Clarke was born Melinda Patrice Clarke in Dana Point, California, the daughter of Patricia (née Lewis), a ballet dancer, and John Clarke, an actor. She has a brother, Joshua, and a sister, Heidi, who died in 1995 due to a malignant heart tumor. She has a daughter, Catherine Grace. They reside in Beverly Hills, California. Clarke's height is 5' 7" (1.70 m). She has stated on mutiple occasions that she considers herself the sexiest woman of all time. Melinda likes to be called Mindy. She is a cigar aficianado.