The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Heather Locklear

If there was a Hollywood "it girl" during the 1980s, Heather Locklear would be a top contender for the title. With a lengthy list of screen credits dating back to 1980, Locklear got her start appearing in bit parts in TV shows before hitting it big in 1981. That was when she was cast as Sammy Jo in the primetime soap "Dynasty," which went on to become an era-defining television hit that ran for nine seasons. Then, she joined the cast of William Shatner's cop show "T.J. Hooker" — which also became hugely successful. Suddenly, Locklear found herself simultaneously starring in not one TV hit, but two! 

Lightning struck again the following decade when she joined the cast of the struggling "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff "Melrose Place," reinvigorating the show and landing herself yet another hit TV series. In 1999, she did it again by co-starring with Michael J. Fox (and, later, Charlie Sheen) in the smash sitcom "Spin City." 

In the midst of all that professional success, however, Locklear has experienced more than her fair share of personal travails. From her two failed marriages to her well-documented struggles with substance abuse and mental illness, which have sadly been the source of numerous headlines, she's undergone some truly difficult times. Locklear, though, has proven to be a survivor, emerging from the sad events of her past with plans to reclaim her life and — in time — her career.

The newly divorced Heather Locklear didn't stay single for long. Shortly after her split from Tommy Lee, she began dating Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. After seven months, the couple tied the knot in December 1994. 

After they'd been together for about a decade, tabloid rumors of marital problems had been swirling — to the point that the couple issued a statement to insist they weren't true. "The real story is that there is no story," Locklear and Sambora told the New York Daily News, as reported by BBC News. "The truth is that after 11 years together, we are still happily married. Boring but true." 

In February 2006, after more than a decade of marriage — during which the couple welcomed their daughter, Ava Elizabeth Sambora — Locklear filed for divorce. Sambora initially denied his wife was divorcing him. "It's completely untrue," Sambora told ABC News. Despite Sambora's claim he was blindsided, he moved on surprisingly quickly when he began dating Denise Richards — who'd been one of Locklear's closest friends — weeks later, in April 2006. The divorce was finalized in April 2007. "This has been an unbelievably difficult year for Heather," a friend of Locklear told People. "It's a huge relief for her that this part of her life has come to a close." Interestingly, a whole other scandal erupted when a tabloid reported Richards had encouraged Locklear to divorce Sambora; Richards later confirmed her romance with Sambora kiboshed her friendship with Locklear.

Just three months after that bizarre incident, Heather Locklear made headlines when she checked herself into a medical facility in Arizona in June 2008. In a statement to Reuters, Locklear's spokeswoman, Cece Yorke, confirmed TMZ's earlier report indicating her psychiatrist had been treating her for depression. "Heather has been dealing with anxiety and depression," Yorke said. "She requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication and entered into a medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment."

As the Daily Mail reported, she had recently completed production on the Lifetime TV movie "Flirting with 40" and decided the timing was right to undergo treatment. "She wanted to feel better and get to the bottom of what was troubling her," a source described as a "longtime associate" told People, via the Mail. "She's had a rough year."

According to People, during the time she spent at the facility, she not only received medical treatment but also indulged in spa treatments and horseback riding, among other activities. After spending four weeks in treatment, in July she returned to her Los Angeles-area home. "Heather's feeling really great," a source told People, via UPI. "And she looks beautiful, just radiant." That source, described by People as a friend, felt confident that Locklear was on the road to recovery. "She told a really funny story and she laughed from her core," the source said. "That's when I knew she was going to be fine."

Following her second divorce, Heather Locklear began seeing fellow actor Jack Wagner. The two had a history together, having both starred alongside each other on "Melrose Place" a decade earlier. In August 2011, the couple announced they'd gotten engaged, with Locklear's rep confirming the news to People. Rumors of their engagement had actually been ongoing since 2009 when Locklear was spotted wearing a large diamond ring. As a source told People at that time, they weren't technically engaged, but sure were acting like it — and both were absolutely committed to the relationship. "She's in it for the long haul with Jack. Their friends know their future is together," said the source, adding, "But they're not officially engaged."

