Heather Locklear's Rollercoaster Journey: Unveiling the Untold Stories of Love, Parenthood, and Overcoming Adversity

Heather Locklear at the ‘Too Close to Home’ TV series premiere Shutterstock

In the beginning of her career, Heather Locklear embodied the quintessential blonde bombshell, adored by both real-life fans and fictional ones.

Following her rise to stardom in the early 1980s portraying Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J. Hooker, Locklear gained significant attention from the tabloids due to her marriage to Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in 1986. Her association with the renowned metal band only elevated her cool factor—just ask Wayne and Garth, who ranked her as their number one babe in Wayne's World. (Locklear even made a cameo appearance as herself in Wayne's World 2, which was released in theaters in 1993.)

Locklear's presence on television was prominent throughout the 1990s and 2000s, as she starred in popular shows such as Melrose Place, Spin City, and Hot in Cleveland. She also added to her repertoire by appearing in films like Uptown Girls and The Perfect Man. In a 2013 interview with PopEntertainment.com, Locklear expressed her enduring love for being on TV and being part of a series. She stated, "I've always loved being on TV. I loved being in a series. I love having a regular place to go to all the time." While Locklear's television career has slowed down in recent years, her fans will always recognize her as memorable characters like Amanda Woodward, Sammy Jo Dean, or Officer Stacy.

Keep scrolling for a look back at Locklear’s ups and downs through the years:

Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear Mediapunch/Shutterstock

1982

1986

Locklear's debut in the second season of T.J. Hooker saw her portraying Stacy Sheridan, a dedicated police officer stationed in a fictional and unidentified city in California. The series, featuring William Shatner in the eponymous role, enjoyed a successful run of five seasons before concluding in 1986. Alongside her role on T.J. Hooker, Locklear also became a familiar face on the popular primetime soap opera Dynasty, where she mesmerized audiences with her portrayal of Sammy Jo Carrington.

Locklear, who was 24 at the time, tied the knot with Lee, who was 23, after a chance encounter at an REO Speedwagon concert a year prior. Surprisingly, it was Locklear who initiated the proposal, deciding to marry Lee after a mere three months of dating. Unfortunately, their marriage came to an end in 1993. Lee later confessed that his unfaithfulness led to the demise of their relationship. In a candid interview with Blender in 2004, he admitted, "My marriage fell apart because of my involvement with adult film actresses. It all happened in '93, right before I separated from Heather."

1993

Locklear's career took a significant turn when she secured her pivotal role as the ruthless advertising executive, Amanda Woodward, on the hit series Melrose Place. Her exceptional portrayal earned her a remarkable streak of four consecutive Golden Globe nominations, solidifying her status as a talent to be reckoned with. To further attest to her captivating performance, Amanda was included in TV Guide's esteemed compilation of "The Biggest TV Bitches." Reflecting on her character, Locklear expressed to Entertainment Weekly in 2009 that embodying a "good TV bitch" is simply a testament to one's determination to display strength and fulfill their responsibilities.

Heather Locklear in ‘Melrose Place’ Darren Star Prods/Fox Tv/Spelling Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

1994

After finalizing her separation from Lee, Locklear tied the knot with Richie Sambora, the guitarist of Bon Jovi, whom she had met through mutual acquaintances. Their daughter Ava was born in 1997. Locklear and Sambora divorced in 2007 but have since maintained a friendly co-parenting relationship for the sake of Ava. "We are now better friends than ever," Sambora shared with People in 2020, and added that Locklear was still attractive.

Following the divorce, Sambora moved on to date Locklear's friend Denise Richards. During that time, there were speculations about a possible overlap in the two relationships. However, Richards later clarified that there was no infidelity involved and that she had already drifted apart from Locklear before starting a relationship with Sambora. In a 2008 interview with Redbook, Richards stated, "I don't want to disclose the reason behind the split, but Heather and I weren't even speaking at that time. It wasn't like we would go shopping together and then flirt with her husband at her house. Yes, I got together with Heather's soon-to-be ex-husband, but no, it wasn't an affair. If Heather and I had still been friends back then, I would have never crossed that boundary. But we weren't. The friendship couldn't be salvaged."

1999

After Melrose Place, Locklear moved on to her next television venture on ABC's Spin City, where she starred alongside Michael J. Fox. In the show, she portrayed Caitlin Moore, the campaign manager for Randall Winston's (played by Barry Bostwick) Senate run.

Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora at the world premiere of ‘The Perfect Man’ Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

2007

Following her divorce from Sambora, Locklear embarked on a new relationship with her former Melrose Place costar, Jack Wagner. Their engagement was announced in August 2011, only to end three months later.

2008

Locklear's alleged overdose scare in March led to a paramedic visit sparked by a person claiming to be her doctor. Although her representative dismissed the incident as a false alarm, Locklear sought help for her anxiety and depression at a treatment center in June. Unfortunately, just two months after her release, she faced legal troubles when she was arrested for suspected DUI. Eventually, she pleaded no contest to reckless driving and received three years of informal probation, along with a $700 fine and the requirement to complete a DMV driver safety class.

2009

Locklear reprised her role as Amanda Woodward on the Melrose Place reboot, which starred Katie Cassidy a clearly Amanda-inspired character named Ella.

Ava Sambora and Heather Locklear Rachpoot/Gigi/MEGA

2011

Locklear faced arrest for a hit-and-run incident following a police report that mentioned a "concerned citizen" observing her driving back and forth over a pair of sunglasses, while revving her engine in a parking lot. She was granted release on $5,000 bail and evaded prosecution.

2012

Locklear's sister made a frantic call to 9-1-1 in January, expressing concern for the actress's safety due to a potentially dangerous combination of alcohol and prescription medication. Following the distress call, Locklear was immediately transported to the hospital. Fortunately, her condition was later confirmed to be stable.

2018

Locklear faced legal troubles throughout the year. In February, she was taken into custody for domestic violence and battery against a police officer. The incident occurred when authorities responded to a call reporting an argument between Locklear and her boyfriend, Chris Heisser. Another arrest took place in June, when Locklear was charged with two counts of battery after a domestic disturbance 9-1-1 call was made from her residence. Shortly after being released on bail, she was admitted to the hospital due to a potential overdose. In August, Locklear resolved the charges by entering a plea of no contest and was subsequently ordered to undergo a 30-day treatment program at a mental health facility.

2020

Locklear's engagement to Heisser, her former high-school sweetheart, was announced in April. According to an exclusive insider, "Heather and Chris are currently in a very happy place. They both make sincere efforts to make each other feel special, such as Heather cooking for him and him buying her flowers." In that same month, Locklear celebrated a year of being sober.

2023

Locklear's actions in June raised concern among fans and onlookers when she was captured walking along the ledge of a building in Malibu, California. According to an insider, the actress was grappling with her sobriety, as she had been drinking and expressed a desire to return to rehab a month prior. Friends speculate that she may not have truly stopped drinking, especially since there was no oversight during her unsupervised probation in 2019.