What The Cast Of Melrose Place Is Doing Now
The following article includes mentions of mental health issues, addiction, and allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Arguably one of the most popular primetime soaps of the 1990s, "Melrose Place" made its debut in January 1993. Ostensibly a spinoff of "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Melrose Place" initially follows the lives of eight young Angelenos living in the titular L.A. apartment complex as they strive to establish themselves in their respective careers: Jane Andrews (Josie Bissett), Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro), Matt Fielding (Doug Savant), Jake Hanson (Grant Show, reprising the character first introduced on "90210"), Sandy Louise Harling (Amy Locane), Billy Campbell (Andrew Shue), Alison Parker (Courtney Thorne-Smith). and Rhonda Blair (Vanessa Williams).
Midway through the first season, a new character is introduced that ended up taking the show in a soapier and more over-the-top direction: Heather Locklear's Amanda Woodward, an advertising exec whose ambition is matched only by the size of her outfits' shoulder pads. Once Locklear became established as the show's villain — following the template set by the likes of "Dallas" baddie J.R. Ewing and Alexis Carrington on "Dynasty" — the series' popularity exploded. "It started out as eight kids trying to make it," Thorne-Smith explained during a 2020 cast reunion, as reported by Page Six. "Nobody cared, nobody watched it ... and then Heather came on and suddenly we had a villain, and it just took off."
The show ultimately ran for seven seasons, concluding in 1999 (but later spawning a low-rated, short-lived 2009 reboot featuring a whole new main cast). Read on to find out what the original cast of "Melrose Place" is doing now.
Heather Locklear staged a comeback following personal struggles
Heather Locklear was a hot commodity in Hollywood following the conclusion of "Melrose Place." She next appeared opposite Michael J. Fox in the ABC sitcom "Spin City," then starred in the short-lived 2004 drama "LAX," which was cancelled after 13 episodes. Locklear's screen credits then consisted mainly of TV guest spots, ranging from "Boston Legal" to "Hannah Montana." In 2007, Locklear's divorce from musician husband Richie Sambora was finalized — and the years that followed were unfortunately tumultuous for the star.
In June 2008, Locklear was hospitalized to treat anxiety and depression, exiting the facility four weeks later. That September, she was arrested on a DUI charge, which was subsequently dismissed when the actor pleaded no contest to reckless driving. After briefly reprising her role as Amanda Woodward on the ill-fated "Melrose Place" reboot, Locklear was unfortunately arrested again in 2010, this time for an alleged hit-and-run of a no-parking sign; the case was also dismissed due to insufficient evidence. In January 2012, TMZ reported that Locklear was rushed to hospital after reportedly mixing alcohol with prescription medication. This incident was followed by a few stints in rehab, a February 2018 domestic abuse arrest, and another arrest that June for allegedly attacking a police officer and an EMT.
In May 2019, Locklear entered a treatment facility to address her excessive drug and alcohol use; in April 2020, she took to Instagram to celebrate one year of sobriety, and later made a Hollywood comeback by starring in the Lifetime biopic "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story."
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Grant Show went on to star in a reboot of a 1980s classic
Grant Show has maintained a successful acting career since "Melrose Place" ended its run. While the early 2000s saw the actor guest-starring in such TV series as "Six Feet Under" and "Strong Medicine," he found slightly steadier work as Dr. Archer Forbes Montgomery on "Grey's Anatomy" and its spinoff "Private Practice." More recently, from 2016 until 2019, Show landed more long-term gigs as Spence Westmore on the Lifetime series "Devious Maids," before moving on to ABC political drama "The Family."
In 2017, Show was cast as Blake Carrington in "Dynasty," The CW's reboot of the mega-hit 1980s primetime soap focusing on the Machiavellian machinations within the wealthy Carrington clan. The series ultimately ran for six seasons before ending its run in 2022. Discussing his "Dynasty" gig with ET, Show admitted that he was initially intimidated about stepping into the iconic TV role that had previously been played by the late John Forsythe. "I had never watched the original 'Dynasty,' so I watched it before I began working on it," said Show. "When I saw John Forsythe, I thought that is so different from me, I'll never be like that. It relieved the pressure because I could do my own thing. I wanted this job and worked hard to get it."
