Heather Deen Locklear (born September 25, 1961) is an American actress best known for her television roles as "Sammy Jo Carrington" on Dynasty, "Officer Stacy Sheridan" on T. J. Hooker, "Amanda Woodward" on Melrose Place, and "Caitlin Moore" on Spin City.
Biography
Early life
Locklear was born in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, the daughter of William Robert Locklear and Diane (née Tinsley). She was raised in Thousand Oaks, California and graduated from Newbury Park High School.[1][2] Locklear is the youngest of three children. She is also of part Lumbee descent.
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 whilst making semi-regular appearances on Dynasty. She later became a full-time cast member on Dynasty until its cancellation in 1989. In 1991, the cast of Dynasty (including Locklear) reconvened for the three-hour mini-series; Dynasty: The Reunion.
Following Dynasty, Locklear had a starring role in the movie Return of the Swamp Thing and also starred in the short-lived sitcom Going Places. In 1993, she then went on to play another of her best known roles, that of scheming vixen Amanda Woodward on Aaron Spelling's drama series Melrose Place which was a spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210. The show initially suffered from low ratings during its first season which prompted Spelling to change the series to a soap opera format and cast some new characters. Spelling originally signed Locklear for a four episode run hoping that she could blaze a trail across the show and boost ratings. Locklear's first episode was on January 27, 1993.[3] Ratings slowly increased after Locklear joined, and by May 1994 Melrose Place was the No. 1 rated drama series in the United States among 18-to 34-year-olds, garnering even higher ratings than Beverly Hills, 90210.[4] The series went on to last for seven years. Locklear became a regular cast member from the second season onwards, but was billed as a "Special Guest Star" until the end of the series in 1999.
Throughout her career, Locklear has starred or guest-starred in no less 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.
Locklear was the special guest host on Saturday Night Live on May 14, 1994, with musical guest Janet Jackson. Two of her most famous skits included her as an elderly Jewish woman on Coffee Talk with Mike Myers, and her acting as Amanda Woodward in a Wayne's World skit with Myers, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and Phil Hartman where Wayne has a dream that he's a character on Melrose Place. Locklear also made a cameo in Wayne's World 2 in 1993. In 1996, she also appeared as the main guest on Muppets Tonight, in which she performed in a muppet-style spoof of Melrose entitled "Muppet Heights".
Locklear graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on May 19, 1994 during the height of Melrose Place.[5] She was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People twice, once in 1994 [6], and the second time in 2001.[7] She was also the subject of a Lifetime Intimate Portrait special, and of an E! True Hollywood Story special.
After Melrose Place ended in 1999, Locklear was immediately cast in the TV sitcom Spin City (initially opposite Michael J. Fox and later opposite Charlie Sheen) until 2002). The role earned Locklear two more Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series - Comedy.
In 2002, Locklear also had a brief recurring role on the sitcom Scrubs.
In 2003, Locklear starred in the movies Uptown Girls and Once Around the Park and guest starred on Two and a Half Men which starred her former Spin City co-star Charlie Sheen.
In 2004, Locklear starred in the short-lived drama series LAX, and also served as executive producer on the series. She also had a recurring role that year on Boston Legal with her former T.J. Hooker co-star William Shatner.
In 2005, Locklear appeared in the motion picture The Perfect Man with Hillary Duff.
In 2006, Locklear guest-starred on Hannah Montana and in the movie Women of a Certain Age.
In 2007, she starred in the television movie Nora Roberts' Angels Fall and had a recurring role on the sitcom Rules of Engagement, and was featured in a Biography Channel special.
In 2008, she starred in the movie Flirting with Forty.
