OurBiography

Actress Heather Locklear starred on the popular TV shows ‘Dynasty,’ ‘T.J. Hooker,’ ‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Sin City.’

Who Is Heather Locklear?

Born on September 25, 1961, in Los Angeles, California, actress Heather Locklear made her introduction to TV with CHiPs in 1980. She landed her big break with a role on Dynasty in 1981 and also soon began starring on T.J. Hooker. In 1993, Locklear joined the cast of Melrose Place, and later in the decade she starred on the sitcom Spin City. She returned to television for a new version of Melrose Place in 2009, though the show lasted only one season. In recent years, the actress has become known for troubles with the law. 

Early Life

Born on September 25, 1961 in Los Angeles, California, Heather Locklear was raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks. Her father worked as a director in the registrar's office at the University of California, Los Angeles, and her mother worked as an administrative assistant for the Walt Disney Company in the early 1990s.

Locklear entered UCLA in 1979, with the intention of majoring in psychology. However, casual modeling jobs soon turned into regular work in television commercials for major companies, including Pepsi, Polaroid and the California Dairy Council. After a year at UCLA, Locklear dropped out to pursue a full-time acting career.

Career Breakthrough

Locklear made her first television series appearance on CHiPs in 1980, and later guest-starred on the shows Eight Is Enough and Twirl.

Locklear got her big break in 1981, when she successfully auditioned for a role in Dynasty—the popular prime-time soap opera starring John Forsythe, Joan Collins and Linda Evans. She played Sammy Jo Carrington, the conniving wife of Steven (the son of Blake Carrington) on the show, which was produced by Aaron Spelling. 

After 13 weeks, Locklear was written out of the show, but she was quickly offered a part on Spelling's other project, T.J. Hooker. Shortly after that, Locklear was written back into Dynasty, making her the only actress working regularly on two popular prime-time series. Dynasty aired for nearly a decade, while T.J. Hooker was canceled after five seasons.

Always the driven worker, Locklear also appeared in several big-screen and television movies, including Firestarter (1984) and Return of the Swamp Thing (1989). Additionally, she served as spokeswoman for a national chain of health clubs and produced an exercise video.

'Melrose Place' and Later Roles

In 1993, Locklear reunited with Spelling as part of the cast of Melrose Place, a spinoff of the extremely successful Beverly Hills 90210. Prior to her appearance on Melrose, the show's ratings were dismal. After her arrival as Amanda Woodward, a scheming advertising executive and apartment-complex owner, the show's ratings soared.

Melrose Place was canceled in 1998, but the following year, Locklear had the opportunity to remake her image as mayoral advisor Caitlin Moore on the sitcom Spin City. Trading verbal jibes with co-stars Michael J. Fox—and, later, Charlie Sheen—Locklear boosted the show's ratings and demonstrated her versatility as an actress. 

In 2003, she signed on to star in her own NBC sitcom, One Around the Park, playing a single mom with two kids. Unfortunately for Locklear, the show never really got off the ground, so she returned to television the next year with LAX, an airport drama. She faced disappointment yet again, as the show did not achieve high ratings and ended after only 13 episodes.

Locklear received raves for her 2005 guest appearance on Boston Legal, playing a man-eating widow. In recent years, she has broadened her horizons beyond television; she played leading roles such films as Uptown Girls (2003) and The Perfect Man (2005), co-starring with Hillary Duff and Chris Noth.

In 2009, Locklear revisited some familiar territory, appearing on a new version of Melrose Place. This latest take on her earlier hit show failed to develop a following, however, and was canceled after one season. Since then, Locklear has undertaken a few roles, including a part in the sitcom pilot The Assistants in 2011.

Personal Life

Locklear's seven-year marriage to heavy-metal drummer Tommy Lee ended in divorce in August 1993. Nearly one year later, in December 1994, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. Three years later, the couple had their first daughter, Ava Elizabeth Sambora. In 2006, Locklear and Sambora filed for divorce, which was finalized in April 2007.

In September of 2008, police arrested Locklear on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Locklear, who was believed to be alone in the car, was tested for intoxication and then booked on the suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication, before she was released. Earlier that year, in June, Locklear had checked into an Arizona medical clinic, seeking treatment for anxiety and depression.

Locklear has continued to struggle with personal challenges in recent years. She was arrested in 2010 for hitting a road sign with her car and then fleeing the scene, which led to a misdemeanor charge. Locklear and actor Jack Wagner—who she began dating in 2007—became engaged in 2011, but split up before the year's end. 

In January 2012, Locklear ended up in the hospital after reportedly mixing alcohol and prescription medication. Shortly after the incident, People magazine reported that she was "under a doctor's care" to assist her with her recovery. Locklear chose to keep a low profile in the months after her hospitalization.

In February 2018, Locklear was arrested for kicking police officers who came to her Ventura County home to investigate a possible domestic violence situation. The victim of the alleged domestic violence was a boyfriend who had a physical injury, making the offense a felony, while Locklear claimed she had also been injured prior to the police arrival. She was released on bail and ordered to return to court the following month.

On June 17, 2018, the actress was taken to the hospital in Thousand Oaks, California for a psychological evaluation for reportedly threatening to shoot herself. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department said that "there was no crime, only a medical issue." 

On June 24, an "extremely intoxicated and very uncooperative" Locklear was arrested again for reportedly kicking a police officer and an EMT who were responding to a disturbance call. The following day, authorities responded to a medical call at her home and transported a patient to a hospital, though the identity of this person was not initially disclosed.