Heather Locklear has always been one of my all-time favorite celebrities.
The blue-eyed beauty rose to fame in iconic shows like Dynasty and Melrose Place, earning millions of dollars. But her love life has been full of scandals and messy divorces.
Read on to find out why her family is so worried about her and how her life took a downturn.
Hollywood can be a tough place. One moment you’re on top of the world, and the next you’re forgotten. Just ask Heather Locklear—she’s experienced it firsthand.
In recent years, tabloids have reported on her personal struggles, especially with substance and alcohol abuse. But Heather Locklear’s troubles started long before that.
Touched by Tragedy Twice
We’ve seen it before—a beautiful, successful girl becomes a star and has high-profile relationships. For Heather, it all started in high school.
With her blonde hair, big blue eyes, and dazzling smile, she couldn’t go unnoticed. Many compared her to the legendary Farrah Fawcett.
From the outside, everything seemed perfect. But was it?
Looking at old interviews, Heather painted a different picture. Despite her success, she struggled with self-image issues in her youth.
Heather described herself as a shy child with “bony elbows, acne, and braces.” She dreamed of joining the cheerleading squad but was considered too skinny and weak.
At home, things were better, and Heather described her childhood as loving and happy.
She often spoke warmly about her parents and praised their strong marriage. Her mother was a production executive, and her father was a former Marine Corps colonel.
“My father was a Marine colonel, very loving, but there’d be a look in his eyes when he was displeased,” Heather told the New York Times.
Family Catastrophe
However, some terrible things shook Heather’s childhood—things no child should experience.
When she was only 16, her uncle committed suicide. In 1986, Heather’s 27-year-old cousin also took his own life.
These tragic deaths devastated the Locklear family. The TV audience had no idea about this when Heather rose to fame. Many saw her as a ‘nice girl’—almost boring. But that changed with her first marriage. The person she married was anything but ordinary.
Dancing with Tom Cruise
After her breakthrough on Dynasty, Heather often dated rock stars and other talented actors.
In the early 1980s, after an audition, Heather and Tom Cruise developed a liking for each other. They didn’t exactly date, but Heather shared their wild night together on Chelsea Lately.
Heather said they decided to hang out one evening because Tom didn’t have many friends in Hollywood at the time. Although Tom was an up-and-coming actor, he wasn’t yet on Heather’s level.
Apparently, Tom Cruise showcased some of his crazy dance moves from Risky Business, which left Heather a bit confused. “You just kind of stand there and don’t know what to do,” she recalled. “Do you dance around him?”
Heather decided to sit back and watch as Tom worked his magic. They didn’t go on any more dates after that night.
Scott Baio Relationship
Scott Baio, a big star in the 80s, was captivated by Heather’s beauty.
“Heather Locklear was the first girl I was ever in love with,” Scott Baio told People. “She is the greatest chick in the world, and I just ruined it.”
They met in 1983 during the shooting of Battle of the Network Stars. Scott fell head over heels for Heather. The feeling was mutual, but their relationship fell apart because Scott couldn’t commit seriously.
Dating Mark Harmon
NCIS star Mark Harmon was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after bachelors before marrying Pam Dawber. In 1986, People magazine even voted him the sexiest man alive.
Heather Locklear also noticed Mark, and they had a brief fling in 1984.
“It began around Christmas [1984] but was over by New Year’s,” Mark recalled, saying Heather was “just an emotional cup of coffee to me.”
First Marriage
In 1985, Heather started dating Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. They met at an REO Speedwagon concert.
“He was a bad boy, and that image was exciting to me. Maybe it was my way of rebelling,” she said.
Sadly, the marriage began to falter quickly. But the couple stayed married for almost eight years.
“I really loved Tommy—for a brief time,” she said. “I gave it my best.”
They planned to stay together for life. “I think we’ll be the coolest grandma and grandpa in the world,” Tommy Lee said in an interview with People shortly after their marriage. “We’ll be like 85 or 90; I’ll still be a rock pig, and Heather will still be gorgeous.”
In 1993, they divorced, but Heather soon found love again.
Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora
Just a year after her divorce, Heather found love with Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi’s lead guitarist. They met in New York during a Melrose Place PR trip.
Despite challenges, like living on opposite coasts, the couple made it work. In 1994, they got married in a New Jersey civil service, followed by a celebration in Paris.
Heather found something special in Richie. “He’s really grounded, really family-oriented, and very close to his parents,” she said.
Richie, who had dated many women, said, “But the minute I met my wife, I knew I was done. That was it. I think the same thing happened to her.”
Their weekends were spent at their mountain home in Lake Arrowhead, outside of Los Angeles. “We are very boring. We go out to dinner to the same three restaurants and eat the same things. We like to sit around and talk,” Heather said.
In 1997, they welcomed their daughter Ava. Ava often joined Jon Bon Jovi on stage, introducing the band and dancing with members. Despite her parents’ fame, Ava turned out to be a smart and highly-educated woman.
Breakup with Sambora
Rumors about their breakup swirled, with tabloids claiming they argued over having a second child. Heather and Richie denied this in a joint statement to the New York Daily News, saying, “The real story is that there is no story. The truth is that after 11 years together, we are still happily married. Boring but true.”
However, in 2006, Heather filed for divorce. Richie, who was on tour, was shocked by the news. He even made plans for Valentine’s Day, unaware of Heather’s decision.
Heather found an email sent to Richie from a mutual acquaintance, containing provocative pictures. That was the final straw for Heather.
Heather Locklear and Denise Richards
The divorce caused a rift between Heather and her friend Denise Richards. Shortly after the divorce, Richie started dating Denise, who was also going through a tough split from Charlie Sheen.
Denise and Richie’s relationship deeply hurt Heather. Denise told Entertainment Tonight, “The thing with Heather, that’s been hard. You can’t help who you fall for, and that friendship, unfortunately, was done and wasn’t salvageable.”
Despite the turmoil, Heather and Richie managed to maintain a good relationship. Richie revealed that he and Heather still love each other. “Time does heal old wounds. I mean, I still love Heather and I know she loves me. She’s the mother of my child, man. What can you say?” Richie explained.
Recent Struggles
The past few years have been tough for Heather. She has been arrested multiple times and has struggled with addiction. In 2008, someone claiming to be Heather’s doctor called 911, saying she was trying to kill herself. The police believed the call was genuine.
Heather received treatment for addiction 20 times. Richie Sambora hired specialists to care for Heather after she faced issues with alcohol and was arrested for domestic violence and battery against a police officer.
Richie helped arrange and cover the costs for Heather to stay at a long-term care residence. “I will always be there for Heather and especially Ava. I am very proud of my daughter for her composure and strength during this difficult time,” Richie told the Daily Mail.
Heather seems more stable recently, reportedly sober for many years. Unfortunately, in 2023, some concerning images of her behaving erratically were published, raising worries about her well-being.
We sincerely hope Heather is doing well today. It’s not easy to achieve the level of TV stardom she did, with all that entails.
But she seems to be a genuinely wonderful woman, so we wish her all the wellness in the world and hope she finds happiness for many years to come. Let’s send her positive vibes and love as she continues her journey.
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