Meanwhile, Show reflected on the success of his "Melrose Place" gig, noting, "I have been fortunate. ... I wish everyone could experience it. You can't prepare for it."
Amy Locane went to from TV stardom to a prison cell
Amy Locane appeared in the first 13 episodes of "Melrose Place" as aspiring actor Sandy Louise Harling until the character was written off the show. She continued to act, appearing in various films, including "Blue Sky," "Prefontaine," and "Secretary." But as the years progressed, the roles got smaller; Locane eventually relocated from Los Angeles to her native New Jersey in the mid-2000s.
Locane's life changed forever on June 27, 2010, when she got into a car accident while intoxicated. A passenger in the other car was pronounced dead on the scene. In 2012, per The Guardian, Locane was convicted of second-degree vehicular homicide and assault by automobile and sentenced to three years in prison. After being released in 2015, Locane restarted her life from scratch, as her husband had filed for divorce and received custody of their two young children. The following year, the original verdict — initially upheld — was appealed by the victim's family on the grounds that it had been too lenient (she received two years less than the minimum sentence of five). Subsequent legal action led to a new judge and a new eight-year sentence for the original charge and an additional 18 months for fourth-degree assault by auto. Locane returned to prison and would be eligible for parole in 2024.
"It's really messing with my mind," Locane said following her sentencing. "I never violated any rules. I never reoffended, and then to get thrown back in here ... it's cruel. I feel like I'm being made an example of."
Thomas Calabro remained a familiar face after Melrose Place
Thomas Calabro portrayed Dr. Michael Mancini throughout the entire seven-season run of "Melrose Place" — the only actor to appear in every single episode. Calabro remained a fixture on television, with credits during the 2000s including "Touched By an Angel" and "Nip/Tuck," as well as several made-for-TV movies, ranging from the holiday rom-com "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus" to battling giant arachnids in the sci-fi horror flick "Ice Spiders." The 2010s saw him feature in more TV guest spots on "Castle," "NCIS," and "Glee," along with the recurring role of General Don Kincaid in "The Last Ship." Between 2015 and 2019, he portrayed Arthur Tobin in the drama series "The Bay."
More than two decades later, however, Michael Mancini remains Calabro's best-known role. He acknowledged just that during a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times when he discussed reprising his part in The CW's short-lived "Melrose Place" reboot. "I'd play that guy all day long," Calabro said of his character, although he admitted it was no mean feat recollecting all of Dr. Mancini's shenanigans during the original six seasons. "I had five wives and was married seven times," he quipped. "I remember doing this one talk show, and they had a handy chart."
Offscreen, Calabro shares three children with ex-wife Elizabeth Pryor, who are generally unfazed by his occupation. "They grow up in an entertainment community here, so they're surrounded by a ton of actors 15 times more famous than their dad," he told People. "I think to them, it's not unusual."
Josie Bissett became a staple on the Hallmark Channel
Josie Bissett was one of the original eight on "Melrose Place," but wound up exiting partway through the fifth season before returning in the seventh. "I left the show mainly because I was exhausted from the story lines," Bissett told Woman's Own, but also explained her decision to return. "I have an opportunity to do another year of the series," she added. "It's a great job and I'm ready to do it again."
Following the series' end, Bissett kept busy with guest-starring roles and made-for-TV movies before joining the cast of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" in 2008, remaining with the series until its conclusion in 2013. That same year, Bissett was cast in the Hallmark Channel holiday movie "Christmas with Tucker." She later returned to the network for the 2016 movie "The Wedding March" — co-starring fellow "Melrose Place" alum Jack Wagner. The film proved to be a massive hit, spawning no less than five sequels (the most recent at the time of this writing, "Sealed with a Kiss: Wedding March 6," aired in 2021).
