Heather Locklear

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.

[edit] 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 four children.^[3] She is also of part Lumbee (Native American) descent.^[4]

[edit] Career

Heather attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and pledged Chi Omega and Delta Delta Delta, but was never initiated into either sorority. While at UCLA, Locklear began modeling and working in commercials for the school store. She made her earliest screen appearances in the early 1980s with small roles in episodes of CHiPs, 240-Robert, and Eight Is Enough, before beginning a long-term collaboration with Aaron Spelling. Spelling cast her in the role of Sammy Jo Dean during the second season of his TV series Dynasty, and the following year he cast her in the cop show T.J. Hooker with William Shatner. Until the mid 1980s, Locklear appeared as a series regular on T.J. Hooker, while making semi-regular appearances on Dynasty. She was a full-time cast member on Dynasty from 1985 until its cancellation in 1989. In 1991, the cast of Dynasty (including Locklear) reconvened for the four-hour mini-series Dynasty: The Reunion.

Following Dynasty, Locklear had a starring role in the movie The Return of Swamp Thing (for which she won the satirical Razzie Award for Worst Actress,^[5]) and also starred in the short-lived sitcom Going Places.

In 1993, she played her best known role, that of scheming vixen Amanda Woodward on Aaron Spelling's drama series Melrose Place, which was a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210. Spelling originally signed Locklear for a limited four-episode run, the first of which aired on January 27, 1993. Locklear became a full-time cast member (though she continued to be billed as "Special Guest Star" in the opening credits) until its cancellation in 1999.

Throughout her career, Locklear has appeared in eight television productions made by Aaron Spelling, these being Dynasty, T.J. Hooker, Matt Houston, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, Melrose Place, and the made-for-TV movie Rich Men, Single Women.

Locklear was the guest host on Saturday Night Live on May 14, 1994. Two of her best-known 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 is a character on Melrose Place. Locklear also made a cameo in Wayne's World 2 in 1993. In 1996, she appeared as the main guest on Muppets Tonight, performing in a muppet-style spoof of Melrose entitled "Muppet Heights".

Locklear was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on May 19, 1994 as Melrose Place reached the height of its popularity.^[6] She was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People twice, first in 1994,^[3] and again 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 cast in the TV sitcom Spin City (initially opposite Michael J. Fox and later opposite Charlie Sheen). The series ended in 2002, but Locklear earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series - Comedy.

In 2002, Locklear had a brief recurring role on the sitcom Scrubs. In 2003, she starred in a pilot for her own comedy series, Once Around the Park, but this was unsuccessful. The same year, Locklear appeared in the theatrical film Uptown Girls.

In 2004, Locklear made a guest appearance on the sitcom Two and a Half Men, which starred her former Spin City co-star Charlie Sheen. She then starred in the short-lived television drama series LAX set in the airport of the same name. She was also executive producer on the series, but it was cancelled after 11 episodes.

In 2005, Locklear appeared in the theatrical film The Perfect Man with Hilary Duff. The same year, she had a brief recurring role on the series Boston Legal, which starred her former T.J. Hooker co-star William Shatner. She was also featured in a Biography Channel special.

In 2006, Locklear starred in another television pilot, Women of a Certain Age, but this was unsuccessful.

In 2007, Locklear made another pilot for ABC, See Jayne Run, about a business woman who juggles a career with single motherhood, but this was also unsuccessful. She guest-starred on the series Hannah Montana and in the sitcom Rules of Engagement, and was placed 25 on TV Guide & Entertainment Weekly's "100 Greatest TV Icons" list.^[8]

In 2009, Locklear joined the cast of The CW's updated version of Melrose Place. Beginning on November 17, 2009, she appeared in almost every episode, reprising her role as Amanda Woodward. Ten years after the end of the original Melrose Place, Amanda Woodward is now a partner in a PR firm, and is both mentor and tormentor to a young underling, Ella, played by Katie Cassidy.^[9] However, despite Locklear's appearances (along with various other original series regulars), the new show was not a ratings success and was cancelled after one season.^[10]

In 2011, Locklear starred in the TV movie He Loves Me on the Lifetime Channel.^[11]

[edit] Personal life

[edit] Relationships

Locklear with Richie Sambora in 1994

Locklear was romantically linked with several Hollywood personalities including Scott Baio.^[12] She was married for seven years to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee from May 1986 to August 1993.^[13] After their divorce, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora on December 17, 1994 in Paris.^[14] She gave birth to their only child, daughter Ava, in 1997.^[15] By 2010, Ava was already modeling and plans to be an actress.^[16] Locklear filed for divorce from Sambora in February 2006.^[17] The following month Sambora filed for joint custody of their daughter and enforcement of a prenuptial agreement.^[17] Their divorce was finalized in April 2007.^[17] In April 2007, Locklear began a relationship with fellow Melrose Place alum Jack Wagner.^[18] In August 2011, Locklear and Wagner announced they were engaged.^[19]

