Heather Locklear Biography

Heather Locklear
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Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear at the 45th Emmy Awards, 1993
Born Heather Deen Locklear
September 25, 1961 (1961-09-25) (age 48)
Westwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1979–present
Spouse(s) Richie Sambora (1994-2007)
Tommy Lee (1986-1993)

Heather Deen Locklear (born September 25, 1961) is an American actress. She is primarily known for her television work, her most notable roles being "Sammy Jo Carrington" on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty, "Officer Stacy Sheridan" on the 1980s cop drama T. J. Hooker, "Amanda Woodward" on the 1990s soap opera Melrose Place, and "Caitlin Moore" on the sitcom Spin City.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Locklear was born in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Diane (née Tinsley), a production executive for Disney, and William Robert Locklear, an administrator at UCLA. She was raised in Thousand Oaks, California and graduated from Newbury Park High School.12 Locklear is the youngest of four children and a cousin of Donald Trump's second wife, Marla Maples.

Career

While attending the University of California, Los Angeles, Locklear began modeling and working in commercials for the school store. In 1979, Locklear landed her first roles appearing in Tales of the Unexpected, and an episode of CHiPs a year later. She landed a few more bit parts in shows, including Eight Is Enough, before Aaron Spelling cast her in the role of Sammy Jo Dean during the second season of his TV series Dynasty. It would be the beginning of a highly successful long-term collaboration with Spelling who, the following year, cast her in the cop show T.J. Hooker with William Shatner. Until the mid 1980s, Locklear would appear as a series regular on T.J. Hooker while making semi-regular appearances on Dynasty. She later became a full-time cast member on Dynasty until its cancellation in 1989.

In 1993, after the failed sitcom Going Places and the three-hour mini-series Dynasty: The Reunion, Locklear went on to play another of her best known roles, that of scheming vixen Amanda Woodward on the FOX network's primetime soap opera Melrose Place. The show, which was a spin-off from the hit series Beverly Hills 90210, was struggling in the ratings during its first season. The producers initially brought in Locklear for a limited episode run, but then felt that she could blaze a trail across the show and boost ratings, much in the way that Joan Collins had for Dynasty in the early 1980s. Although she became a regular cast member from the second season onwards, Locklear was billed as a "Special Guest Star" until the end of the series in 1999. Locklear also won a First Americans in the Arts award for Best Actress in a TV series for her role on Melrose Place. After the show ended, she was immediately cast on the TV sitcom Spin City (opposite Michael J. Fox and later Charlie Sheen) until 2002. Locklear later starred in the short-lived drama LAX in 2004. In 2009, The CW revived Melrose Place as a new series with a new cast, and Locklear will reprise her role, once again playing Amanda Woodward from episode 10 on November 17, 2009. (original series co-stars Thomas Calabro, Laura Leighton, Josie Bissett and Daphne Zuniga have already agreed to appear).3

Throughout her career, Locklear has starred or guest-starred in no fewer than seven different television series produced by Aaron Spelling, these being Dynasty, T.J. Hooker, Matt Houston, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, and Melrose Place.

Personal life

Locklear with Richie Sambora in 1994

Prior to her marriages, Locklear was connected romantically with several Hollywood personalities including Scott Baio4 She was married for seven years to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee from May 1986 to August 1993.5 After their divorce, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora on December 17, 1994 in Paris.6 On October 4, 1997 she gave birth to their daughter, Ava Elizabeth.7 Locklear filed for divorce from Sambora in February 2006.8 The following month Sambora filed for joint custody of Ava and enforcement of a prenuptial agreement.8 Their divorce was finalized in April 2007.8 After the divorce was filed, Sambora became romantically involved with Denise Richards.9 In April 2007, Locklear began a relationship with fellow Melrose Place alum Jack Wagner.10

Politics

Locklear has been a registered Republican.11 In 1998, she contributed $1,000 to Republican businessman Randy Hoffman's unsuccessful campaign to represent California's 24th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.12