While discussing that sequel with The Seattle Times, Bissett also revealed that talks were underway for a second "Melrose Place" reboot. "This is gonna be different because it's the original cast," she said. "'Melrose' is a tough show to reboot unless it's with the original people."
Laura Leighton became part of Pretty Little Liars
Laura Leighton's "Melrose Place" character, Sydney Andrews (sister of Josie Bissett's Jane Andrews), appears in a couple of episodes in the first season before becoming a full-fledged cast member in the second season. "It was supposed to be just two episodes — you know, she pops in, and she's a little bit of a troublemaker," Leighton told Decider in 2021 of how she wound up as a series regular. "But I think they saw potential for that to go further."
While she ultimately departed the show in 1997, Leighton's first post-"Melrose Place" role was a recurring gig in "Beverly Hills, 90210" — an interesting choice, given that "Melrose Place" was technically a spinoff of "90210." Leighton went on to appear in several movies and TV series after that, before reprising Sydney on several episodes of the "Melrose Place" reboot. In 2010, she became a series regular on "Pretty Little Liars," remaining with the show until its run ended in 2017.
In 2021, Leighton reunited with former "Melrose Place" co-star Grant Show when she appeared in an episode of "Dynasty." That same year, she also reunited with Bissett and Daphne Zuniga in an episode of "Fantasy Island." Speaking to People about the trio's onscreen reunion, Leighton explained, "They wanted real-life friends to play these three characters. So we were lucky enough to be the three that got to come and play these roles."
Doug Savant nabbed another massively successful series
A member of the original "Melrose Place" cast, Doug Savant stayed with the show until the fifth season, making his final appearance in the Season 6 premiere. Savant, who played openly gay Matt Fielding, made headlines in 1994 when his onscreen kiss with another male was cut by Fox over fears that advertisers would flee. Savant's publicist, Howard Bragman, wrote in his 2008 book "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" about struggling to keep Savant's real-life sexuality a secret. "He is in fact heterosexual, married, and has numerous children," Bragman wrote, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "But Doug thought it would be insulting to the gay community if he went out of his way to say he was straight, so we kept his embarrassing heterosexuality in the closet for a long time."
After exiting "Melrose Place," Savant remained in demand as a TV guest star, appearing in numerous series, ranging from "JAG" to "Firefly," before being cast as Tom Scavo in ABC's mega-hit "Desperate Housewives" in 2004. He remained in the role until the hit series' end in 2012. Savant then returned to his role as go-to TV guest star, racking up an impressive roster of roles in such shows as "Criminal Minds," "The X-Files," and "NCIS." He's also seen in the 2022 Amazon Prime Video series "Leverage: Redemption."
On the personal side of things, Savant has been happily married to fellow "Melrose Place" alum Laura Leighton since 1998. "The best thing that happened to me as a result of 'Melrose' was meeting my wife," he told People.
Courtney Thorne-Smith joined Jim Belushi in a hit sitcom
One of the original eight "Melrose Place" cast members, Courtney Thorne-Smith portrayed Alison Parker until the end of the show's fifth season. In 1999, she was cast in another hit TV series "Ally McBeal," playing attorney Georgia Thomas for the show's first three seasons. She followed that by playing the wife of Jim Belushi's character in ABC sitcom "According to Jim." While the show wasn't exactly a favorite of critics, viewers felt otherwise, keeping the series on the air for eight seasons. Thorne-Smith continued to demonstrate her unerring skill at landing on hit shows when she joined "Two and a Half Men," appearing as Lyndsey Mackelroy in 51 episodes of the Charlie Sheen sitcom.
In 2017, Thorne-Smith took on the role of Emma Fielding in a TV movie for the Hallmark Movies & Mystery channel, playing an archeologist and amateur detective who solves murders with the help of an FBI agent, portrayed by James Tupper. That movie — "Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery" — spawned two more, airing in 2018 and 2019. "I loved the idea of an archeologist who's also a sleuth," Thorne-Smith told Smashing Interviews Magazine. "I just thought it sounded like a wonderful project and a great idea."
