Heather Locklear
Biography
Born
September 25, 1961, in Los Angeles, California. Frequently referred
to by the media as “The Queen of Mean”, Locklear is
popular for portraying some of the most notable television villains
of the 1980s and 1990s.
Locklear was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand
Oaks. Her father, Bill, is the director of the registrar’s
office at UCLA. Her mother, Diane, worked as an administrative assistant
in the offices of the Walt Disney Company in the early 1990s.
Locklear
entered UCLA in 1979 with the intention of majoring in psychology.
Casual modeling jobs soon turned into regular work appearing in
television commercials for major companies like Pepsi, Polaroid
and the California Dairy Council. After a year at UCLA, Locklear
dropped out to pursue acting full time.
She made
her first television series appearance in CHiPs in 1980 and also
guest-starred on Eight Is Enough and Twirl. In 1981, Locklear got
her big break when she successfully auditioned for a role in Dynasty,
the popular prime-time soap opera that starred John Forsythe, Joan
Collins, and Linda Evans.
Locklear
played Sammy Jo Carrington, the conniving wife of Blake Carrington’s
son, Steven. After 13 weeks, Locklear was written out of the show,
but was quickly offered a part on producer Aaron Spelling’s
other project, T.J. Hooker. Shortly after that, Locklear was written
back into Dynasty, making her the only actress working regularly
in two popular prime-time series. Dynasty aired for nearly a decade,
while T.J. Hooker was cancelled after five seasons.
At the
same time, Locklear appeared in several big-screen and television
movies including Firestarter (1984) and Return of the Swamp Thing
(1989). She also served as spokeswoman for a national chain of health
clubs and produced an exercise video.
In 1993,
Locklear rejoined producer Spelling as part of the cast of Melrose
Place, a spinoff of the extremely successful Beverly Hills 90210.
Prior to Locklear’s 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.
While
Melrose Place was cancelled in 1998, the following year Locklear
had the opportunity to remake her image as mayoral advisor Caitlin
Moore in the sitcom Spin City. Trading verbal jibes with co-stars
Michael J. Fox and later, Charlie Sheen, Locklear boosted the shows
ratings and demonstrated her facility with ensemble comedy. In February
2003, she signed on to star in her own NBC sitcom, One Around the
Park, playing a single mom with two kids.
In 1994,
Locklear became engaged to Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. Three
years later the couple had their first daughter, Ava Elizabeth Sambora.
Locklear’s previous marriage -- to heavy-metal drummer Tommy
Lee -- ended in divorce in early 1994.
Heather Locklear Filmography
Perfect Man, The (2004)--Jean
Hamilton
"LAX" (2004) TV Series--Harley Random
Once Around the Park (2003) (TV)--Alex Wingfield
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)--Dusty Tails
Uptown Girls (2003)--Roma Schleine
Too Many Lovers (2003) (TV) .... Jodi Bowen
"Spin City" (1996) TV Series--Caitlin Moore (1999-2002)
Double Tap (1997)--Katherine
Money Talks (1997)--Grace Cipriani
First Wives Club, The (1996) (uncredited)--Gil Griffin's New Wife
Shattered Mind (1996) (TV)--Suzy(Bonnie/Ginger/Victoria/D.J.)
Texas Justice (1995) (TV)--Priscilla Davis
"Melrose Place" (1992) TV Series--Amanda Woodward Blake
Parezi McBride Burns (1993-1999)
Fade to Black (1993) (TV)--Victoria
Illusions (1992/I) (TV)--Jan Sanderson
Body Language (1992) (TV)--Betsy
Highway Heartbreaker (1992) (TV)--Alex
Big Slice, The (1991)--Rita
Dynasty: The Reunion (1991) (TV)--Samantha Josephine 'Sammy Jo'
Dean Carrington Reece Fallmont
Her Wicked Ways (1991) (TV)--Melody Shepherd
"Going Places" (1990) TV Series--Alex Burton
Rich Men, Single Women (1990) (TV)--Tori
Jury Duty: The Comedy (1990) (TV)--Rita Burwald
Return of Swamp Thing, The (1989)--Abby Arcane
Rock 'n' Roll Mom (1988) (TV)--Darcy X
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport (1986) (TV)--Stacy Sheridan
City Killer (1984) (TV)--Andrea McKnight
Firestarter (1984)--Vicky McGee
"T.J. Hooker" (1982) TV Series--Officer Stacy Sheridan
(1982-1986)
"Dynasty" (1981) TV Series--Samthana Josephine 'Sammy
Jo' Dean Reece Carrington Fallmont (1981-1982, 1983, 1984, 1985-1989)
Twirl (1981) (TV)--Cherie Sanders
Return of the Beverly Hillbillies, The (1981) (TV) (uncredited)--Heather
Tales of the Unexpected (1979) (TV)--Pat Ward |