[edit] Driving controversies

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.^[20] 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.^[21] 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".^[22] On January 2, 2009, Locklear pleaded no contest to reckless driving, 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.^[23]

On April 21, 2010, Locklear was arrested on suspicion of hit and run, when a no parking sign was wrecked at 4 a.m. and vehicle debris was found. Police discovered that her car, parked in her garage, showed apparently matching damage. Her lawyer confirmed that Locklear had been cited for a traffic misdemeanor as the vehicle's owner, but said it was not clear who was driving at the time of the accident.^[24][25] On May 26, 2010, the Ventura County District Attorney announced that no criminal charges will be filed because there was “insufficient evidence” to determine who was driving the car at the time of the collision.^[26][27]

[edit] 911 call

In March 2008, a 911 call was made by someone who claimed to be Locklear's doctor and said that Locklear was trying to commit suicide.^[28][29][30] Emergency responders were dispatched to Locklear's home. Her publicist later said 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 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.^[31] Her agent confirmed that she was suffering from anxiety and depression.^[32] On July 23, 2008, Locklear returned home after four weeks of treatment at the facility.^[33]

[edit] Awards and nominations

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)

Golden Raspberry "Razzie" Awards:

• Worst Actress for The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) (Won)

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television work

[edit] Producer

• Melrose Place (1997–99) (as co-producer)
• LAX (2004–2005)

[edit] References

1. ^ "Heather Locklear". filmreference.com.
2. ^ "Biography". movies.yahoo.com.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Heather Locklear Biography". People.com. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
4. ^ "Frontline: Locklear". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
5. ^ "Razzie Awards 1989".
6. ^ "1994 Rolling Stone Covers : Photos". Rolling Stone. 1994-05-19. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
7. ^ "Heather Locklear: Actress - Most Beautiful, Heather Locklear". People.com. 2001-05-14. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
8. ^ . http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20152957_20152958_20159773_25,00.html.
9. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (November 8, 2009). "Donning Anew the Miniskirt of a Predator". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
10. ^ TV By The Numbers - Melrose Place cancelled
11. ^ Heather Locklear holds tight to those bad-girl roles
12. ^ Keck, William (June 15, 2005). "'Perfect' pals: Locklear and Duff". USA Today. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
13. ^ Kenny, Glenn (May 10, 1996). "The Seven-Year Hitch". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
14. ^ "Heather Locklear Files for Divorce". People. February 2, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
15. ^ "Heather Locklear: Biography". TV.com. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
16. ^ "Ava Sambora: From Celebrity Child To Runway Model!". The Huffington Post. March 23, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
17. ^ ^{a b c} Chiu, Alexis, (April 11, 2007). "Heather Locklear & Richie Sambora's Divorce Finalized". People. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
18. ^ "Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner: Heating Up". People. May 3, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
19. ^ Jordan, Julie; Schwartz, Alison (August 12, 2011). "Heather Locklear Is Engaged". People. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
20. ^ "Heather Locklear Arrested in California". Reuters. September 19, 2008.
21. ^ "Heather Locklear charged with DUI". ABC News. November 19, 2008.
22. ^ "Heather Locklear Charged With DUI". Us Weekly. November 17, 2008.
23. ^ "Heather Locklear's DUI Case Dismissed". People. January 2, 2009.
24. ^ "Actress Heather Locklear arrested for hit-and-run", Daily Mail (London), April 22, 2010, retrieved April 22, 2010
25. ^ "Locklear cited for hit & run in 4 a.m. crash", San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press, April 22, 2010, retrieved April 22, 2010^{[dead link]}
26. ^ "District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that no charges will be filed", Ventura County District Attorney website, News Releases, May 26, 2010, retrieved May 26, 2010
27. ^ "DA won't charge Locklear in T.O. hit-and-run", Ventura County Star, May 26, 2010, retrieved May 26, 2010
28. ^ "Police called to Heather Locklear's home after 'fears she would commit suicide'". Daily Mail. London. March 10, 2008.
29. ^ "Locklear 911 Caller: Actress May Be 'Suicidal'". People. March 12, 2008.
30. ^ "Cops probe Heather Locklear 'suicide attempt'". Showbiz Spy. March 10, 2008.
31. ^ Chiu, Alexis (June 24, 2008). "Heather Locklear in Treatment for 'Anxiety and Depression'". People. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
32. ^ Phillips, Tracy (June 24, 2008). "Heather Locklear in Treatment". My TV. comcast.net.
33. ^ Chiu, Alexis (July 23, 2008). "Heather Locklear Leaves Treatment Center". People. Retrieved July 23, 2008