In 2009, Locklear starred in the films Flying By and Oranges and was featured in a VH1 special.[8]
In September 2009, it was announced that Locklear was to join the cast of The CW's updated version of Melrose Place. Locklear reprised her role of Amanda Woodward, beginning on November 17, 2009. Producers have said that she will appear in every forthcoming episode from then on. Ten years after the end of the original Melrose Place, Amanda Woodward is now a partner in a publicity firm, and is both mentor and tormentor to a young underling, Ella, played by Katie Cassidy.[9]
Personal life
Prior to her marriages, Locklear was connected romantically with several Hollywood personalities including Scott Baio[10] She was married for seven years to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee from May 1986 to August 1993.[11] After their divorce, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora on December 17, 1994 in Paris.[12] On October 4, 1997 she gave birth to their daughter, Ava Elizabeth.[13] Locklear filed for divorce from Sambora in February 2006.[14] The following month Sambora filed for joint custody of Ava and enforcement of a prenuptial agreement.[14] Their divorce was finalized in April 2007.[14] After the divorce was filed, Sambora became romantically involved with Denise Richards.[15] In April 2007, Locklear began a relationship with fellow Melrose Place alum Jack Wagner.[16]
Controversies
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.[17][18][19] 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 medical facility in Arizona for psychological issues including anxiety and depression, and requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication in order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.[20] Her agent confirmed that she was suffering from anxiety and depression.[21] On July 23, 2008 Locklear returned back home after 4 weeks of treatment at the facility.[22]
In September 2008, Locklear was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence by a California Highway Patrol officer just outside Santa Barbara after she was seen driving erratically.[23] Police had been tipped off about Locklear's driving by Jill Ishkanian, a former reporter and editor at Us Weekly magazine, who saw Locklear outside a market in Montecito, California. Ishkanian photographed the incident and then sold the photos to celebrity news website TMZ.com for $27,500, though she claims it was entirely a chance meeting and denies following Locklear or setting her up in order to obtain photographs. Locklear was formally charged on November 17, 2008 with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence in connection to her September arrest.[24] 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 for her anxiety and depression "could have impaired her ability to safely drive a motor vehicle."[25] 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.[26]
Awards
Golden Globe Awards:
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for Melrose Place (1994) (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for Melrose Place (1995) (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for Melrose Place (1996) (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for Melrose Place (1997) (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for Spin City (2000) (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for Spin City (2002) (nominated)
First Americans in the Arts Awards:
- Best Actress in a Television Series for Melrose Place (1994) (Won)
TV Land Awards:
- Favorite Teen Dream - Female for Melrose Place (2004) (5th place)
Filmography
Television work
Producer
References
- ^ filmreference.com
- ^ movies.yahoo.com
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0646106/
- ^ http://www.heatherdeenlocklear.net/video.html
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/5392236/1994_rolling_stone_covers/photo/9/large/therollingstones
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/heather_locklear/biography
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134393,00.html
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J45MLMMbbMA
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/arts/television/08itzk.html
- ^ William Keck, "'Perfect' pals: Locklear and Duff", USA Today, June 15 2005, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ Glenn Kenny, "The Seven-Year Hitch ", Entertainment Weekly, May 10, 1996, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ "Heather Locklear Files for Divorce", People Magazine, February 02, 2006, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ "Heather Locklear: Biography", tv.com, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ a b c Alexis Chiu, "Heather Locklear & Richie Sambora's Divorce Finalized, People Magazine, April 11, 2007, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ "Denise Richards & Richie Sambora Hook Up",People Magazine, April 25, 2006, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ "Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner: Heating Up", People Magazine, May 03, 2007, retrieved 14 June 2009
- ^ Daily Mail - Police called to Heather Locklear's home after 'fears she would commit suicide' (2008-03-10)
- ^ Locklear 911 Caller: Actress May Be 'Suicidal' - Heather Locklear : People.com
- ^ Cops probe Heather Locklear "suicide attempt" | Showbiz Spy
- ^ 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.
- ^ Heather Locklear in Treatment - As Seen on TV
- ^ 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.
- ^ Reuters News Corp. - Heather Locklear Arrested in California (2008-09-19)
- ^ ABC News - Heather Locklear charged with DUI (2008-11-19)
- ^ US Magazine: November 17, 2008-Heather Locklear Charged With DUI
- ^ Heather Locklear's DUI Case Dismissed People.com, January 2, 2009
External links
