie, the adult character became snoozy in the later seasons.
melinda, needs to be a series regular. shes a great actress.
she’s a great actress, and needs Her Own show.
Amen to that, Buzz!!! i started to become a fan of hers since Return of the Living Dead 3
woot!
You do realize that there was no funeral for her daughter. As far as the town is concerned, Vicki left town.
Exactly. LOL
haha, when i read the article, i was like “wait, what?!” i’m glad someone else caught that little mistake, too
I thought about that too!
Yeah ausiello WTF? Doesn’t anybody ever proof-read articles here at EW? You guys make mistakes like this all the time.
Been rewatching The OC since Christmas. On Season 3 currently, so its incredibly awesome to see her doing something, again.
Go Melinda!
I have another reason to watch The Vampire Diaries now. *sigh*
Awesome! She’d be excellent in the role.
I think Melinda Clarke is a very underrated actress. She is a stunner, for sure, but she showed versatility on the OC (not to mention a knack for comedy). It’s great to see so many fans on here.
She’s an amazing actress. I’d like to see her essay the roles of one of the women on that show that Amy Sherman-Palladino is shopping to HBO, about three writer sisters and their literary lioness of a mother.
This makes me so happy!
Julie Cooper in Mystic Falls?! WOOT! Just when I thought Vampire Diaries couldn’t get any better, it does. Melinda is made of awesome! Love her!
Excellent casting choice!
Yet another reason to watch (not that I needed one)