Just a few months later, however, they called off the engagement. One reason, reported TMZ, was that planning the wedding had become all-encompassing, placing intense pressure on both of them. Another reason cited was that both Locklear and Wagner had children from their previous relationships, and began to back off from the idea of blending their families. 

It wasn't long after the couple ended their engagement that they took the next step by splitting up entirely, under some reportedly fraught circumstances. Sadly, Heather Locklear's third attempt at finding lasting love tragically ended in heartbreak.

In 2017, Heather Locklear revealed that she'd reconnected with Chris Heisser, whom she'd previously dated four decades earlier when they attended the same high school. The two subsequently got engaged, and as of January 2024, remained so. 

That relationship, however, hasn't always been smooth sailing. That was evident in February 2018 when an argument with Heisser turned physical, to the point that Locklear allegedly attempted to bite off the tip of his nose. According to the Daily Mail, a source within the Ventura County police department told the outlet that Locklear "was wasted" when police arrived on the scene in response to a report of domestic violence. When officers attempted to cuff her, she fought back, punching two officers and kneeing another in the crotch. She was arrested on charges of domestic battery and three counts of battery on a police officer. Several days later, police returned to her home to search the premises for firearms, based on threats she'd made to shoot those arresting officers.

Several months later, in June 2018, Locklear was arrested again. This time, Fox News reported that officers who responded to a 911 call described Locklear as being "heavily intoxicated" and "arguing with other subjects in the residence." In fact, Locklear's degree of intoxication was so concerning that an ambulance was called. She faced more criminal charges after kicking an EMT and hitting a police officer who were attempting to place her on a gurney. 

Heather Locklear's two arrests in June 2018 brought her to court the following year. In August 2019, TMZ reported that she entered a no-contest plea to eight misdemeanor charges, six of which involved battery of EMTs and police officers, while the other two charges were for resisting arrest. Rather than sentence her to the 120 days of jail time she was facing, the judge instead ordered her to 30 days at a mental health facility. That treatment was not voluntary; she was given a deadline of September 6 to enter the facility — and if she didn't, that 120-day jail sentence would be back on the table.

Locklear did as she was told, and spent her 30 days in treatment. According to court papers obtained by People, she was discharged on September 20 and was already undergoing continued treatment on an outpatient basis. Her attorney, William Haney, told that court that while Locklear was in the facility, she was "committed to therapy" and had been "compliant and participatory, as well as actively engaged."

However, a source told People that it was precisely because Locklear had such excellent lawyers that she was able to avoid facing the kind of repercussions that could spur a behavioral change. "She's got such great legal representation ... so the result is, she isn't being held accountable," said the source. "It [could be] back to the same square she was on before."

In March 2023, RadarOnline reported that Heather Locklear was continuing to flourish. After putting alcohol and arrests behind her, she was ready to focus on a Hollywood comeback. "Her ultimate goal is to get back out there and do what she does best," a source said. 

Just a few months later, though, in July of that year, shocking footage emerged that made fans question whether she'd fallen off the wagon. In photos and video obtained by the New York Post, Locklear is seen balancing precariously on the ledge of a building, and then sitting on a staircase, appearing distraught while reading aloud from what appeared to be a journal. "At one point, a disheveled Locklear aggressively pointed at something in the book, slammed it shut and continued to talk to herself before making her way down the stairs," the Post reported. 

The Daily Mail subsequently reported that an anonymous source claimed Locklear had relapsed. "Heather is drinking," the source said. "The family is very worried. Everyone feels helpless ..." According to that source, tequila had always been Locklear's kryptonite. "She can't stay away from it," the source added. "She's also on Ozempic and obsesses over her weight. She's lost 40 lbs." However, another source disputed those allegations, insisting everything was just fine. "Heather is most definitely not drinking, she hasn't for years," the source told Page Six. "She's very upset at that allegation, it's super hurtful."