Melinda Clarke, who is perhaps best known as either Faith Taylor on “Days of Our Lives” or Julie Cooper on “The O.C.,” has signed on to join TNT’s “Dallas,” TheWrap has learned.
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Clarke portrays a character named Tracey McKay, and will make her “Dallas” debut on Sept. 8. She will appear in two episodes total when the show launches the back half of its third season on Aug. 18.
The character of Tracey Lawton, as played by Beth Toussaint, was introduced in the 12th season of the original “Dallas” as a love interest for Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy). It was later revealed that her father was Ewing rival Carter McKay (George Kennedy). Carter‘s grandson, Hunter, has already been making waves. Will Tracey come in as his mother?
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In the original series, Tracey and Bobby dated for awhile, but ultimately things didn’t work out between them. She left to try and find her brother Tommy, a drug dealer who fled Dallas after Bobby attacked him. Tommy found his way back in Season 13, but got shot in a struggle with his own father after a bomb he brought back with him exploded.
All of these twists and turns are par for the course for a show like “Dallas,” but the bloody family background will surely speak to the kind of relationship Tracey will have with Bobby and his new wife.