Heather Dean Locklear was born September 25, 1961, in Los Angeles, California. The youngest of 4 sisters, Heather is the daughter of Bill, the Dean of the School of Engineering at UCLU (Heather's former school), and Diane, an administrative assistant at Disney.
The blue-eyed blonde originally attended UCLA as a psychology major, when a casting director caught eye of the all-American beauty and encouraged her to take a commercial acting class. By the end of her freshman year, she began to do guest TV spots, and decided to pursue acting full-time.
Heather started out with guest-appearances on a slew of early '80s television programs, such as Chips, Eight Is Enough and The Fall Guy, as well as with a role in Twirl. But it was her work for uber-television producer Aaron Spelling that launched the actress' career. In 1982, Spelling cast Heather as Samantha Josephine Dean Carrington Fallmont, or "Sammi Jo," in the long-running primetime soap, Dynasty.
In the 1980s, she also landed the role of Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J. Hooker, but her 7-year role as Sammi Jo was considered her claim to fame. As for the big-screen, Heather landed a role in Firestarter, the horror film starring Drew Barrymore, as well as 1989's The Return of the Swamp Thing. Her role as Abby Arcane garnered Heather a 1990 Razzie Award, for Worst Actress in a Film.
Heather may have appeared in the made-for-TV movie, Rock 'n' Roll Mom in 1989, but she became a Rock 'n' Roll wife in 1985. Heather wed Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee (pre-Pam), which rebelled against her wholesome image.
While working as Amanda Woodward from 1993-1999, Heather guest-starred in the film Wayne's World, as Wayne and Garth's most schwingable babe; appeared in an uncredited role in The First Wives Club; and starred in Money Talks and Double Tap.
Once Melrose Place's successful run came to a close, Heather was invited to join the cast of the ABC sitcom, Spin City. The chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Heather made the show a hit, and as Caitlin Moore, Heather proved that once again, she was TV star material. Heather is now co-starring with her Money Talks co-star Charlie Sheen, after Fox's departure from the show.
As for her married life, Heather and Tommy Lee got divorced in 1992, and in the tradition of falling for rock 'n' rollers, Heather married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora (post-Cher) in Paris, in 1994. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Ava Elizabeth, into the world in 1997.