Heather Locklear

Heather Deen Locklear was born on September 25, 1961, in Los Angeles, California. She is an American actress best known for her television roles, including Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place and Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty.

Locklear is the daughter of Diane, a production executive, and William "Bill" Robert Locklear, a former U.S. Marine Corps colonel and administrator at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has Lumbee ancestry and three older siblings. While studying at UCLA, she began modeling and appearing in commercials for the school store, soon making her early screen appearances in episodes of series such as CHiPs, 240-Robert, and Eight Is Enough.

In 1982, Locklear began a long collaboration with television producer Aaron Spelling after being cast as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty. The following year, she took on a starring role as Officer Stacy Sheridan on the police drama T. J. Hooker. She appeared on both shows simultaneously until T. J. Hooker was cancelled in 1986, continuing on Dynasty until its conclusion in 1989. During this era, she also starred in feature films such as Firestarter (1984) and The Return of Swamp Thing (1989).

Locklear achieved further recognition beginning in 1993 when she joined Spelling's drama series Melrose Place as Amanda Woodward. Originally hired for a four-episode arc, her role was expanded to a regular starring position, boosting the show's ratings and earning her four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Drama from 1994 to 1997. During the 1990s, she also hosted Saturday Night Live, starred in the television film Shattered Mind (1996), and appeared in the feature film Money Talks (1997).

Following the conclusion of Melrose Place in 1999, Locklear joined the sitcom Spin City as Caitlin Moore, earning two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. She subsequently guest-starred on series such as Scrubs, Ally McBeal, Two and a Half Men, and Boston Legal, while executive producing and starring in the drama series LAX (2004). Her film appearances in this period included Uptown Girls (2003), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), and The Perfect Man (2005).

In later years, Locklear appeared in numerous television films, particularly for the Lifetime network, including Angels Fall (2007), Flirting with Forty (2008), He Loves Me (2011), Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story (2021), and Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story (2024). She reprised her role as Amanda Woodward in a 2009 reboot of Melrose Place, held recurring roles on Hot in Cleveland and Too Close to Home, and joined the main cast of Franklin & Bash in 2013.

Beyond acting, Locklear appeared in commercials for L'Oréal from 1997 to the mid-2000s and was an ambassador for the brand at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1999. She also featured in Toby Keith's 2006 music video for Crash Here Tonight and was twice listed among People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.