During that interview, Thorne-Smith noted that of all her successful TV series, "Melrose Place" remains the one with which fans most associate her. "That's the show people really have a connection with," she said.
Andrew Shue got caught up in his wife's cheating scandal
Andrew Shue played cab driver and aspiring writer Billy Campbell on "Melrose Place" throughout the series' run. While still on the show, Shue made a surprising left turn from acting to take up an entirely different vocation: professional soccer. "I never intended to become an actor," he told The Washington Post at the time. "My goal was to play in a World Cup."
As MLS Soccer recalled, he was still contracted to the "Melrose Place" cast when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996. According to Shue, he never told producers about his soccer sideline, who learned of it in a newspaper. In retrospect, it's clear that Shue's brief soccer career was something of a publicity stunt; as he told Sports Illustrated at the time, his joining the Galaxy was part of "a player-marketing deal" with the team. In fact, as SB Nation pointed out, the actor spent a mere 96 minutes on the field during the 1996 season, and spent the entirety of the 1997 season benched on injury reserve.
Shue's soccer career ended after that, leading him to focus on Do Something, the nonprofit he co-founded in the 1990s. In 2010, he married TV host Amy Robach, with whom he co-wrote the 2021 children's book "Better Together." In December 2022, Shue returned to the spotlight under unfortunate circumstances when Robach was accused of cheating on him with her "Good Morning America" co-host, T.J. Holmes.
Marcia Cross went from Melrose Place to Wisteria Lane
Marcia Cross is familiar to viewers of "Melrose Place" as villainous Dr. Kimberly Shaw, a role she played to the hilt during the show's first to fifth seasons. After departing "Melrose Place," Cross spent the next few years doing TV guest spots, appearing in shows ranging from "Seinfeld" to "Touched By an Angel." In 2002 and 2003, she appeared in 18 episodes of TV drama series "Everwood," in the recurring role of Dr. Linda Abbott.
Meanwhile, during those same post-"Melrose Place" years, Cross returned to college. In 2002, just before taking on her "Everwood" role, she graduated from Antioch University in Los Angeles with a master's degree in psychology. "I have always wanted to know what's going on under the surface," she told People of her interest in psychology. In 2004, Cross was cast as Bree Van De Kamp in "Desperate Housewives," achieving a level of success that eclipsed her considerable "Melrose Place" fame. "I never thought I would live Kimberly Shaw down," Cross mused in a 2006 interview with Associated Press. "So the fact that I've got another character, very different, under my belt is great."
In 2018, Cross revealed she'd been given a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for anal cancer. "Hard journey, but I am HEALTHY, happy, and more present and grateful than ever," she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post, as reported by CNN.
Daphne Zuniga ventured behind the camera
Daphne Zuniga joined "Melrose Place" midway through the series' first season, playing photographer Jo Reynolds and exiting the show in 1996, at the end of the fourth season. In addition to numerous TV guest spots, subsequent series for Zuniga included "American Dreams," "Beautiful People," and "One Tree Hill," in which she played the recurring role of Victoria Davis. In 2007, Zuniga shifted from acting to directing for "TED: The Future We Will Create," serving as co-director, producer, and host of this documentary about the famed TED (an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference. More than a decade later, Zuniga once again ventured behind the camera as producer and director of the made-for-TV thriller "Deadly Assistant." Meanwhile, Zuniga has also continued her acting career, with more recent TV credits including "Fantasy Island," "Dynasty," and "NCIS."
Zuniga also made headlines in 2022 when she was called as a witness to testify in the California rape trial of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. As Variety reported, Zuniga testified about discussions she'd had with friend Jennifer Siebel Newsom (wife of California governor Gavin Newsom) after Siebel Newsom was allegedly sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 2005.