Anxiety and depression

In March 2008, Locklear was involved in a controversy when a 9-1-1 call was made by a caller claiming to be her doctor who said that she was trying to commit suicide.1314 The authorities arrived at Locklear's home shortly afterwards. Locklear's publicist has since downplayed the incident stating that Locklear had never requested any medical assistance and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department later stated that no further action was taken once they arrived at Locklear's Westlake Village home as she appeared to be fine. They did, however, state that they still believed the call to be genuine. On June 24, 2008 she checked into a rehab facility in Arizona for alleged psychological issues including anxiety and depression, and requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication in order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.15 Her agent claimed that she was suffering from anxiety and depression.16 Many publications however stated that this was a ruse for Heather receiving treatment for alcohol and drug dependencies, namely cocaine. On July 23, 2008 Locklear returned home, after 4 weeks of treatment.17

Arrest

Locklear was arrested and released in Santa Barbara, California, on September 27, 2008, under suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.1819 Locklear, 47, was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer after Jill Ishkanian, member of the paparazzi, reported seeing the actress leaving a parking lot and "driving erratically." She was formally charged on November 17, 2008 with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence in connection to her September arrest. A blood test detected no alcohol or illegal narcotics, but Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter stated that they believe the prescription medications she consumed "could have impaired her ability to safely drive a motor vehicle."20

On January 2, 2009, Locklear pleaded no contest to one charge of reckless driving, a misdemeanor, and in return the district attorney dismissed the DUI charges. Locklear will serve three years' informal probation, was fined $700 and must complete a DMV road and safety class.21

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies Catherine Supporting Role
1984 Firestarter Victoria 'Vicky' Tomlinson McGee Supporting Role
1989 The Return of Swamp Thing Abby Arcane Lead Role
1991 The Big Slice Tanya Supporting Role
1993 Wayne's World 2 Herself Cameo
1996 The First Wives Club Sharon Supporting Role
1997 Double Tap Kat Shaw Lead Role
2000 Money Talks Grace Cipriani Lead Role
2003 Looney Tunes Back in Action Dusty Tails Supporting Role
2004 Uptown Girls Roma Supporting Role
2005 The Perfect Man Jean Hamilton Lead Role
2006 Mr Washboard Stomach Sabrina Townsend Lead Role
2007 Sydney White Cassie Supporting Role
2007 Angels Fall Reece Lead Role

Television work

Producer

References

  1. ^ filmreference.com
  2. ^ movies.yahoo.com
  3. ^ Heather Locklear Is in Talks to Return to "Melrose Place", E! Online, August 21, 2009
  4. ^ William Keck, "'Perfect' pals: Locklear and Duff", USA Today, June 15 2005, retrieved 14 June 2009
  5. ^ Glenn Kenny, "The Seven-Year Hitch ", Entertainment Weekly, May 10, 1996, retrieved 14 June 2009
  6. ^ "Heather Locklear Files for Divorce", People Magazine, February 02, 2006, retrieved 14 June 2009
  7. ^ "Heather Locklear: Biography", tv.com, retrieved 14 June 2009
  8. ^ a b c Alexis Chiu, "Heather Locklear & Richie Sambora's Divorce Finalized, People Magazine, April 11, 2007, retrieved 14 June 2009
  9. ^ "Denise Richards & Richie Sambora Hook Up",People Magazine, April 25, 2006, retrieved 14 June 2009
  10. ^ "Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner: Heating Up", People Magazine, May 03, 2007, retrieved 14 June 2009
  11. ^ http://www.fact-archive.com/encyclopedia/List_of_Republican_celebrities
  12. ^ http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Heather_Locklear.php
  13. ^ Locklear 911 Caller: Actress May Be 'Suicidal' - Heather Locklear : People.com
  14. ^ Cops probe Heather Locklear "suicide attempt" | Showbiz Spy
  15. ^ Chiu, Alexis (2008-06-24). ""Heather Locklear in Treatment for 'Anxiety and Depression'"". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20208453,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-24. 
  16. ^ Heather Locklear in Treatment - As Seen on TV
  17. ^ Chiu, Alexis (2008-07-23). ""Heather Locklear Leaves Treatment Center"". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20214386,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
  18. ^ Baclayan, Jovie (2008-09-28). "Report: Heather Locklear Arrested in California". E!. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b31349_report_heather_locklear_arrested_in.html. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  19. ^ "Heather Locklear arrested in Calif. on DUI count". usatoday.com. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-09-28-locklear_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-10. 
  20. ^ US Magazine: November 17, 2008-Heather Locklear Charged With DUI
  21. ^ Heather Locklear's DUI Case Dismissed People.com, January 2, 2009

External links