Meanwhile, Zuniga previously reprised her role as Jo in The CW's "Melrose Place" reboot, and in 2019, she was asked whether she'd be willing to participate in a full-fledged revival. "I would be totally open to doing it," she told TheWrap.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Jack Wagner returned to the world of soaps
Prior to his five-season stint as Dr. Peter Burns on "Melrose Place" (joining in the third season and remaining with the show until the end of its run), Jack Wagner was best known as a soap opera actor, playing Frisco Jones on "General Hospital" and Warren Lockridge on "Santa Barbara." He returned to his soap roots in 2003 to portray Dominick "Nick" Marone on "The Bold and the Beautiful." Per IMDb, Wagner remained with the show for a whopping 1,334 episodes — and also reprised Frisco Jones in several "General Hospital" episodes in 2013.
However, Wagner's most notable projects after "Melrose Place" have been with the Hallmark Channel. This includes a key role in the hit series "When Calls the Heart," as well as "The Wedding March" franchise, in which he's both star (alongside fellow "Melrose Place" alum Josie Bissett) and producer. Wagner looked back on his "Melrose Place" experience during an interview with TV Insider, recalling how the show took his career to a whole new level. "It was my first nighttime series," Wagner said. "I look at it as a big career move for me in terms of being able to move from daytime to nighttime and create a character that had an impact on the series."
In June 2022, the star's son, Harrison Wagner, with ex-wife Kristina Wagner tragically died at age 27 of a suspected overdose. "Thank you all so much for the love & support you've sent me," Jack Wagner later shared with fans on Instagram, "it's helped me more than you'll ever know."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Lisa Rinna stirred up scandal on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Much like Jack Wagner, Lisa Rinna was best known as a soap actor before landing "Melrose Place." Prior to joining the show as Taylor McBride in the fifth season, Rinna had been best known for playing Billie Reed in "Days of Our Lives" from 1992 until 1995, at which point "Melrose Place" beckoned. "It's never fun to be the new girl coming into a very popular, established show," she later reflected to People in 2021. "It's scary, scary, scary. But starting from the top, Heather Locklear could not have been nicer and more welcoming, which then sets the tone." In terms of acting, Rinna added, "I learned so much from Heather Locklear, probably more than anybody."
Rinna later guest-starred in various television comedies and dramas, even returning to "Days of Our Lives" in the 2010s. In 2006, she competed on "Dancing With the Stars." While she didn't win, the experience did open the door for a whole new realm: reality television. That bore fruit in 2014 when Rinna joined Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," quickly establishing herself as a fan-favorite standout on the hit franchise.
Following a particularly fraught and drama-filled season, Rinna announced her "RHOBH" departure in January 2023. Calling it "the longest job I have held in my 35-year career," she stated (via the Los Angeles Times), "I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series. It has been a fun 8-year run and I am excited for what is to come!"
Kelly Rutherford's international custody battle made headlines
Kelly Rutherford was a late arrival to "Melrose Place," joining the show in Season 5 and portraying publicist-call girl Megan Lewis until the series' end in 1999. Rutherford's post-"Melrose Place" work included prominent roles in TV series including "The Fugitive," "The District," "Threat Matrix," and "E-RIng" throughout the first half of the 2000s. In 2007, Rutherford was cast as Lily Van Der Woodson in "Gossip Girl," portraying the mother of Blake Lively's character throughout the series' six-season run. Since then, Rutherford has continued working steadily, primarily in television.
Rutherford's personal life made headlines due to the messy custody battle between her ex-husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, over their two children. The years-long legal battle, according to the Daily Mail, forced Rutherford into bankruptcy due to legal fees exceeding $1.4 million. She was dealt a major legal blow in 2015 stemming from her seemingly unwise decision the previous year to not return the children from the U.S. to their father in Monaco. Because she breached the agreement, reported People, Giersch accused her of child abduction, leading a Monaco judge to grant him full custody.
"When I went into court, I never asked for money, and I never asked for full custody," Rutherford previously told People of her brutal custody war. "I just wanted what was right for them and their well-being moving forward. And what happened over the next six years was the most surreal, bizarre, unimaginable thing."